T/C mfg. date by serial number?

[In Over My Head]

It would be very interesting if someone would endeavor to accumulate a database of TC serial numbers and original purchase dates. Much as some do for various foreign milsurps to help establish production numbers and dates of variations.

There have to be enough people who still have the receipt for a TC they bought new that some kind of time line could be drawn.

 

[MiddleJohn]

Good idea!
How would that work?

 

[smo]

I would be willing to bet each TC model had it’s on set of serial numbers, Renegade, Hawken, and so on.

They may have very well have had seperate numbers for each model depending on lock choice as well.



:idunno:

 

[Griz44Mag]

just cuzz I have more 54's than common sense. :rotf:

If you need help coming to your senses just send a couple of those .54's over my way. You won't ever have to think about them again.

 

[necchi]

It would be very interesting if someone would endeavor to accumulate a database of TC serial numbers and original purchase dates.

Many have already tried that and on several different forums old and new with lot's of folks participating.
They've tried it with the CVA Mountain Rifle too.
The data can be compiled,, but it's never made much sense.

I would be willing to bet each TC model had it’s own set of serial numbers, Renegade, Hawken, and so on.

That's kind of the problem of it all. Serial numbers don't always represent sequential order.
First one built is #1, second one is #2,,, now they got a 100 rifles off, everythings good so they start another line and the first off that line is 21, second is 22.
A thousand rifles into it all and then,,
They get busy and add a second shift, so the first number off the first line/2nd shift is 1021,, and the first rifle off the second line/2nd shift that same day is 2021.
Both lines put finished product on the same pallet for the job order shipped to the same store.
A week later friends Tom and Jeff walk into the store and each buy a rifle,, but their serial numbers are 1000 apart.

Serial numbers aren't always sequential. :idunno:

 

[necchi]

I think the biggest problem today of trying to date these old and now out of production rifles is that they made the parts so easily interchangeable from one rifle to the other.
Broken hammers, rusty barrels, cracked stocks,, have all been easily replaced with left over parts from "Uncle Toms olde rifle" (remember Tom? he bought a rifle the same day Jeff did) or found on ebay.
Some of us that's been doing this for awhile can remember when ML parts on ebay where cheap!

All of these mixed up things can be and are good functioning rifles,, but with just a number off a barrel,, it won't tell ya how old the rest of it is,

 

[BrownBear]

I think the biggest problem today of trying to date these old and now out of production rifles is that they made the parts so easily interchangeable from one rifle to the other.

That was my reaction. Parts are readily available and the guns are kinda erector sets of parts you can mix and match. And a whole lot of it has been done over the years. Kinda like Johnny Cash's song about the free Cadillac from stolen parts. :wink:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I think the biggest problem today of trying to date these old and now out of production rifles is that they made the parts so easily interchangeable from one rifle to the other.
Broken hammers, rusty barrels, cracked stocks,, have all been easily replaced with left over parts from "Uncle Toms olde rifle" (remember Tom? he bought a rifle the same day Jeff did) or found on ebay.
Some of us that's been doing this for awhile can remember when ML parts on ebay where cheap!

All of these mixed up things can be and are good functioning rifles,, but with just a number off a barrel,, it won't tell ya how old the rest of it is,

Also kinda like the story about Grandpa's old axe. It has had six handles and three heads. But, it is still Grandpa's old axe. :wink:

 

[Kansas Jake]

Still the barrels are numbered and I bet there are some older folks around who worked at TC who could tell us how the serial numbers were used. With that information an approximate period of manufacture could be determined. I would think that would be especially true for the Hawkens and Renegades because so many of them were made.

I'm not at home now so don't have the number, but I bought and built a kit Hawken in the middle 1970's. I don't remember the exact year, but am pretty sure it was purchased in 1975. Now it will have a K prefix serial number, but that would give someone a ball park for kits if we know how the numbers were assigned.

The same thing could be done with the factory assembled guns etc.

 

[necchi]

Still the barrels are numbered and I bet there are some older folks around who worked at TC who could tell us how the serial numbers were used.

Sure, it's 2018,, those folks are long gone, and nobody has answered from the grave yet.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I was in my mid twenties when I bought a new TC kit in about 1975 and I'm still around. I would guess there are still more than a few around who worked there into the last years of production.

 

[necchi]

I was in my mid twenties when I bought a new TC kit in about 1975 and I'm still around. I would guess there are still more than a few around who worked there into the last years of production.

Ok, your right.
Find one.
That will talk about the serial numbers with enough knowledge to end this eternal quest and You will be Sainted,, I will personally solicit canonization.
For that would truly be a miracle. :v