Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: Renegade on December 03, 2008, 04:20:45 PM

Title: Hatfield Rifle
Post by: Renegade on December 03, 2008, 04:20:45 PM

Hey everyone, I'm looking at a hatfield rifle at a local gun shop. He has written on the tag  Hatfield 50 cal. squirrel rifle, (must be for deer size squirrels). It looks like a pedersoli made gun. He's asking 699.00 for it, seems a little High to me but I really don't know. Does anybody have any input on these guns or how much they go for brand new?
      Thanks in advance for all your help

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Post by: Bigsmoke on December 03, 2008, 04:29:26 PM

Well, Ted Hatfield has been out of business for at least 10 years, so there isn't any relative measure for what current new price is.  I think they were a little less than that back then.  They are indeed a Pedersoli gun.  Compare to the Cabela's Blue Ridge rifle, about the same thing.
I had one and shot it a bit probably 20 years ago, and it was pretty good shooter.
I'd say there should be some bargaining room in that price, especially if it is used.

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Post by: Captchee on December 03, 2008, 07:24:26 PM

if it says pedersoli , made in italy . its not one of ted hatfeilds .
 pedersoli markets them under the names Blue Ridge , kentucky  and hatfeild  depending on what Sub made them .
 600 seems to me to be to much .
 i know some folks her like them and have had good luck with them. but myself  ahhhhhhh no

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Post by: W. Welshman on December 03, 2008, 07:26:05 PM

They had three version.The first one made by Mr.Hatfield was a good shooter.Don't know much about the second version but the third version was made over in Italy not a good shooter.I have seen both version guns the first version price $400-500 and the Italy one $300.

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Post by: Bigsmoke on December 03, 2008, 07:32:58 PM

If I am not mistaken, Hatfield imported the pieces and parts from Pedersoli and assembled them in St. Joe, MO.  He did have a pretty neat old building there.  Got a tour once from Ted.  Nice place, I think it was on the historical register.
Pedersoli parts will interchange, I think.

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Post by: W. Welshman on December 03, 2008, 07:38:57 PM

It came with two locks caplock- flinter the first version had rust brown finish on barrel third had a blue finish on barrel.I miss out on a first version like new $400 I cry all the way home that day

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Post by: wwpete52 on December 04, 2008, 06:44:55 PM

I had a Hatfield many years ago. It was a fine rifle. I wish that I still had it and several other rifles I traded away!

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Post by: Renegade on December 05, 2008, 10:51:03 AM

Thanks everyone for all your help, much appreciated. I want the rifle,.  but I think he's way too high on the price. I can buy a new cabelas blue ridge rifle for around 500.00. I may just do that.

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Post by: Renegade on December 05, 2008, 10:51:51 AM

Thanks everyone for all your help, much appreciated. I want the rifle, but I think he's way too high on the price. I can buy a new cabelas blue ridge rifle for around 500.00. I may just do that.

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Post by: wwpete52 on December 05, 2008, 03:13:30 PM

What kind of stock does the Hatfield have? Is it a flamed maple stock?

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Post by: Renegade on December 05, 2008, 06:44:09 PM

Quote from: "wwpete52"

What kind of stock does the Hatfield have? Is it a flamed maple stock?

No, It's a dark color. Is the curly maple the original hatfield? I have  seen those.

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Post by: wwpete52 on December 05, 2008, 08:06:40 PM

All of the Hatfields that I have seen had curley maple stocks. I know that the most common Pedersoli has a walnut stock. Pedersoli does make the same rifle with a premium maple stock but it costs more. I think all of the Cabela Pedersoli Frontier rifles have a walnut stock but I might be wrong.
If you have a chance, take another look at the Hatfield. If it has a maple stock you might want to make the guy an offer.  Start low and see if he will take it or counter.  It's your money so make a low offer. Most regular gun shops hate muzzleloaders so start low. He might take it!
I believe that the Hatfield will bring more money than the Cabela if you ever want to sell it.

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Post by: rollingb on December 05, 2008, 09:09:25 PM

In years past, I've had both,.... the Hatfields, and the Pedersoli Blue Ridges.

Some parts will interchange on the 2 rifles,...

The Hatfield used Pedersoli locks after a certain serial #, which were better (IMHO) than the original Hatfield locks.

The Hatfield barrels were about 1/2" longer than the Pedersoli Blue Ridge's.

And the Hatfields used Curly Maple wood,... verses,... Pedersoli Blue Ridge which uses European walnut.

The butt-plates won't interchange between the two types of rifles,... and neither will the triggerguards.

Those are the major differences between the 2 rifles that I can recall (just off the top of my head).

IMO, the Hatfield should be worth a little more money then a Blue Ridge, mainly because of the quality of it's wood.

