Hawken build update

[Hawg]

It's getting there. Commentary is from the builder.

lots of sanding done, some serious shaping taking place. This is all 60 and then 80-grit work, BTW, which is the stage at which the polish left by sharp chisels and gouges is ground away, and the polish to come from progressively finer sheets of paper isn't there, yet, so you won't see much curl in the wood right now.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/014-3.jpg

Right and left views of the butt and breech area. The lock panels are going to be slimmed up more, but when working with 60 and 80 grit paper on an oscillating sander it's best not to try to get too fancy on small details. That comes later.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/018-5.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/019-2.jpg

An interesting shot of the cheekpiece contour, showing how its curve is in line with the top curve of the sideplate panel. The slight downward curve as the cheekpiece blends into the wrist will fade away with finer and more detailed sanding.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/021-2.jpg

The butt, from the top, showing both cast-off and the slimness the comb is taking on. On my inexpensive trade rifles I don't cut this detail quite as fine, but I've noticed that on the Hawkens I've seen the comb tapers to a very slender, almost pointed profile when seen from above, and that's a detail I very much wanted to capture on this gun. It's getting there. Removing wood in this area is best done in stages, or you lose perspective and can quickly end up with something that causes you to give serious thought to taking up finger painting or coloring books, something a little less critical/stressful.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/022-1.jpg

[fastforty]

There's some nice lines shaping up there :)

[mykeal]

Fascinating. Thanks for posting this. More, please.

[Hawg]

More as I get it. This is a unique and fascinating experience for me. Watching this rifle being built from the ground up and knowing it's mine when it's finished. The anticipation is killing me.:D

[sewerman]

looks good! maybe one day i'll finish my .62 cal fowler!


sewerman

[Hawg]

Nose cap is installed.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/004-25.jpg

[CraigC]

Can't wait to see it finished!!!

[Hawg]

Can't wait to see it finished!!!

You and me both.:D

[dodgecummins01]

Looking good. I finished one about two weeks ago. Cast off does improve the feel and sight picture!

[Uncle Billy]

I built a .54 Hawken flintlock with the mandatory double-set triggers and hook breach, and brass furniture. It was about the 3rd flintlock I built and I took extra care to do it right. It's as accurate as any modern gun in my rack and still looks pretty good, with the patina and wear of nearly 30 years of field and range use. It's probably my favorite rifle of all those in my collection.

I had forgotten just how satisfying building such a gun is. It's been a lot of years since I took on such a project. Reading this thread has rekindled my interest full force, so now I'm setting up the shop I have in the basement to do it anew. I found all the inletting tools I had carefully put away, and the notes and plans I had kept the last time I had such a shop- about 2 houses, 1 divorce and a war ago.

As I wrote in the "reloading" threads: Since the stuff you need to handload cartridges is scarce or unavailable lately, why not put handloading cartridges on hold for a while and handload the gun?

[Hawg]

No offense intended but I can't believe you used Hawken and brass in the same sentence.:D Early Hawken's were iron mounted. Late ones were either iron or pewter mounted.

[Missoura Don]

Beautifull job there Hawg, now ya got me wantin to put my non-essential woodworking skills to the test. How much time have you invested in this project so far?

[Hawg]

How much time have you invested in this project so far?

None, I'm not building it. The builder has been working on it in his spare time for a couple of months but as to how long it's taking for the actual build I have no idea. He's also building three other rifles along with this one.

[Uncle Billy]

Quote: "No offense intended but I can't believe you used Hawken and brass in the same sentence. Early Hawken's were iron mounted. Late ones were either iron or pewter mounted."

Yeah, I know, a couple of others gave me trouble about the brass furniture.

I used brass because I liked the way it looked better.

From the National Firearms Museum website on a page titled "Hunting- The Hunting Tradition":

"Built by Samuel Hawken in his St. Louis gunshop circa 1849, this .50 caliber muzzleloader is an example of the late pattern Hawken rifle taken west by goldseekers and settlers. ... An unusual feature of this rifle's stock is the German silver patchbox, likely inletted from another rifle. Most Hawken rifles were plainly finished, leaving owners to improvise decoration."

Well, I improvised.

