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T/C Stop Making Flintlocks?

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7shortmag

32 Cal.
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
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Don't yell at me if this is old news or if I am completely wrong here.
Did T/C stop making flintlocks?
I can't find them on their website
Thanks
 
I found the early Thompson Center to be quality as I did the early CVA's. Some problems with the coil spring action on flint lock Thompson Center. Barrels on some Thompson Center ( especially 45 caliber) had a bad run out problem and the factory didn't know enough to place run out on down side , I have found run outs on either side of the barrel. CVA started producing their merchandise in Spain and quality went accordingly. Thompson Center started feeling bulky and off balance in the newer versions, ( my opinion).
The early years of these old name brand rifles are becoming antiques in their own right.
 
It's sad that T/C stopped making flintlocks.
I have two Renegades. One is stock .50 cal. and the other is a customized .54 that I use for hunting. I never shoot the .50 any more and have no use for it. Been debating whether to sell it or keep it.............. "just because".
 
I let a flintlock T/C PA hunter go after a fail to fire when hunting one cold frosty morning. I regret that now. My fault, no doubt. It was a nice compromise between modern and traditional. I been following posts here while I looked around for another PA model. IMHO, the Lyman is smidge less offensive with sights, rate twist and butt plate. The Lyman seems like it has filled that nitch. Probably how I will go. Or I may go even more authentic? Not sure.

It may not be significant here, but; for information, TC is now part of Smith & Wesson. Times change and products were dropped long ago. That is one point. There is no more TC is another point. Different state, different management, engineers and employees.
 
You'd think, with all of their history in the BP hobby, they'd at least, with all of their success with the modern models of firearms, keep producing one version of the venerated sidelock. It wouldn't need to be the same, if they brought something back, but something close, perhaps a bit closer to an original Hawken.

LD
 
S&W can no longer produce a decent CF revolver, even in the custom shop. Why this is, I don't know, but I see numerous complaints about the quality, so I I believe they simply don't have enough skilled labor to produce what they're best known for, much less a flintlock rifle. Sales of side-locks has been widely replaced with the monstrosities a lot of "deer harvesters" now shoot.
 
Price & Demand....

Their price went too $700 + and the demand went too 0...

At the time the decision was made to discontinue production, you could buy an " in the white" semi custom gun for a few hundred dollars more..

They were great guns for the time and started many of us on our BP Journey...

I still own a couple of Renegades, which I preferred over the Hawken style gun.

However I found both too shoot very well...
 
T/C stopped making sidelock guns, flint and percussion long ago, in the Mid/Late 1990's I think, after they suffered a big fire. And before they were bought by Remington.
They only make inlines now.

I for one, wish they would return to the traditional sidelock market.

But, like the old saying goes … "Wish in one hand, and Sh** In the other, and see which one gets full first."
I doubt they well ever return to the sidelock market. :(
 
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At $700 the demand should be zero. IF produced today I would put a fair price at $300. I know there is lots of nostalgia for them and that inflates prices, as does fanatic following. But realistically they are not high quality, well finished or well designed. They were the gun for that time in history. They were safe and somewhat reliable. In 1975 lots o fthe available guns were pretty terrible. By comparison TC was good. Many of today's knowledgeable shooter demand better. And those who don't care about quality or authenticity are happy with Traditions and the like. So a TC Hawken today does not fill a market need. S&W is struggling and making unprofitable ML's would not be a good idea for them.

I think the future lies with outfits like Jim Kibler's company. He is making fantastic rifles using modern manufacturing techniques. He is passionate about what he does and his rifles reflect that. A company like S&W could never do what he does. Jim's price point is about half of what an equal rifle cost 5-years ago. He claims to have a Hawken on the radar screen. If and when that happens you can be sure it will be the best quality and most authentic styling of any mass produced Hawken replica ever marketed.
 
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At $700 the demand should be zero. IF produced today I would put a fair price at $300. I know there is lots of nostalgia for them and that inflates prices, as does fanatic following. But realistically they are not high quality, well finished or well designed. They were the gun for that time in history. They were safe and somewhat reliable. In 1975 lots o fthe available guns were pretty terrible. By comparison TC was good. Many of today's knowledgeable shooter demand better. And those who don't care about quality or authenticity are happy with Traditions and the like. So a TC Hawken today does not fill a market need. S&W is struggling and making unprofitable ML's would not be a good idea for them.

I think the future lies with outfits like Jim Kibler's company. He is making fantastic rifles using modern manufacturing techniques. He is passionate about what he does and his rifles reflect that. A company like S&W could never do what he does. Jim's price point is about half of what an equal rifle cost 5-years ago. He claims to have a Hawken on the radar screen. If and when that happens you can be sure it will be the best quality and most authentic styling of any mass produced Hawken replica ever marketed.

If Kibler makes a Hawken I’m going to have at least one!!
 
T/C stopped making sidelock guns, flint and percussion long ago, in the Mid/Late 1990's I think, after they suffered a big fire. And before they were bought by Remington.
They only make inlines now.

I for one, wish they would return to the traditional sidelock market.

But, like the old saying goes … "Wish in one hand, and Sh** In the other, and see which one gets full first."
I doubt they well ever return to the sidelock market. :(
My information says Thompson Center stopped making sidelocks in late 2006. They were bought by Smith & Wesson in 2007.
 
If Kibler makes a Hawken I’m going to have at least one!!

I'm not that big of a Hawken fan, but the Idea of Kibler making a Hawken makes me smile. :D (especially full stocked and/or small caliber)
Done right, it could be affordable and awesome.
I'd say that right now, price is the biggest factor limiting traditional muzzleloader popularity.
 
I'm not that big of a Hawken fan, but the Idea of Kibler making a Hawken makes me smile. :D (especially full stocked and/or small caliber)
Done right, it could be affordable and awesome.
I'd say that right now, price is the biggest factor limiting traditional muzzleloader popularity.

I’m talking a J&S Hawken real St. Louis style Hawken.

Did the Hawken’s Bros. make smaller caliber guns?
 
My information says Thompson Center stopped making sidelocks in late 2006. They were bought by Smith & Wesson in 2007.

Correct Zonie.That,s when they were collectin dust on racks for $700+.

What ever happened to the facility Rochester,N.H?
 
They were only offerin the Hawkin and Firestorm at that time.I believe they would have still been makin em if they didn,t get bought out cause the Firestorm to my knowledge was sellin good.I bought one new.
 
It got to be too hard to sell a 200 dollar gun for 700 bucks. Especially after the quality of the 200 dollar gun went down to about a buck twenty-five.
 
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