32cal Thompson Center

[Jadkins87]

Hey guys I have a Thomson center muzzleloader rifle 32cal 4 digit serial # and #11 cap wondering what it would be worth any ideas. I am unable to find date of manufactur.

Thank you and God Bless

JDAS
325371325369325370

[725]

? rifle ? pistol ? Any chance of a photo?

[LAGS]

What model TC is it ?
Seneca ?

[Jadkins87]

It's a rifle and does not have a model name

God Bless and Thank you

JDAS

[Jadkins87]

Pictures added

[1Hawkeye]

Its a cherokee model try around 30 grains of 3fg with a .310 round ball. The small bore T/C's were made in the 80's and early 90's and if in great shape can bring north of 600 but in very good bring around 450. I had a couple of them when they were still in production.

[Jadkins87]

Its a cherokee model try around 30 grains of 3fg with a .310 round ball. The small bore T/C's were made in the 80's and early 90's and if in great shape can bring north of 600 but in very good bring around 450. I had a couple of them when they were still in production.

1Hawkeye Thank you for the information

Thank you and God Bless

JDAS

[TNsailorman]

Yes, Cherokee model. I had on and used it in muzzleloading matches called Raccoon shoot. The target was a picture of a Raccoon head on with a circle around the eyes brain area. That was the only scoring area. It was a two minutes drill at 25 yards. Object was to see how many shots you could get into the circle. My buddy, who was a few years older than I was, would beat me most of the time by using the old 2 balls down the snout on each shot. He would shoot 3 shots and put 6 shots into the circle most of the time. While I would struggle to get off 4 and sometimes 5 shots depending on how badly that little 32 bore fouled. It was a great little rifle and like a dang idiot I have always been, I sold it for $400.00 many years ago to buy another rifle. james

[Gtrubicon]

That is an awesome rifle. I have two Cherokee rifles, a 45 and a 36. They are very accurate and very comfortable to carry.

[Somebody]

As others have said, it's a Cherokee. The Seneca was a fancier offering, having a patch box and brass nose cap. The barrels are the same width, but their ribs are not the same length, so Seneca barrels will fit Cherokee stocks, but Cherokee barrels will not fit Seneca stocks. Both use the same lock, which is also the same as the T/C Patriot pistol.

The .45 barreled versions are somewhat vulnerable to breaking at the wrist.

[cwlongshot]

I always wanted one!! Looks great!

[Jadkins87]

I always wanted one!! Looks great!

I am shocked at how much interest this rifle has brought the last few days.. Seems they are generally very good shooting guns.

God Bless

JDAS

[Delkal]

It is a odd bird being 32 cal since 36 cal was always known as the "squirrel caliber" muzzle loader. I even looked at my TC muzzle loader booklet from 1981 and there was no mention of 32 cal. The smallest they had was the 36 cal Seneca.

Does anyone know if TC ever made a 32 cal Maxiball mold? If so I would get one since the rifle probably has 1-48 rifling which should perfectly stabilize it.

[Jadkins87]

I haven't asked about this but I also have a 32cal revolver.

[Jadkins87]

Also a E.N. Santana Barbara 44cal

[HamGunner]

Thompson Center started selling muzzle loading rifles in about 1970 and from what I have read, they started with serial #1,000. A four digit serial # should put it somewhere from 1971-1973 I would think, depending upon just how low the # is. A fire later on destroyed all the records of the earlier guns so there is no way of knowing other than from what dates others had bought their's new.

From the UPI:
"ROCHESTER, N.H., March 28, 1997 -- Fire crews battled an explosion- punctuated blaze during the night at a gun factory complex in New Hampshire. Officials say the five-alarm fire destroyed three buildings at Thompson Center Arms and Thompson Tool Co., one of the largest employers in the Rochester area."

From Wikipedia:
"Cherokee: Barrel: 24” octagonal, twist: 1:30 (32) & 1:48 (36 & 45), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 32, 36 & 45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1994, Ignition: percussion"

"Seneca: Barrel: 27” octagonal, twist: 1:30 (32) & 1:48 (36 & 45), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 32, 36 & 45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1987, Ignition: percussion"

[Jadkins87]

HamGunner Thank you for the extra information.

God Bless

JDAS

[45workhorse]

It is a odd bird being 32 cal since 36 cal was always known as the "squirrel caliber" muzzle loader. I even looked at my TC muzzle loader booklet from 1981 and there was no mention of 32 cal. The smallest they had was the 36 cal Seneca.

Does anyone know if TC ever made a 32 cal Maxiball mold? If so I would get one since the rifle probably has 1-48 rifling which should perfectly stabilize it.

Track of the Wolf has Lee 6 cavities in stock $61

[Delkal]

If I had a 32 cal rifle I would grab one. The only issue that needs some research is how well the bullet will stabilize with a faster 1:30 twist. I thought the older TC muzzle loaders were all 1:48 which was optimized for their Maxi Ball. Is the same true for the .32?.

[TNsailorman]

My .32 TCB Cherokee shot very well with a round ball, patched. I never tried or used a maxi ball as I never really saw any use for them. All my muzzleloaders have/had twist rates for round ball as that is what they were originally designed to shoot. If I wanted to shoot more modern black powder rifles with maxi balls, I would get an inline front stuffer. They have the twist rate for maxi's and not round ball. But to each his own, james

[shdwlkr]

The .32 caliber tc cherokee was a 1:30 twist from the begining All other tc's had a 1;48 twist

[Pereira]

I have one of CVA's versions of that, very fun little shooter.
It's called the Squirrel rifle.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240404/34b560f2378e31fa942242d156c013cb.jpg

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk

[pworley1]

I have one of those I bought several yeas ago, I am not sure what I paid but I think it was about $250.00. It is not for sale, but I would not even consider letting it go for less than $600.00.

[Rockingkj]

Yup a lot of folks in my neck of the woods are looking for and shooting .32. Fun and economical to shoot. I have not gone there yet but have a .36, .38, .40, .50, .54 and a .58. So am missing a number. Lol

[LAGS]

You’re missing a second number.
A .56 SB
Or a .69 or .75

[Rockingkj]

You’re missing a second number.
A .56 SB
Or a .69 or .75

Oh dang! I’m worse off than I thought I was. Will you help me explain that to the wife? Lol

Ps I did miss adding my .45 to my list. Kinda looking like I might have some sorta problem.

[1Hawkeye]

Yes T/C made a maxi ball mold it was 103 grains. The revolvers are good to but the .32 revolver will take a larger ball than the rifle .310 for the rifle and .320-.323 for the revolver and a .451 or .454 for the Remington army copy.

[T-Bird]

I made one of these (Cherokee) in the '80's from a kit. Still have it. In their companion book they recommend .315 ball. Mine likes 30 gr Pyrodex P.

[Gtrubicon]

I made one of these (Cherokee) in the '80's from a kit. Still have it. In their companion book they recommend .315 ball. Mine likes 30 gr Pyrodex P.

I just bought a new in package T/C 32 cal round ball mold, it’s .315. I’m not aware of anyone who still makes a .315.

[LAGS]

I bought .315 balls from TOW
I think they are Hornaday

[lead chucker]

I would love one of those. TC made some nice guns. I tried to get one once on gun broker but once the bid went past $600.00 i was out. They fetch a pretty good price unless you get lucky.

[lead chucker]

I noticed my Crockett with a 1/48 shoots better with 25 to 30 gr 3f than it does with 15 to 20 gr. With that 1/30 you must be able to down load and have real good accuracy. The 1/48 you must have to speed it up more. I wish i would have got into muzzle loaders along time ago when the prices were not so inflated

[Nobade]

I noticed my Crockett with a 1/48 shoots better with 25 to 30 gr 3f than it does with 15 to 20 gr. With that 1/30 you must be able to down load and have real good accuracy. The 1/48 you must have to speed it up more. I wish i would have got into muzzle loaders along time ago when the prices were not so inflated

Exactly. My TC is best with 15 grains of powder, and my Dixie squirrel rifle with 1:48 is best with 30 grains. The TC makes a better squirrel rifle, the Dixie blows them up.
I hear you on the prices, I am glad I bought a lot of muzzleloaders back in the day. I never had much money and I could afford them so that's what I bought. Not so much any longer. I do wish I had kept a few that I sold off over the years, some of them are big bucks now.

[Jeff Michel]

Keep an eye on the stock at the lock plate bolt/escutcheon area. I've had a number of Senecas and Cherokee's over the years and practically every example regardless of caliber cracked in that part of the stock. It wasn't that big of a deal before the fire, T/C would replace them without batting an eye. Sadly, like these side locks, T/C is history as well.

[Nobade]

Keep an eye on the stock at the lock plate bolt/escutcheon area. I've had a number of Senecas and Cherokee's over the years and practically every example regardless of caliber cracked in that part of the stock. It wasn't that big of a deal before the fire, T/C would replace them without batting an eye. Sadly, like these side locks, T/C is history as well.

Especially in the 45 caliber. Epoxy bedding the tang so the force is spread over the whole area goes a long way to keeping that from happening.

[LAGS]

I agree with glass bedding the Tang area on the TC stocks ,
Plus in most cases the whole barrel channel.

[TNsailorman]

Close is not good enough in the tang area. I have seen more muzzleloaders with a split wrist or chipped around the tang than any other area of the stock. my experience anyway, james

[Jadkins87]

Hey guys i got a chance to shoot all of them Friday only a few shots each but they all shots great.. 32 Tc the 54cal TC Hawken's 44cal EN pistol and the bp db 12ga... We had a good time it just got to cold on us lol.. now i need to shoot the 32cal pistol and i will have shot all of them..

Thanks for all the help and information..

God Bless

JDAS

[AntiqueSledMan]

I purchased a .32 caliber CVA Squirrel Rifle years ago, ended up trading it in on a .32 Pedersoli Pennsylvania Rifle.
I really enjoy shooting the .32 caliber, can shoot all weekend on a single flask of powder and no sore shoulder.
I did miss my little Squirrel Rifle so I ended up picking up another, a lot easier walking through the woods with.
I also won a .32 Caliber CVA Pioneer Pistol Kit which I enjoyed putting together and shooting.
Those .32's are a hoot to shoot.

AntiqueSledMan.