Guess I ought to have called it a "Hawken type" rifle, or a "Plains rifle", or left the Hawken out of it and called it a "half-stock large caliber rifle reminiscent of the guns of the early 1800's and the move westward, with double set triggers, hook breach, and a barrel shorter than the Kentucky rifles (made in Pennsylvania) that preceded them".

[arcticap]

"Thet thar tain't jus' eny brass buttplait, it's goold! Puurre goold sure 'nuff comin' all de' way from da' Californy rush!" :D

[Hawg]

Woodwork is almost done. Inletting the toe plate and final sanding and it will be ready to stain and the metal will be browned.
The stain will be a honey maple alcohol stain that, Tip Curtis swears is the closest to natural finish you can get and still bring the curl out in the wood. Tung oil will be applied over that.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/003-34.jpg

[dodgecummins01]

Looking good, can't wait to see the finished product!!!

[EmptyHull]

Very nice work! Tim

[Smokin_Gun]

She's a lookin' real good there Hawg...I likes it...:cool:

[W. C. Quantrill]

That a beauty, Hawg. Thats a dead ringer for a mid term Hawken, halfstock, caplock, and iron. Now when you get this one shot in, you can start on an early fullstock flintlock!!! Git your mule up here and we'll go b'ar huntin'.

[Hawg]

Thanks Cap. That means a lot coming from you. I'd love to have a fullstock flinter but I can't see one in my immediate future with the price of having real bp shipped. Sides I don't really have any tradin material left to even be thinking about one right now.

[Hawg]

Almost done.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/001-36.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/002-29.jpg


http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/004-29.jpg

[Pahoo]

Beautiful lines and excellent work. Thank you for sharing this with us ... :)



Be Safe !!!

[Hawg]

Thanks Pahoo. At first glance it looks much like a GPR but when you really take a good look at the details you'll see the differences between a GPR and a true Hawken and then realize just how much work goes into a rifle like this. This is Mongrel's first true Hawken build and I think he's done an excellent job on it. Don't forget he also hand made the trigger guard, butt plate, and the lock plate. The nose piece is Ted Cash.

[Pahoo]

This is Mongrel's first true Hawken build and I think he's done an excellent job on it.

And that is why I thank you as most of us have had little or no exposure to a "True-Replica" as opposed to a Non-Replica. I have only seen one original Hawken back in the early 80's. Thanks again. :)


Be Safe !!!

[mykeal]

I'm no expert on Hawken details, but it doesn't matter. It's clearly not a GPR (I own 2) and it's a very, very fine piece of work. Congratulations on a true treasure.

[Hawg]

It's finished!

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/008-19.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/009-15.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/007-25.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/006-30.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/005-27.jpg

[dodgecummins01]

Nice! Realy Nice! I'll bet you have everything ready to go shootin' when it's in your hands?

[Hawg]

Yep, already have a .54 so I'm good to go. Even got a new shootin bag that will be for it only, just gotta get a strap for it and it's good to go.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rebel727/my%20junk/bag.jpg

[mykeal]

Are you used to that buckhorn rear sight? I don't know too many people who keep them after a few rounds, but the people who like them REALLY like them.

[Hawg]

Got one on my 92 Winchester and love it.

[Pahoo]

but the people who like them REALLY like them.

That's probably because they know how to set the horns and use them. I sure like the few I have and they just add to the overall appearance of any old timer. I prefer them to the standard open sight. Learned from an old-timey guy that had them on his older Winchesters. They just look pretty awesome. ... :)



Be Safe !!!

[kflach]

When should we expect a picture of fire?

[charles isaac]

I believe the Hawken is one of the arms that all true American firearms enthusiasts should own an example of. Building it yourself is very profound. Very tastefully executed Sir. That would be a keeper if I owned it.

[Hawg]

When should we expect a picture of fire?

May be a little while. He hasn't shipped it yet and it will depend on my work schedule when it arrives.


Building it yourself is very profound

Nobody reads anymore.:confused:

[charles isaac]

OOPS! Guess I got excited looking at the pictures and captions. Outstanding gun no matter who built it and a keeper fer sure!

[charles isaac]

Guess I'll need to dust off my VHS of "Jeremiah Johnson" and watch it!

[Hawg]

Guess I'll need to dust off my VHS of "Jeremiah Johnson" and watch it!


Won't see a Hawken in it. JJ carried an Investarms.:D