Ideas of value of in-box T/C Renegade 50-cal Carbine kit?

ironhorse · May 12, 2008, 06:24 AM

I have a still-in-the-box Thompson Center Renegade Caplock 50 caliber carbine kit. It has been opened, but I never did start the process, something always came up, didn't have the right tools, etc. I got it in '89 or '90, can't find any info on it, don't believe they've been made for some time.
Would like to know if anyone has any idea how much it would be valued at, or what the original price was. Looking at getting kids into SASS and might be selling/trading off some firearms.
Thanks

(edit test by .)

mykeal · May 12, 2008, 07:17 AM

The Fifth Edition (2007) of the Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms lists the T/C Renegade value as $295 in 100% condition. The last manufacturer's suggested retail price was $360. The standard Renegade came in .50, .54 and .56 (smoothbore) calibers and a 12 ga barrel was available. Both percussion and flintlock models were produced. The barrel length was 26 inches; there is no mention of a carbine model (presumably a 20-22 inch barrel) of the Renegade. Unfinished kit values are not mentioned; ususally they run anywhere from $25 to $100 less than a finished gun.

Blue Book values are only a guide, and can and do vary considerably in either direction.

Raider2000 · May 12, 2008, 08:47 AM

You have pictures of it?

Pahoo · May 12, 2008, 10:52 AM

ironhorse,
Consider doing the kit. I have a T.C. Hawken kit that I am in the middle of putting together. It was sitting around for about three years and finally got around to working on it. Don't know how much this will help, but last November, I bought a New Englander, in 100%, for $150.00. This model has a round barrel and yours has an octogon barrel and should have double set triggers. Other than that, they are pretty much alike. Go to Gun Broker and see what they are getting for theirs.
I'm going to assume you have the "Hunter Model" model, Product No. 5262 with single trigger. If you have double set triggers, then you have product No. 5052. Both models have 26" barrels.

Be Safe

hillbille · May 12, 2008, 04:18 PM

just sold my kit renegade got it in 79, now I won't swear on it but I was told thompson won't give lifetime waranty on a kit barrell, or kit gun/stock. was told this at a local muzzleloading shop here local. The serial # should start with a K#### ect the K is for kit. this is what I was told and that resale would be greatly reduced because of lack of waranty. Hope this isn't bad news and like I say I can't swear this is true, just what I heard. As per value a real renegade here local is 100-150, sidelocks just hard to sell anymore, kit values of same gun 50-75. I guess I was lucky got 100 in trade for mine. think prices are higher in other states that cater to primitive hunting. good luck hope you fair better than me.

Pahoo · May 12, 2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

now I won't swear on it but I was told thompson won't give lifetime waranty on a kit barrell, or kit gun/stock. was told this at a local muzzleloading shop here local.

You were told correctly and it would have said so in the instructions. However, if you would have pieced out the kit, you would have gotten more money. The new barrel alone, is worth about $150.00. That leaves the lock and stock and you could have gotten some for that. Life goes on !!

Be Safe

Raider2000 · May 12, 2008, 06:49 PM

Pahoo:
I'm jelouse, I've been looking for a deal like that on a New Englander for quite some time.

I want a kit rifle like a Hawken or something but almost all of em are close to the same price as a fully built gun & I sure as #$^&*@ don't want a Traditions kit from all the reviews thatg I've read of them, kind of why I was hoping for a picture of the one that ironhorse has.

ironhorse · May 12, 2008, 07:38 PM

Here are some pics of the box and kit.
It looks like a 24-inch barrel, I didn't measure it, not sure why I thought it was 18-inch. With no action, magazine, etc. it makes a fairly short rifle even with the longer barrel.
Very nice piece of walnut for the stock, and it is a double trigger.

mykeal · May 12, 2008, 08:21 PM

The lack of a warranty on kit guns does not seem to have much effect on prices. Kits have their own fan base: people who are just as interested in building guns as they are in shooting them, and the lack of warranty does not seem to matter that much to them. That tends to keep the cost of kit guns up.

Raider2000 · May 12, 2008, 09:27 PM

Maybe so mykeal but to some like me who am not interested in a waranty "I do plenty of waranty work my self for the dealership" I would like to see a nice kit offered that is maybe 2/3 the cost of a fully assembled warantied identicle rifle because not only would I enjoy the time & energy in assembling it but also in customizing it as well to make it mine.

A very nice kit you have there ironhorse when you decide on a price let me know, I don't want to shoot out a number because I'm not sure what you would want for it.

arcticap · May 12, 2008, 10:43 PM

My guesstimate is that the kit is worth between $200 - $300, give or take depending on the marketing venue. $250 would be a pretty fair deal on the open market.
My nearest Cabela's superstore was clearancing Investarms Hawkins kits (a.k.a. Lyman) for ~$275 plus tax. But that's because it's old stock and not affected by the increased list prices of newly imported inventory.

mykeal · May 12, 2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

I would like to see a nice kit offered that is maybe 2/3 the cost of a fully assembled warantied identicle rifle

So would I! But don't hold your breath.

