Contender Frame Identification

[tred1956]

Quick and easy Contender frame ID. I am sure most already know this but hope it helps the new Contender owners.

If the pin circled in TOP picture below is present then it is a NON easy open frame.

If the pin circled in MIDDLE picture below is present then it is an easy open frame.

If the Raised Piece circled in BOTTOM picture below is present then it is a G-2 frame.

ADDED Frame production Dates by Serial Numbers lower in thread

Hope this helps
Safe shooting
Doug

[Iowa Fox]

Doug you own to many flat sides! An old one to boot.

The TC factory did convert some non easy open to easy open. Those will have both holes shown in Doug's picture.

[J A XSP]

Also may be useful for Newbies:
All Contender barrels will fit original, EZ-open or G2 frames (with slightly obscure exception of Armor Alloy frames and barrels).
All forends for Contender barrels will work with any of the frames.
Gripsets and buttstocks for Contender (original and EZ) will not fit G2 and vice-versa.

Encore is a totally different platform and no parts are interchangeable in any way.

[Stumpkiller]

Love the Contender.

[tred1956]

Frame Production Dates:

Serial #'s T/C Contender "Blued"

Year Jan. - June July - Dec.
1967 1001-2250
1968 2251 - 3060 3061 - 4330
1969 4331 - 7500 7501 - 11075
1970 11076 - 14501 14502 - 15360
1971 15361 - 16850 16851 - 17885
1972 17886 - 19800 19801 - 22400
1973 22401 - 24750 24751 - 27090
1974 27091 - 30100 30101 - 34500
1975 34501 - 38401 38402 - 47890
1976 47891 - 60670 60671 - 67875
1977 67876 - 74825 74826 - 80398
1978 80399 - 91872 91873 - 108344
1979 108345 - 133856 133857 - 153636
1980 153637 - 169090 169091 - 173516
1981 173517 - 181663 181664 - 196703
1982 196704 - 208412 208413 - 220806
1983 220807 - 227176 227177 - 234850
1984 234851 - 246791 246792 - 256525
1985 256526 - 265000 265001 - 273800
1986 273801 - 287000 287001 - 297200
1987 297201 - 310599 310600 - 317099
1988 317100 - 327999 328000 - 335200
1989 335201 - 351700 351701 - 357200
1990 357201 - 366900 366901 - 370677
1991 370678 - 382852 382853 - 386697
1992 386698 - 399679 399680 - 407884
1993 407885 - 411796 411797 - 418410
1994 418411 - 427890 427891 - 430597
1995 430598 - 435934 435935 - 438365
1996 438366 - 443306 443307 - 446201
1997 446202 - 446735 446736 - 450227
1998 450228 - 452512 452513 - 453321
1999 453322 - 455590 455591 - 456568
2000 456569 -

Serial #'s T/C Contender "Stainless"

Year Jan. - June July - Dec.
1990
1991
1992
1993 S1100 - S11666 S11667 - S14723
1994 S14724 - S18041 S18042 - S23103
1995 S23104 - S28044 S28045 - S29610
1996 S29611 - S33187 S33188 - S36551
1997 S36552 - S36908 S36909 - S38434
1998 S38435 - S40173 S40518 - S40895
1999 S40896 - S41922 S41923 - S42280
2000 S42281 -

Serial #'s T/C Encore "Blued"

Year Jan. - June July - Dec.
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996 1000 - 4009
1997 4010 - 10648 10649 - 18506
1998 18507 - 29849 29850 - 35342
1999 35343 - 41341 41342 - 43993
2000 43994 -

Serial #'s T/C Encore "Stainless"

Year Jan. - June July - Dec.
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998 S1000 - S1194 S1195 - S6497
1999 S6498 - S9657 S9658 - S11907
2000 S11908 -

[61Knuckle]

Thanks for posting this info, tred. Everyone, with an interest in Contenders needs it available. Don't forget the 'Armour Alloy' series, it is the real 'odd duck' in the family. From about 1986 to early 1990 T/C produced the AA series with a hard chrome plating prior to the release of the stainless models. There is an A prefix on the serial number and an AA on the barrel lug. Barrels need to be reamed to fit a standard frame pin and probably the frame as well due to the thickness of the plating. Check with Bellm or Ed's Contenders.
They weren't real popular, don't seem to be collectable, and aren't common. It has been years since I had my paws on one, however folks have bought barrels or frames thinking they were stainless and then found out that they didn't fit properly on blue or stainless guns.