Although it sold for more than comparable hunting revolvers, the flexibility of being able to shoot multiple calibers by simply changing out the barrel and sights and its higher accuracy soon made it popular with handgun hunters.

[3] On April 30th, 2025 Thompson/Center was purchased back from Smith & Wesson and is now privately held and family owned and once again led by President and CEO, Gregg Ritz.

On December 8, 2010, Smith & Wesson announced that the original Rochester, New Hampshire, plant would be closed and manufacturing was transferred to Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Encore uses a different trigger mechanism, designed to be stronger than the original Contender's and to make the break-action easier to open.

The Encore uses a considerably larger and stronger frame than the Contender, and accordingly, is found in over 86 cartridges - ranging from .22 Hornet to the huge .416 Rigby.

In 2007, Encore rimfire barrels became available in 22 LR and 17 HMR, featuring a unique monoblock design that required no alteration to the frame assembly.

An upgraded Encore is called the Pro Hunter which generally includes stocks with rubber "Flex Tech" inserts and are stainless or carbon steel with weather shielding.

Also, unlike the original Contender, the break-action does not need to be opened/closed (cycled) to practice dry-firing, provided the hammer is lowered between dry firing "shots".

The traditional Thompson/Center muzzleloaders are largely responsible for the resurgence of black powder hunting that began in the U.S. in 1970 when Warren Center designed the firm's Hawken-styled rifle.

[12] Thompson/Center produced these rifles in the following models and calibers: 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 Hawken: Barrel: 28” octagonal, twist: 1:48, except 1:66 on 50 cal deep button rifling, Trigger: double set, Caliber: 45, 50 & 54, Stock: American Walnut, Status: 45 & 54 discontinued, 50 discontinued, many special editions, Ignition: flint & percussion Cougar: Special edition of the Hawken, satin finish barrel, stainless furniture, highly figured wood Renegade: Barrel: 26” octagonal, 1:38 (50), 1:48 (50 & 54), 1: 66 (50 deep button rifling), smoothbore (56), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 50, 54 & 56, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued, Ignition: flintlock & percussion New Englander Barrel: 24" round, 1:48 Trigger: single, Calibers: .50, .54, and 12 Gauge Stock: American Walnut or black synthetic Ignition: percussion Status: discontinued White Mountain Carbine Barrel: 21" octagon to round, various twist rates Trigger: single Calibers .45, .50.

54 Stock: American Walnut or black synthetic Ignition: Percussion, Status: discontinued Greyhawk Barrel 20" round, Stainless 1:48 Trigger: single Calibers: .50, .54 Stock: black synthetic Ignition: Percussion, Status: discontinued Big Boar: Barrel: 26” octagonal, 1:48, Trigger: single, Caliber: 58, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued, Ignition: percussion Encore 209x50: A modern design muzzleloader that can interchange with centerfire barrels.

Patriot: Barrel: 9” octagonal, Trigger: double set, Caliber: .36 & .45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1997, Ignition: percussion.

Scout: Barrel: 15” round, Trigger: single set, Caliber: 45, 50 & 54, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 199?, Ignition: percussion.

Both are lawful, and while they can easily be assembled into the blasting agent known as ANFO, possession of both has never been held to imply (without other evidence) that a farmer was "making" explosives.