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Serial Number Dating a T/C

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Wow! I didn’t think T/C started making Hawkens until 1970?
They didn't, and I bought a brand new in the box T/C Hawken .45 caliber #1031XX in early 1974 at the AGCA Birmingham, AL Gun Show. If my memory serves me right the price was just under $150.
 
my .50cal is serial number 112x and all the hallmarks of first year manufacture 1970
 

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I knew my wife's Renegade was pre-warning but until I was cleaning it last night I never even realized it also didn't have the model name stamped on it, which got me searching about it. I know there's no way to know exactly but I reckon it might be older than I thought. Serial #890XX
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Now that's an interesting share @Justin.44 ,
A 1" with no model,, an I been watchin this thread for 14yrs,,
Ever check the twist? Is it 1-48 or a slow?
Where's bubba.50 when ya need'im?
 
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Now that's an interesting share @Justin.44 ,
A 1" with no model,, an I been watchin this thread for 14yrs,,
Ever check the twist? Is it 1-48 or a slow?
Where's bubba.50 when ya need'im?
I was told it was 1-48 when I bought it but never verified it. I saw others with no model stamps as I scrolled through this thread but I didn't know they existed before that.
 
I was told it was 1-48 when I bought it but never verified it. I saw others with no model stamps as I scrolled through this thread but I didn't know they existed before that.
My .54 T/C Hawken kit gun from 1981 does not have a model on it. It has the T/C address info and “CAL .54” It is 1:48” It is a 1” barrel.
 
1981 I acquired a new in box 50 cal TC Hawken srn 254xxx no warnings on barrel. I also have a TC Hawken 40 cal with a Green Mountain barrel, suspect it's a replacement though, I remember from a long time ago that Green Mountain did supply barrels along with Sharon for the early TC guns it's great shooter very accurate.
 
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My first BP rifle was a TC Hawken that I still have. Bought it as a kit, and racking my brain, I'm pretty sure it was the year before I went to Elmadag, Turkey (USAF) which would have been 1985. May have been late 1984. S/N 291xx5

It has:

- the warning about black powder only,
- says 50 Cal Hawken after the two line TC name/address
- has a plain M stamped on the bottom flat near the wedge lug (I found several other threads with several more likely opinions that it was an Inspector's mark.)
- no cleanout screw in the snail
- has the little ground off screw on the opposite side of the snail with a smidgeon of slot left and two small holes on either side
- has the shorter, rounded rear adjustable sight
- has the tall hammer spur
- The barrel came in the white and I had to brown it when I built it.
- It's pretty accurate with an 80 grain 3Fg load.

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Regarding the barrel stamps, "Touchrock" posted this in another thread:

"This came from the Thompson Center muzzleloader enthusiast page on Facebook. The man that wrote this created the page and worked at TC in the barrel shop. He now owns his own custom muzzleloader shop and restores TC muzzleloaders as well. He was there… he knows. All those barrel stamps are nothing more than inspector stamps. I saved the text of his post in my notes just to clear up any misinformation lurking around on the internet. this is a screenshot of what I saved So here’s the truth"
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My kit is serial K1127xx, the book has a date of August 1 1978, only thing on the barrel is the cal 50 and Thompson Center Rochester New Hampshire. I was handed a dusty broken box about 20 years ago because “I would actually finish it”

I had to draw file the barrel and all the brass was rough, no instructions with the kit. Had a great time putting it together. I tried a cold blue on the barrel that ended up a kind of a worn looking blue/brown. Accidentally cool. I keep up the brass, it was so much work to get it nice and I like it that way.
Looking at it now I can see how I could have done better in some spots. It shoots great, fits me well and I’m not changing anything.
 
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