Thompson Center Round Ball 1:66

Recently a friend bought a new, unfired T/C round ball rifle at a local gunshow. The questions that we both have on this hidden jewel are;

~ Date of manufacture (date range)
~ How many were produced
~ Was the lack of a patch box specific to this design
~ Black hardware
~ Barrel manufacturer
~ Any other interesting information

Thanks,
Treetop

TC Hawken Classic from their Fox Ridge Outfitters custom shop. Yes, the lack of patchbox, blued furniture, and roundball barrel were features of this model. No telling when it was manufactured, probably '80's but if you contact TC they'll just tell you "we had a fire and all records were lost".

Nice gun by the way.

A brand new "old" rifle is quite a find. And it is sure a good looking one.

Does it say Pennsylvania Hunter on the barrel, that it what it looks like, it may be from the custom shop but it does look like a standard TC Pennsylvania Hunter.

Eric Krewson said:

Does it say Pennsylvania Hunter on the barrel, that it what it looks like, it may be from the custom shop but it does look like a standard TC Pennsylvania Hunter.

Click to expand...

Penn Hunter had a octagon to round barrel. Not sure what they called this one, but looks like a Renegade with a slow twist barrel or a Hawken without a patch box. Surely someone here will know!!

Once more, it is a Hawken Custom from Fox Ridge Outfitters which was TC's custom shop. Differs from the standard Hawken in the blued furniture, lack of patchbox, and 30 or 31 inch roundball twist barrel.

Eric Krewson said:

Does it say Pennsylvania Hunter on the barrel, that it what it looks like, it may be from the custom shop but it does look like a standard TC Pennsylvania Hunter.

Click to expand...

She's marked Hawken!

Not a Pennsylvania Hunter. They also have single triggers.

Treetop said:

She's marked Hawken!

Click to expand...

I think Bubba50 nailed it!

That twist is a find for sure as most had 1 in 48 but the early ones were still shooters with ball or maxi. I sold mine because the stock fit was not made for a human. I hated having to hunt for the sights.

Here's a couple more pics,,, notice the small set screw to the left of hammer & also the layed back hammer/monkey tail.

Did I miss the caliber mentioned?

Timber Wolf said:

Did I miss the caliber mentioned?

Click to expand...

If you're asking the caliber, it'll be listed in the writing in front of the hammer on the barrel. Should say .50 cal.

Treetop said:

Here's a couple more pics,,, notice the small set screw to the left of hammer & also the layed back hammer/monkey tail. View attachment 151800View attachment 151801

Click to expand...

The small screw on the breechplug is used with the rear sight holes to mount TC's proprietary scope mount so ya don't have to drill any extra holes in the barrel. Also, it mounted the scope slightly to the left so no hammer bending was required.

The swooped back hammer started on the single trigger models but was later on used on everything.

Timber Wolf said:

Did I

Click to expand...

bubba.50 said:

If you're asking the caliber, it'll be listed in the writing in front of the hammer on the barrel. Should say .50 cal.

Click to expand...

Sorry,,, did not mention the .50 in the lead write up.

I figured that hole was for one of them Outlaw Josey Wales tele-thumper optics, but was not sure!

That is a very nice rifle. Finds like that keep eluding me.

Kabulrocks said:

That is a very nice rifle. Finds like that keep eluding me.

Click to expand...

Yip,,, all I ever find are rot with high prices. I told him to go buy a lottery ticket.

I’m curious about any markings on the bottom flat of the barrel, and are there any in the barrel channel of the stock? The TCs have had shamrocks, maltese crosses, etc. stamped on the barrel, usually by the barrel lug. That helps to date (sorta) and ID the barrel maker.

Is the hardware brass or ferrous? Will a magnet stick to it?