ihmsa forums

Hello all!

I use to shoot the steel back in the early 1980's when I lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Well I got the bug and wanted to start shooting steel again and now live in colorado. Here's my point...I recently purchased a contender frame with serial number 149xxx which means it was made in 1979 and as such needs the 1 piece locking bolt barrels.

I don't have the money for a barrel yet, but was wondering if i'm gonna be able to even find a 1 piece bolt barrel anyways? I've been away from the game so long I was not even aware thompson made a few changes to the contender locking system nor did i know they have 2 generations of contenders until i started reading about it the other day just by happen chance. Now i'm wondering if i messed up and am gonna have an expensive paper weight on my hands?

The frame seems to be in great shape and has a really nice (to me) trigger. it would be a shame if i couldn't use it to shoot steel.

Let me know what you guys think please.

A two piece locking lug will not only work fine it will work much better in your pistol. There are several different sizes of locking lug rollers and too large is a problem but that's not a really common problem. Have fun

x2 on what Dave said I've got a 79 frame (bought new) and have about 10 "spit lug" barrels that work great with it the only barrel I have a problem with is the 30 Herrett Barrel that's "one piece" that came with it

you have a Mark IV frame and they will accept any contender barrel! Mine is a serial# of 145xxx and it is a mark IV. it was manufactured about the same time as yours.

There was actually 5 versions:

Mark I and Mark II Frames are Extremely Rare and most had 4 digit and lower serial numbers. I have never seen one, so not sure what the difference were with these.

Mark III frames were 5 digit serial numbers and Mainly did not have the Easy open action. These had the Trigger Group Pivot pin all the way forward.

Mark IV actions had the Easy open action and mainly the trigger group pivot pin was moved closer to the trigger to make it easier to open. they are 6 digit serial numbers.

And Last was the Contender G2 which has the Encore style trigger group. these were introduced in 1998.

Dan, have to make a correction. What you describe as Mark IV or "easy-open" frames did not come out until around 1981-1982

braud357 wrote:Dan, have to make a correction. What you describe as Mark IV or "easy-open" frames did not come out until around 1981-1982

Then it looks like the serial number records list might be wrong. since mine is most definitely a Mark IV. This is the list I was basing it off.


http://www.handgunhunt.com/tech/t1/index.html

thanks for all the feedback and information! i knew i came to the right place. so really in order to be sure i should ascertain from sellers that its a two piece barrel bolt that i want for my pistol.

so nutcase, i looked at my frame and i see that the pivot pin for the trigger guard is located under the barrel pivot hinge pin at about the 6:30 o'clock position on the frame. Does this sound like how your frame on the 145xxx is made as well?

thanks for the help guys.

Dan, your may have had the "easy-open" conversion - does it have both sets of holes ?

braud357 wrote:Dan, your may have had the "easy-open" conversion - does it have both sets of holes ?

Nevermind, after pulling the barrel off and finding the first digit is worn, I looked at it with a magnifier, it is actually 445xxx

been sitting in front of the computer for 2 days trying to get the news out is finally getting to me.

sabbathman wrote:thanks for all the feedback and information! i knew i came to the right place. so really in order to be sure i should ascertain from sellers that its a two piece barrel bolt that i want for my pistol.

so nutcase, i looked at my frame and i see that the pivot pin for the trigger guard is located under the barrel pivot hinge pin at about the 6:30 o'clock position on the frame. Does this sound like how your frame on the 145xxx is made as well?

thanks for the help guys.

Ok, the way you explained it, you have a mark III frame.

To tell the truth, I wish I had kept my Old Mark III. mine was a 5 digit serial number though. I have owned 6 frames and that one was the best of them all.

and Last, Your frame will work with any TC barrel except the armor alloy barrels. because of the coating used on armor alloy barrels, they are slightly thicker than standard barrels and required special fitting to work with a standard frame.