The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - 32 SWL

32 SWL (reply)

Paul — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 14:38:40 +0000

I'm intrigued by that setup JD Jones has. Looks like a lovely little popper!

SSK Industries Just released THIER Contender frame. JDJones (reply)

Rob Leahy — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:14:16 +0000

had one to show me when he came up for a visit. it looks promising. K50 (IIRC)

That's what sparked my posts below... (reply)

Paul — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:01:38 +0000

TC went kaput, S&W let 'em die and no one wanted to resurrect them. Then SSK brought out their new "Cloned Contender" frames, supposed to be "New and Improved" and just started getting out to the folks who pre-ordered them way back when. As this and Leverguns are the only forums I tend to infest, I'd not heard about the SSK until friends on Facebook started chatting about them. Reports (so far) are uniformly positive. I've wanted a singleshot pistol for ages, but never had the shekels to procure one (still don't, but am saving up). Took at look at the CVA version (non-interchangeable barrels -IIRC) but nothing really tickled my fancy (their break action rifle, on the other hand, is a dandy- in 35 Whelen it's the only rifle that's ever managed to give me scope brow). So the Contender's dead, long live the SSK-50!

Unsure of the era but for a few years... (reply)

Otony — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 21:47:16 +0000

Those were late ‘70s, very early ‘80s. When they stopped bringing them in, they went to importing the Howa 1500, but they recycled the model names and stock styles initially. Neither lasted long…..

Otony

Yep (reply)

Slow Hand — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 20:55:35 +0000

Quite a few hunting river over the years. And some shotguns as well. I remember the shotguns not being bad but just not the same as an 870 or even 500

I remember those (reply)

Slow Hand — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 20:54:32 +0000

I’m not sure if the era either but I think they were a good bit older, 80’s or so?

Unsure of the era but for a few years... (reply)

Hoot — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 19:12:22 +0000

S&W's were Husky's in disguise. If I'm remembering at all, they carried letter designations; e.g.: Model A, Model B, etc.

Thompson Center long gone............ (reply)

Gunner — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 18:59:19 +0000

ICON from T/C was supposed to be a really good rifle, S&W rebranded it and sold it but soon disappeared. Over the years Smith tried to market long guns several times but never seemed to really get behind them and they all faded away.

Gunner

Thompson Center long gone............ (reply)

Slow Hand — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 18:03:04 +0000

I never looked at them very seriously but didn’t TC and S&W both have near identical bolt action centerfire rifles? I guess they married their lines for a little bit anyways.

Seems to me that I heard about S&W selling off the TC (reply)

Hobie — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 14:26:00 +0000

tooling/machines about 2-3, maybe 4-5, years ago. Time seems to fly by now. But they certainly didn't do much with it. Prices have increased for since then and complete original Contender guns are actually finding buyers at the $800-1000 range. People are buying barrels for $450 before tax and shipping. SSK-50 frames might bring frame prices down, slightly, as they are going to have to sell for about $395 or so (in the near future)...

Sorry, you got me started. I don't think I'm the only one getting excited about Contenders again.

Thompson Center long gone............ (reply)

Gunner — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 13:45:44 +0000

S&W never did anything with T/C, rumor was they bought the company for the casting division and the rifle making equipment. After owning T/C for years S&W announced they were closing it, can't remember when that was, late 2000's????

Gunner

Wikipedia refers to Thompson Center in past tense.

A K Church — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 12:52:06 +0000

Is is kaput? Certainly Smith and Wwesson never did much with them past acquistion.