This Thompson Center New Englander Shotgun has a 28" tapered round barrel with a matte blue finish. The walnut stock has a very few small handling marks. The blue finish does not display any serious wear from use. Trigger reach is 13-1/2" and this shotgun weighs 6.1 pounds.

The 12 gauge bore is bright. The cylinder bore measures .725" at the muzzle, and can be used with either lead or bismuth shot, or a patched round ball for larger game. A small brass bead is fitted near the muzzle to serve as a front sight. No rear sight is installed in typical fowling gun fashion. The barrel, tang, and triggerguard on this example has a very matte blue finish vs. the typical polished blue finish. It is also a fairly low serial number and T/C did make production changes over time.

The hooked breech allows the barrel to be easily dismounted for cleaning without risk of wetting the stock with water containing black powder residue. To dismount the barrel, put the lock on half cock, withdraw the ramrod, drift the keys past the underlugs, and the barrel can be lifted from the barrel channel for ease of cleaning. Remove the nipple and place the breech end of the barrel in a bucket of soapy water. Run a wet patch down and up the bore, the pumping action will flush all the fouling from the barrel. Once the bore is clean, run a dry patch down the bore to pick up any moisture followed by a oily patch. Dry and oil the exterior then reassemble the rifle.

The walnut stock is in excellent condition, with only a few very minor handling marks on the heel. The trigger guard is wide to accept a gloved finger. The blued buttplate is stamped with the TC logo. The wooden ramrod is fitted with a blued loading tip. The hidden tip is threaded to accept 5/16-27 shotgun loading and cleaning accessories.

Our lock view shows the color case hardened percussion lock, factory engraved by Thompson Center. The breech is fitted with a 1/4-28 threaded stainless steel nipple. This lock works smoothly, with a strong mainspring, and fly detent. The trigger provides a smooth release of the lock. The trigger on this early example has a small flat on the back and sits further back in the bow. Cocking the lock rotates the trigger forward from the rear of the bow. Note, the New Englander model is the only T/C model that requires removing the tang to dismount the lock due to the overhang on the breech plug tang.

This Thompson Center New Englander Shotgun with serve you well both in the field and at the range. This is a nice example of a T/C New Englander with the factory cylinder bore barrel that has been well maintained. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.