Some Hawken history

[rickevans]

I just found my copy of Hansons book the other day while unpacking a box from a move three years ago.  Forgot how much I liked them and how much the influenced my early days with muzzleloaders.  My very first was a CVA "Hawkins" kit.   Ahhhh the good old days.

[Pete_Sheeran]

OldSalt,

There was a gunsmith (Moody) in Eastern Washington (state) that had a Hawken barrel.  It had 10 deep and narrow grooves (square bottom) and was 1:48"  twist.  I can not recall if it was .50 or .54 cal.  

In the 70's Douglas made a run of barrels that  were 1.125" x 36" long speciffically for Hawken rifles that had 1:48" twist.  I still have one in .54 cal.

Pete

[Riley/MN]

Pete, you got the gun or just the bbl? Kinda lookin for a replacement bbl for my .54 CVA mtn rifle... never even fired it, but it has been drilled & tapped for a scope.... Don't really know how safe it is....

[Pete_Sheeran]

Sorry Riley,

That barrel is in a stock,    I took an elk cow with it in 82', at 100 yds., heart shot.  I don't shoot it much or  hunt with it any more cause it is a cap lock.  I haven't hunted with anything but a flintlock for about the last 20 years.  

I don't think that Douglas made that barrel in a one inch profile.  The only 1:48" twist Douglas barrels I have ever seen were at least 1.125" (1 1/8").  They used that twist for bench rifle barrels also, but those barrels are 1 1/2" accross the flat and weigh right at 1/2 lb. per inch of length.

See Ya,    Pete

[vthompson]

That is some great information and a very good read. Thanks for the post.

[mike rumping]

Here's something to go along with that great information.   Thanks for a great read.
Mike

[mark davidson]

The debate over the authenticity of a full stock flintlock Hawken interests me greatly. I had one built for me two years ago, a fullstock Hawken in flintlock. I do not much care if it is period correct but I like thinking that it is not a total fantasy rifle. The above post stating that the Hawken brothers did make some fullstock rifles and some flinters seems to make my modern reproduction at least somewhat credible.  In short, what is the real answer...Did they ever really make such a rifle(fullstockflinter) or not?  or...does nobody really know?

[Bigsmoke]

I would think you might want to contact the Hawken Shop directly.

http://www.daytraco.com/contactus.aspx

they might have the answer you are looking for.

John

[BEAVERMAN]

The debate over the authenticity of a full stock flintlock Hawken interests me greatly. I had one built for me two years ago, a fullstock Hawken in flintlock. I do not much care if it is period correct but I like thinking that it is not a total fantasy rifle. The above post stating that the Hawken brothers did make some fullstock rifles and some flinters seems to make my modern reproduction at least somewhat credible.  In short, what is the real answer...Did they ever really make such a rifle(fullstockflinter) or not?  or...does nobody really know?

YES THEY DID, I have personally held one from a collection of a gentleman in Chicago, very knowledgeable collector, 82 years old, has about 300 original Ml's of all types, I believe that 2 are known to exist, I think chuck Burrows may know where the other one resides

[Puffer]

FYI --

" the Hawken Rifle:It's Place in History" By Charles E. Hanson Jr.

The Fur Press
303 Paddock
Crawford, Neb.

Copyright 1979 ( 3rd eds. 1994 )

Avail -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... ition=used

A new edition
The Fur Press 2003
ISBN: 0912611030

The new one is avail -
http://www.museumofthemountainman.com/t ... ts_id=79=8

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categorie ... ook-hripih

I have the 1994 ed.
IMO, even if you are not "into "Hawken Rifles", the section on "The Gun Trade of St. Louis" (8 pg.s) is worth the $$

Puffer