Dream Hawken?

[Spotted Bull]

If you were to spec out and have built, or build yourself, the absolute perfect .54 Hawken Caplock rifle, what would it look like?


Yall see where I'm going with this?

[Bigsmoke]

Well, it would probably have about a 34" or a 36" barrel, tapered from 1 1/8 to 1".  You said .54 caliber, but I would go either .58 or .62.
It would be a percussion rifle.
It would have a walnut stock.
It would have all iron furniture.
The rear sight would be adjustable and the front would be an iron blade.
It would have a later model percussion style trigger guard.
I don't know what else to say about it.
Let me know how it shoots.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Spotted Bull]

I'm working out in my mind how I want it to look. Still a lot of research to do, for me.

And a LOT of saving to do...

But for some reason I really like a .54 caliber.

Yeah I obsess over things a long time before I buy them.

[Ohio Joe]

Well, IMHO you could probably contact the Museum of the Mountain Men and get specs on Jim Bridger's Hawken Rifle, or The Museum of the Fur Trade...

Now if you're going to build as close to an exact Hawken Rifle as you can, it will need to be with a 1 in 48 twist (as that's what they were)... IMHO not the greatest "twist" but that's what Hawken used - as that's what he had and was set up for...

Personally I don't care for the 1 in 48 twist as it's not as accurate as a 1 in 70 or 1 in 72 twist for patch & ball,,, but 1 in 48 is Historically Correct for a Hawken Rifle...

I think it'd be a project with a bit of frustration along the way, but quite rewarding at the end. 

Of course I didn't think about it when typing the above; are you thinking of the Hawken 1/2 stock caplock rifle,,, or the full stock flintlock rifle?

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/40/ba/6b/40ba6ba31cd34b03167eb4c2953a3b25.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/28/88/0c/28880c3d02bc20dc40016fc0d45bba62.jpg

[Doc Nock]

I don't wish to appear as being argumentative, OJ, but...

I had a T/C renegade in 50 and danged if that thing didn't have the 1:48 twist and of course, I had much, MUCH better eyesight then, but I could touch 3 RBs at 65 yards with it with various loads! and Oc Yoke precut RB patches and Bore Butter. I lived in PA back then and we were restricted to PRBs, so I never shot anything else...in later years there they went to 'any" projectile and we shot CVA Powerbelts with similar accuracy...Those nasty things were devastating...

Now the GPR I have also in 50, is 1:60 and I've only shot PRBs but did try some REALs.  The 350's didn't shoot well but some gifted 250's (shot much better) in that ole FWIW dept!

[BEAVERMAN]

I'm working out in my mind how I want it to look. Still a lot of research to do, for me.

And a LOT of saving to do...

But for some reason I really like a .54 caliber.

Yeah I obsess over things a long time before I buy them.

Bull, what are you using the rifle for? Rondys and targets or do you plane to hunt Elk and larger game?

[PetahW]

.

As Ohio Joe talked about, it's hard to beat a gennie.   





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[Spotted Bull]

I'm working out in my mind how I want it to look. Still a lot of research to do, for me.

And a LOT of saving to do...

But for some reason I really like a .54 caliber.

Yeah I obsess over things a long time before I buy them.

Bull, what are you using the rifle for? Rondys and targets or do you plane to hunt Elk and larger game?

Probably just rendezvous and maybe deer hunting. Probably never afford to get after bigger game.

[Spotted Bull]

And Joe it'll be a half-stock.

[BEAVERMAN]

I've built 2 Hawkens in the past a full stock 54 cap and a 1/2 stock 50 cap, if I ever build another it's going to be a 45 cap, flatter shooting, less powder and lead and still plenty big enough for deer, JMHO, for sure would be walnut stock with all browned iron furniture, wearing bifocals I find it easier to see a brass front site.

[Nutnfancy]

As my name implies it would be 'Nutnfancy', thus the T/C Renegades in I have in .50 & .54 cal. fit the bill for me. Very plane Jane rifles, plenty of power, very rugged and dependable.

[Bigsmoke]

Forgot one thing.
Not that I ever use the silly things, but it would have to have that great big, ol, ugly patch box.  It really ain't a "Hawken" without that.
Or, if you want to have more fun, how about a progression of the Hawken legend, try a Dimmick rifle.  It would be unique, for sure.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Spotted Bull]

Not a huge fan of patch boxes, but it is something to research.

Mainly I want a big ole robust, heavy hitting half stock caplock rifle with two wedges and a cool nose cap, with a really really nice piece of wood.

Yeah it's not much.

[PetahW]

I've built 2 Hawkens in the past, if I ever build another it's going to be a 45 cap, flatter shooting, less powder and lead and still plenty big enough for deer, JMHO, for sure would be walnut stock with all browned iron furniture.

Sounds like a T/C Seneca (like mine    ) - their 13/16" barrels, along with the down-sized locks & stocks, make them much lighter (5-6lbs)  than a Hawken (8lbs, +/-).


My .45 (top) &  .36 (lower) Seneca's: