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

[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