Make: Thompson Center Arms

Model: Contender

Serial Number: 10 036

Year of Manufacture: 1974

Caliber: .22 Remington Jet

Action Type: Break Action, Single Shot, Hammer Fired Pistol.

Markings: The barrel is marked with the Thompson Center address and its respective caliber. The frame is marked with the serial number and TCA in a circle on the right and a “10th” on the left.

Barrel Length: 10” Octagon

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set atop a ramped base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a fully adjustable square notch screwed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: This contender has a two piece checkered wood furniture set with a Herrett style forend and capped right hand thumb shelf pistol grip. There are light handling marks throughout. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is sharp. Overall the stock set rates in Very Good to Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at a 9.5/10

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is faint wear and from use and handling. The markings are clear. The screw heads are lightly tooled with strong slots. Overall, this Contender rates in at about Excellent condition. The spare barrel is in Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions as intended. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements. The action is extremely stiff and while it will open, it takes some considerable effort.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Presentation case, 12” .223 barrel.

Our Assessment: This is a rare and desirable early-production Thompson Center Contender commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Thompson Center Association (TCA), manufactured in 1974. Chambered in the high-velocity .22 Remington Jet, this single-shot pistol showcases the hallmark features that made the Contender platform legendary—precision machining, modularity, and outstanding accuracy. With its distinctive “TCA” logo engraved in a circle on the right side of the frame and “10th” on the left, this commemorative model is a standout collectible for fans of Thompson Center’s early years and legacy. This example features a 10" octagonal barrel with excellent bluing, crisp sights, and a bore that remains bright with sharp rifling, rating 9.5/10. The wood furniture consists of a right-hand thumb-shelf grip and Herrett-style forend, both checkered walnut and in Very Good to Excellent condition with only minor handling marks. The blued finish is about 99% intact, with minimal signs of wear, and the markings are clean and well-defined. Mechanically, the action functions as intended, though it is notably stiff—likely due to limited use or congealed storage lubricant—and would benefit from a careful cleaning.

The pistol is housed in a fitted presentation case and includes a 12" .223 Remington barrel, adding significant versatility. The inclusion of this additional barrel enhances the set’s practical and collectible appeal, offering both rimfire-class performance and centerfire capability from the same frame.

Whether you're a Thompson Center enthusiast, single-shot pistol collector, or someone who appreciates finely crafted American firearms, this early TCA-marked 10th Anniversary Contender delivers rare historical value and versatile functionality in a near-pristine package.