I Took a Beautiful "Cougar" Home.........

Old No7 · March 8, 2020, 05:37 PM

I Took a Beautiful "Cougar" Home the other day.........

Luckily, it wasn't a large feline -- or the female human variety either...

But she is rather pretty!

I used to have a nice T/C Hawken but sold it off when a shooter at the club made me one of those "can't refuse" offers. I wasn't shooting it much and figured I could always get another one, but after awhile I really wasn't fond of the shiny brass. I missed having a sidelock in my safe, so I recently I went on the hunt for a decent T/C Renegade in .50 cal, figuring the all-blue hardware would better appeal to me. But what I found instead was the "Cougar" version of T/C's Hawken -- the limited edition model from the late 80'/early 90's made with brushed stainless steel hardware (which looks like pewter) and a "drop dead gorgeous" piece of walnut burl that spoke to me saying "Take Me Home!"

So I did!!!

Best part was, no outlay of cash was needed, as I traded an old revolver that I wasn't shooting anymore.

Gosh I'm loving the wood on this one! And I like the "French Gray" color of the hardware too.

I added one of T/C's rare Hunting Tang Sights on the tang and removed the stock rear sight; now I just need to add some plug screws to the barrel and get a Treso Ampco Bronze nipple (which I use on all my blackpowder guns) and then I'll take her out to the range.

I sure hope she shoots as well as she looks!

Old No7

YARDDOG(1) · March 8, 2020, 06:24 PM

A beauty for sure, Don't forget range report ; )
Y/D

Pahoo · March 8, 2020, 06:58 PM

Many TC models came out with some exceptional wood. Then again, some didn't. It was just hit and miss, on the Burl, Butt and Crotch. Yours is very nice. When you get a chance, let us know the condition of the bore & crown. You have a good eye !!! …

Be Safe !!!

Old Stony · March 9, 2020, 04:18 AM

They were beautiful rifles, and the TC Hawken is a good shooting workhorse !

RonC · March 14, 2020, 09:02 PM

I picked up a TC Cougar at a local pawnshop and it, too, has very nice wood. The wood is not quite as attractive as yours, but I was pleased after I cleaned it up.

It was surprising to see how capable T.C. was in making a fine rifle.
Ron

arcticap · March 15, 2020, 12:29 PM

RonC, That's gorgeous wood!

Pahoo · March 15, 2020, 01:24 PM

Quote:

It was surprising to see how capable T.C. was in making a fine rifle.
Ron

Most of the "vintage" TC-SideLocks have very good locks and barrels. On top of that, you have one with gorgeous wood. Many of the fancier woods had some minor blemishes and imperfections. Easy to live with when you have beautiful grain. ……

Be Safe !!!

**4V50 Gary** · March 15, 2020, 04:11 PM

Wow!

March 8, 2020, 05:37 PM	#1
Old No7 Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Posts: 60	I Took a Beautiful "Cougar" Home......... I Took a Beautiful "Cougar" Home the other day......... Luckily, it wasn't a large feline -- or the female human variety either... But she is rather pretty! I used to have a nice T/C Hawken but sold it off when a shooter at the club made me one of those "can't refuse" offers. I wasn't shooting it much and figured I could always get another one, but after awhile I really wasn't fond of the shiny brass. I missed having a sidelock in my safe, so I recently I went on the hunt for a decent T/C Renegade in .50 cal, figuring the all-blue hardware would better appeal to me. But what I found instead was the "Cougar" version of T/C's Hawken -- the limited edition model from the late 80'/early 90's made with brushed stainless steel hardware (which looks like pewter) and a "drop dead gorgeous" piece of walnut burl that spoke to me saying "Take Me Home!" So I did!!! Best part was, no outlay of cash was needed, as I traded an old revolver that I wasn't shooting anymore. Gosh I'm loving the wood on this one! And I like the "French Gray" color of the hardware too. I added one of T/C's rare Hunting Tang Sights on the tang and removed the stock rear sight; now I just need to add some plug screws to the barrel and get a Treso Ampco Bronze nipple (which I use on all my blackpowder guns) and then I'll take her out to the range. I sure hope she shoots as well as she looks! Old No7 __________________ "Freedom and the Second Amendment... One cannot exist without the other." © 2000 DTH Last edited by Old No7; March 8, 2020 at 05:42 PM.

March 8, 2020, 06:24 PM	#2
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	A beauty for sure, Don't forget range report ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett<

March 8, 2020, 06:58 PM	#3
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Very nice !!! Many TC models came out with some exceptional wood. Then again, some didn't. It was just hit and miss, on the Burl, Butt and Crotch. Yours is very nice. When you get a chance, let us know the condition of the bore & crown. You have a good eye !!! … Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

March 15, 2020, 04:11 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Wow! __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 9, 2020, 04:18 AM	#4
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	They were beautiful rifles, and the TC Hawken is a good shooting workhorse !

March 14, 2020, 09:02 PM	#5
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 226	I picked up a TC Cougar at a local pawnshop and it, too, has very nice wood. The wood is not quite as attractive as yours, but I was pleased after I cleaned it up. It was surprising to see how capable T.C. was in making a fine rifle. Ron

March 15, 2020, 12:29 PM	#6
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	RonC, That's gorgeous wood!