Make: Thompson Center Arms

Model: Contender

Serial Number: 1763

Year of Manufacture: 1967

Caliber: .357 Magnum

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.

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 little to no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at a 9.5/10

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% 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 Very Good to Excellent condition. Both spare barrels are 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.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Presentation case, 10” .22 L.R. barrel, and 10” .22 Hornet barrel.

Our Assessment: The Thompson Center Contender is an iconic single-shot pistol platform known for its modular design, accuracy, and craftsmanship. This example, serial number 1763, is a very early first-year production model made in 1967 and features the rare “flat side” frame—distinguished by the absence of the mountain lion engraving later seen on standard models. Early flat sides are prized by collectors for their scarcity, historical importance, and clean aesthetic, representing the launch of one of the most successful single-shot handgun systems in American firearms history. This Contender is chambered in .357 Magnum and sports a 10” octagonal barrel, ideal for both target shooting and hunting applications. The bore is excellent, bright with sharp rifling and minimal to no erosion, rating 9.5/10. The blued finish is exceptionally well-preserved with 98% coverage and only faint signs of handling. The two-piece walnut furniture set, featuring a right-handed thumb-shelf grip and Herrett-style forend, is in equally impressive shape with crisp checkering and no chips or cracks, rating Very Good to Excellent overall.

Included in this set are two spare 10” barrels—one in .22 LR and the other in .22 Hornet—both in Excellent condition. These barrels highlight the modular nature of the Contender platform and provide versatility across rimfire plinking, centerfire precision, and hunting roles. The pistol and accessories are housed in a fitted presentation case, rounding out this highly desirable and complete collector's package.

For enthusiasts of American firearms innovation, silhouette shooting, or specialty handgun hunting, this flat side 1967 Contender offers exceptional collectibility and performance. It’s not just a pistol—it’s a piece of Thompson Center history, presented here in outstanding condition with all the utility and class that made the Contender an enduring classic.