Pahoo · May 13, 2008, 10:36 AM

Raider2000
I share your frustration and feelings on this kit. With all respect to ironhorse, sure wish he had given the forum the opertunity to buy it. The last kit I bought, was from FoxRidge and they are no longer in business. It was a Hawken and paid just over $300.00, when assembled, they were over $500.00. I have to think that they could or should be available. I have another kit TC Hawken assembled rifle that I picked up for $175.00 with extra .32 barrel. Did not have to look at the S/N to tell it was a kit as it was not finished very well. At some future date, I will tear it back down and rework it. The warranty means little or nothing to me on a kit like this one as I would never get rid of it and what really can go wrong.
As far as other kits go, I currently prefer the Lyman but one problem is that you have to find someone to blue the barrel and steel parts. I had a local tool shop that did some black oxide for me but now they farm out this work. Having to send this work to a shop, adds to the price and that was one good point about the TC's as they have or had a nice bluing job.
I have a friend that laughs at all these kits as he builds his from the ground up and his finished rifles go for around $1500.00. Very nice work. I will keep an eye out for you, on a prefered kit or kit gun as once in awhile you run into them. By the way, now that we have the pictures, looks like this barrel is not blued and that is probably how they came out in the early years.

Be Safe

hillbille · May 13, 2008, 09:15 PM

pahoo my renegade kit came unblued I tried to cold bue it a few times it only took in spots. I then bought some browning browned the barrell and thebuttplate ect. it really looked good and was different from the rest the browning was still in good shape when I sold it a few months back after 25+ years. just a thought but cheaper than sending it out to blue.

Pahoo · May 14, 2008, 10:15 AM

Thanks Hillbille,
Although I have never gone there, I understand that brown or plum works better than cold blue and you just confirmed so. I have never had any luck with any cold blue and have tried most along with all the tricks. A freind of mine did a brown and it stood up pretty well. Eventually he got away with selling it as an antique. Looks like these early kits were un-blued. The oldest kit gun I have seen, was 1991 and it was blued. The machine shop that I used, had a black oxide proccess and it only cost me a pizza or six-pack. Some day down the road, I may do a brown or plum on a pistol kit.

Be Safe

Raider2000 · May 14, 2008, 10:57 AM

When I do obtain a kit, it'll be in Brown or better yet Plum, I think they look better & have that vintage appeal.

ironhorse · May 16, 2008, 04:30 PM

If there is interest, I would consider selling the kit, rather than going to the trouble of trading it like I was planning. It is heavy, so I'm not sure what delivery would be. I am in Albuquerque, and could do pick-up or delivery.

ironhorse · February 14, 2009, 08:20 AM

Kit is sold, having trouble editing/deleting post.

May 12, 2008, 06:24 AM	#1
ironhorse Junior Member Join Date: May 12, 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 9	Ideas of value of in-box T/C Renegade 50-cal Carbine kit? I have a still-in-the-box Thompson Center Renegade Caplock 50 caliber carbine kit. It has been opened, but I never did start the process, something always came up, didn't have the right tools, etc. I got it in '89 or '90, can't find any info on it, don't believe they've been made for some time. Would like to know if anyone has any idea how much it would be valued at, or what the original price was. Looking at getting kids into SASS and might be selling/trading off some firearms. Thanks (edit test by .) Last edited by .; February 13, 2009 at 05:51 PM. Reason: test

May 12, 2008, 10:52 AM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	ironhorse, Consider doing the kit. I have a T.C. Hawken kit that I am in the middle of putting together. It was sitting around for about three years and finally got around to working on it. Don't know how much this will help, but last November, I bought a New Englander, in 100%, for $150.00. This model has a round barrel and yours has an octogon barrel and should have double set triggers. Other than that, they are pretty much alike. Go to Gun Broker and see what they are getting for theirs. I'm going to assume you have the "Hunter Model" model, Product No. 5262 with single trigger. If you have double set triggers, then you have product No. 5052. Both models have 26" barrels. Be Safe Last edited by Pahoo; May 12, 2008 at 02:27 PM. Reason: Additional info.

February 14, 2009, 08:20 AM	#18
ironhorse Junior Member Join Date: May 12, 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 9	Sold Kit is sold, having trouble editing/deleting post.

May 12, 2008, 07:17 AM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	The Fifth Edition (2007) of the Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms lists the T/C Renegade value as $295 in 100% condition. The last manufacturer's suggested retail price was $360. The standard Renegade came in .50, .54 and .56 (smoothbore) calibers and a 12 ga barrel was available. Both percussion and flintlock models were produced. The barrel length was 26 inches; there is no mention of a carbine model (presumably a 20-22 inch barrel) of the Renegade. Unfinished kit values are not mentioned; ususally they run anywhere from $25 to $100 less than a finished gun. Blue Book values are only a guide, and can and do vary considerably in either direction.

May 12, 2008, 08:47 AM	#3
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	You have pictures of it?

