New (Old) Hawken

[butterchurn]

I was surfing last night and decided to look at TOW.  They had a used Thompson Center Hawken flint for $288.00 built from a kit.  I bought it on the spot  

It is in very good shape.  I'm thinking I will get one of those RPL locks for it.  Any of you had experience with these locks?

Ron

[Riley/MN]

Putting one in my CVA. See pics in this thread:

http://www.traditionalmuzzleloadingasso ... 87&start=0

[Three Hawks]

Is there something wrong with the T-C flintlock?   I shot one for years with no problems, it was as reliable as any.  It is curious to me that nearly every comment I see about  T-C's locks assumes they are inferior.

The reason I converted mine to concussion is the area and season I hunt is nearly always rainy and flinchers simply don't do as well as concussion underwater.  I did my conversion so it's a matter of minutes to reconvert to flinch.

Three Hawks

[greyhunter]

I agree with you  TH, have owned three tc flinters , kept one, nary a blip with the locks. Always worked, faithfull in all weathers, only changed frizzen on one fer poor sparking (after several years use. )  But if someone feels better with a diff lock, far be it from me to discourage em!  

[Captchee]

TC are most time pretty good . but  most of that is based on their warrantee’s
 They had a real problem for a while with their geometry on their flintlocks .
 That has since been rectified . But if you have one of those older locks , then you may or may not have a good one .
 I wouldn’t worry about replacing it until you find out  what you have .
 If you find you have a bad one , let TC take care of it and replace it with one of their newer locks .

 Now my 2 cents is that  I have never seen one that would spark anywhere near an L&R  and nothing like a Davis or chambers lock . Do they work ? Yes . Are they acceptable ?  Well yes . Is there much better locks out there ? Most certainly

[butterchurn]

Thanks for the replies!  I will test shoot it before I do anything else.  I think that since the brass is beginning to age I will complete the process with my BP/Water solution.

[Old Salt]

 The reason I converted mine to concussion is the area and season I hunt is nearly always rainy and flinchers simply don't do as well as concussion underwater.  I did my conversion so it's a matter of minutes to reconvert to flinch.

Three Hawks

So are you bashing the game over the head with your rifle?   :lol:

Salt

[Pitchy]

Grats Butterchurn.  

[Gordon H.Kemp]

As Capt. said, the TC locks are OK but the use of coil vs. flat springs makes them further from traditional .

[Mule Brain]

Maybe your like me?

I have never cared for the intense scroll work on the lock plates of these rifles. This is very similar to the one on my .54 Great Plains flinter. I will change it out when I redo the stock!

MB

[butterchurn]

Mule Brain,

Yeah - I like the looks of the L&R a bit better.

[butterchurn]

Well, I tested the T'C on the range on Saturday.  Ignition is good, but it is a little finicky about the flint.  The flint has to be just right or it won't lift the frizzen clear enough to allow the powder flash to reach the touch hole.  The ignition is almost instantaneous. I'm going to have to play with her a bit to make sure I know what she likes so ignition will be huniting sure fire.

Another problem I had was with site adjustment.  With the sites adjusted all the way down and all the way to the left, it still shot a little high and right.  I never had this problem in a T/C before.

Went through many patches to get her clean.  No rust but bore covered in carbon.  The ballistol I'm using keeps pulling more crud out.  I let it sit for a few hours and more crud shows up.

I think this gun has potential.  I just need to fiddle with it a bit.