HTH

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Post by: Renegade on December 06, 2008, 06:11:36 PM

Quote from: "wwpete52"

All of the Hatfields that I have seen had curley maple stocks. I know that the most common Pedersoli has a walnut stock. Pedersoli does make the same rifle with a premium maple stock but it costs more. I think all of the Cabela Pedersoli Frontier rifles have a walnut stock but I might be wrong.
If you have a chance, take another look at the Hatfield. If it has a maple stock you might want to make the guy an offer.  Start low and see if he will take it or counter.  It's your money so make a low offer. Most regular gun shops hate muzzleloaders so start low. He might take it!
I believe that the Hatfield will bring more money than the Cabela if you ever want to sell it.

Thanks for your advise wwpete2. I will go in low and see what happens. I'll let ya know how I make out.

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Post by: Renegade on December 06, 2008, 06:17:02 PM

Quote from: "rollingb"

In years past, I've had both,.... the Hatfields, and the Pedersoli Blue Ridges.

Some parts will interchange on the 2 rifles,...

The Hatfield used Pedersoli locks after a certain serial #, which were better (IMHO) than the original Hatfield locks.

The Hatfield barrels were about 1/2" longer than the Pedersoli Blue Ridge's.

And the Hatfields used Curly Maple wood,... verses,... Pedersoli Blue Ridge which uses European walnut.

The butt-plates won't interchange between the two types of rifles,... and neither will the triggerguards.

Those are the major differences between the 2 rifles that I can recall (just off the top of my head).

IMO, the Hatfield should be worth a little more money then a Blue Ridge, mainly because of the quality of it's wood.

HTH

 Thanks for the INFO. rollinb.

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Post by: Chief1942 on December 11, 2008, 09:12:56 PM

I have two orignal Hatfields a .32 cal and a .50 cal. I have taken game with both and they will stay with me till I'm gone. Have seen the Blue Ridge and other than the profile similarities, I would always choose the Hatfield. When you find a rifle that "just fits" then you become very partial to it and somewhat biased.  That's been my experience with the Hatfields. I think I paid in the neighborhood of $300 each when I purchased them over 15 years ago.  Your milage may vary.

Title: Some Hatfield "History"
Post by: bobkrohn on December 11, 2008, 09:26:19 PM

Link to a page with some backround on the Hatfield rifles.
Not really detailed re: serial numbers, dates, etc.

http://www.100megspop3.com/oldvalkyry/hatfield.html (http://www.100megspop3.com/oldvalkyry/hatfield.html)

I have one marked Hatfield on lock. Barrel has Italian proofs.
No other maker marks.
Wood is very well striped/curled.

Have not shot it yet so can't comment on accuracy but frizzen sparks well.

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Post by: bobkrohn on December 11, 2008, 09:38:32 PM

Another Hatfield link to a forum topic

http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/eve/f ... 5921074403 (http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/20610091/m/5921074403)

Title: Re: Some Hatfield "History"
Post by: Renegade on December 15, 2008, 10:02:49 AM

Quote from: "bobkrohn"

Link to a page with some backround on the Hatfield rifles.
Not really detailed re: serial numbers, dates, etc.

http://www.100megspop3.com/oldvalkyry/hatfield.html (http://www.100megspop3.com/oldvalkyry/hatfield.html)

I have one marked Hatfield on lock. Barrel has Italian proofs.
No other maker marks.
Wood is very well striped/curled.

Have not shot it yet so can't comment on accuracy but frizzen sparks well.

Many thanks Bobkrohn, Great website.

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Post by: Uncle Russ on December 15, 2008, 11:29:24 AM

Folks, a lot has been said here about the Hatfield Rifles....and I can't say anything good or bad about them as I've owned a few but there was nothing remarkable about their shooting.

The other good thing I know about them is that that do sell well, and are still in demand....some folks honestly feel they were once the best "off-the-shelf" muzzleloader ever made......I dunno.

If it is made before 1996 they are in demand and you can easily get $600 for one that is even half decent. Trigger and lock is quite often a giveaway to their age...notice the "straight peg" trigger in the picture...that tells you this rifle was made before 1966.

Wish I had about 50 of 'em, I would go to Reno and I would party hardy.


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/RussB256/HatfieldRifle.jpg)

Uncle Russ...

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Post by: W. Welshman on December 15, 2008, 11:51:24 AM

Uncle Russ,Don't come to Reno now,It snowing like "He!!"

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Post by: Uncle Russ on December 15, 2008, 11:55:58 AM

Quote from: "Short Arm"

Uncle Russ,Don't come to Reno now,It snowing like "He!!"

Too cold to snow here...temperature this morning is 5 degrees, and a -7 with the windchill.

Uncle Russ...

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Post by: W. Welshman on December 15, 2008, 12:01:42 PM

27 right now,going down to 9 in the morning.This is the  first good snow this season.

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Post by: Riley/MN on December 15, 2008, 12:02:19 PM

Sounds like a heat wave Uncle Russ. Yesterday we had 41 degrees. This morning it was -7 with a -30 windchill...Global warming you know.

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Post by: W. Welshman on December 15, 2008, 12:10:25 PM

Short and a T-shirt right now.

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Post by: R.M. on December 15, 2008, 12:24:25 PM

-15 up here this morning. Rare though. Set a record I believe. Seems there's a cold snap that's covering the whole country.