May 12, 2008, 04:18 PM	#5
hillbille Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2008 Location: west virginia born 1/19/1961 Posts: 222	just sold my kit renegade got it in 79, now I won't swear on it but I was told thompson won't give lifetime waranty on a kit barrell, or kit gun/stock. was told this at a local muzzleloading shop here local. The serial # should start with a K#### ect the K is for kit. this is what I was told and that resale would be greatly reduced because of lack of waranty. Hope this isn't bad news and like I say I can't swear this is true, just what I heard. As per value a real renegade here local is 100-150, sidelocks just hard to sell anymore, kit values of same gun 50-75. I guess I was lucky got 100 in trade for mine. think prices are higher in other states that cater to primitive hunting. good luck hope you fair better than me.

May 12, 2008, 06:49 PM	#7
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	Pahoo: I'm jelouse, I've been looking for a deal like that on a New Englander for quite some time. I want a kit rifle like a Hawken or something but almost all of em are close to the same price as a fully built gun & I sure as #$^&*@ don't want a Traditions kit from all the reviews thatg I've read of them, kind of why I was hoping for a picture of the one that ironhorse has.

May 12, 2008, 08:21 PM	#9
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	The lack of a warranty on kit guns does not seem to have much effect on prices. Kits have their own fan base: people who are just as interested in building guns as they are in shooting them, and the lack of warranty does not seem to matter that much to them. That tends to keep the cost of kit guns up.

May 12, 2008, 09:27 PM	#10
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	Maybe so mykeal but to some like me who am not interested in a waranty "I do plenty of waranty work my self for the dealership" I would like to see a nice kit offered that is maybe 2/3 the cost of a fully assembled warantied identicle rifle because not only would I enjoy the time & energy in assembling it but also in customizing it as well to make it mine. A very nice kit you have there ironhorse when you decide on a price let me know, I don't want to shoot out a number because I'm not sure what you would want for it.

May 12, 2008, 10:43 PM	#11
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	My guesstimate is that the kit is worth between $200 - $300, give or take depending on the marketing venue. $250 would be a pretty fair deal on the open market. My nearest Cabela's superstore was clearancing Investarms Hawkins kits (a.k.a. Lyman) for ~$275 plus tax. But that's because it's old stock and not affected by the increased list prices of newly imported inventory.

May 13, 2008, 10:36 AM	#13
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Raider2000 I share your frustration and feelings on this kit. With all respect to ironhorse, sure wish he had given the forum the opertunity to buy it. The last kit I bought, was from FoxRidge and they are no longer in business. It was a Hawken and paid just over $300.00, when assembled, they were over $500.00. I have to think that they could or should be available. I have another kit TC Hawken assembled rifle that I picked up for $175.00 with extra .32 barrel. Did not have to look at the S/N to tell it was a kit as it was not finished very well. At some future date, I will tear it back down and rework it. The warranty means little or nothing to me on a kit like this one as I would never get rid of it and what really can go wrong. As far as other kits go, I currently prefer the Lyman but one problem is that you have to find someone to blue the barrel and steel parts. I had a local tool shop that did some black oxide for me but now they farm out this work. Having to send this work to a shop, adds to the price and that was one good point about the TC's as they have or had a nice bluing job. I have a friend that laughs at all these kits as he builds his from the ground up and his finished rifles go for around $1500.00. Very nice work. I will keep an eye out for you, on a prefered kit or kit gun as once in awhile you run into them. By the way, now that we have the pictures, looks like this barrel is not blued and that is probably how they came out in the early years. Be Safe

May 13, 2008, 09:15 PM	#14
hillbille Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2008 Location: west virginia born 1/19/1961 Posts: 222	pahoo my renegade kit came unblued I tried to cold bue it a few times it only took in spots. I then bought some browning browned the barrell and thebuttplate ect. it really looked good and was different from the rest the browning was still in good shape when I sold it a few months back after 25+ years. just a thought but cheaper than sending it out to blue.

May 14, 2008, 10:15 AM	#15
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Thanks Hillbille, Although I have never gone there, I understand that brown or plum works better than cold blue and you just confirmed so. I have never had any luck with any cold blue and have tried most along with all the tricks. A freind of mine did a brown and it stood up pretty well. Eventually he got away with selling it as an antique. Looks like these early kits were un-blued. The oldest kit gun I have seen, was 1991 and it was blued. The machine shop that I used, had a black oxide proccess and it only cost me a pizza or six-pack. Some day down the road, I may do a brown or plum on a pistol kit. Be Safe

May 14, 2008, 10:57 AM	#16
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	When I do obtain a kit, it'll be in Brown or better yet Plum, I think they look better & have that vintage appeal.

May 16, 2008, 04:30 PM	#17
ironhorse Junior Member Join Date: May 12, 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 9	If there is interest, I would consider selling the kit, rather than going to the trouble of trading it like I was planning. It is heavy, so I'm not sure what delivery would be. I am in Albuquerque, and could do pick-up or delivery.