thompson center muzzlelloader the serial starts with an S does that signify what model it is

[becks]

i have a thompson center muzzlelloader the serial starts with an S does that signify what model it is

 

[bpd303]

I believe the S signifies it is a Sharon barrel. It should also have a heart or spade on the underside of the barrel by the tang.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Not necessarily. T/C stamped the serial number with a K for a kit rifle or no letter prefix for factory assembled rifles. The spade or Maltese cross are early T/C inspection markings and have no documented significance with respect a manufacturer of the barrel.

 

[longcruise]

The S is a mystery to me. Very curious about the conclusion, if any, on this question

 

[Grenadier1758]

I do not know of any Sharon marked rifle barrels that are stamped with the spade or Maltese Cross. I have a Sharon barrel. The only inspection stamp is the name, Sharon.

 

[SDSmlf]

I believe the S signifies it is a Sharon barrel. It should also have a heart or spade on the underside of the barrel by the tang.

It seems different T/C inspectors used various stamps, such as a heart, a spade, a Maltese cross, a capital M in a circle among other letters. Now if you are going to suggest that each stamp represents a different barrel manufacturer…….

 

[bpd303]

It seems different T/C inspectors used various stamps, such as a heart, a spade, a Maltese cross, a capital M in a circle among other letters. Now if you are going to suggest that each stamp represents a different barrel manufacturer…….

Everything I have read about the TC barrels supplied by Sharon is they were all stamped with either a spade or heart. I have never read about a TC serial number that started with an S but it seems to me if the barrel in question has one of the other stamps, the S would also indicate Sharon as the barrel maker. The only TC serial number that starts with a letter that I have read about were those that started with a K indicating the rifle was a Kit gun.
Also I guess most of us know that the records of TC serial numbers were destroyed in a fire so research is quite difficult.

 

[bpd303]

Now if anyone is really interested in doing a ton of reading here are 2 Google searches with plenty of reading about the subject...good luck.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Tho...1A6g4ChDy0wN6BAgDEAQ&biw=1057&bih=484&dpr=1.2
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=Thompson+Center+sharon+barrel+site:muzzleloadingforum.com