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Old February 6, 2018, 08:42 PM   #1
Tidewater_Kid
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Traditions St. Louis Hawken Kit build

My wife gave me one of the Traditions Hawken .50 caliber kits for Christmas. Just finished it. I replaced the plastic sights with some that I think look much better. I filled the threaded holes in the barrel and cut a dove tail. The stock color came out real nice. My old digital camera doesn't do it justice. I replaced the plastic ramrod with a nice hickory one I made. Still adding some stock wax. I just need to christen it soon.

Thanks to FrontierGander for the inspiration.

TK
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Hawken-01.jpg (41.5 KB, 159 views)
File Type: jpg Hawken-02.jpg (97.0 KB, 126 views)
File Type: jpg Hawken-03.jpg (110.7 KB, 124 views)

Last edited by Tidewater_Kid; February 6, 2018 at 09:02 PM.
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Old February 6, 2018, 08:43 PM   #2
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A couple more pictures.
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File Type: jpg Hawken-04.jpg (107.0 KB, 110 views)
File Type: jpg Hawken-05.jpg (68.3 KB, 101 views)
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Old February 6, 2018, 09:33 PM   #3
Model12Win
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These come with PLASTIC SIGHTS??

Wow. Can't say I desire a Traditions rifle but you sure did a good job with yours!
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Old February 6, 2018, 10:25 PM   #4
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Looks like you did a good job on it. I've got one of the St Louis Hawkens CVA used to import from Spain.
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Old February 6, 2018, 10:26 PM   #5
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It's actually a blessing that they come with plastic sights. I was able to take my kit to the 100 yrd range, sight down the barrel and move the sight away from my eye until both the front and rear sight were perfectly clear. 3" higher up than the factory sight setting.

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Old February 6, 2018, 10:33 PM   #6
Hawg
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I like that sight. What did it come off of?
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Old February 6, 2018, 10:52 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawg View Post
Looks like you did a good job on it. I've got one of the St Louis Hawkens CVA used to import from Spain.
Hawg,

These are still made in Spain. I have a two CVAs and two Traditions rifles and they are all made in Spain.

TK
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Old February 6, 2018, 11:20 PM   #8
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Knew they were made in Spain. I thought they were made by the same people but somebody somewhere said that wasn't true.
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Old February 6, 2018, 11:23 PM   #9
4V50 Gary
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Good work! What finish was applied to the stock?
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Old February 7, 2018, 09:38 AM   #10
Tidewater_Kid
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I used FrontierGranders method. Stain, BLO (2 coats), Tru-Oil (four light coats), furniture wax.

He did more coats of Tru-Oil, but I was happy after 4.
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Old February 7, 2018, 09:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
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Knew they were made in Spain. I thought they were made by the same people but somebody somewhere said that wasn't true.
I know mine are all made in Spain. I have heard that early on, CVA was using different barrels. My oldest is made in 1996. It's a Fox River 50. Each barrel has a serial number followed by a manufacture date. Mine are '96,'99,'15,'17.

The two 1990s ones are CVA models.
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Old February 7, 2018, 09:44 AM   #12
rebs
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beautiful build, you did an excellent job
what did you use to make the brass black ?
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Old February 7, 2018, 10:25 AM   #13
Hawg
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Quote:
I have heard that early on, CVA was using different barrels.
The early mountain rifles had Douglass barrels. In the early days of TC they used Sharon and Douglass barrels.
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Old February 7, 2018, 02:59 PM   #14
Pahoo
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Very nice !!!

Quote:
I replaced the plastic sights with some that I think look much better.
I'll say and did not know they are coming out with plastic. I put one of these kits together, a few years back. You did a fine job and may I suggest adding a flash-cup. Again, nice work and thank you for sharing ...

Be Safe !!!
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Old February 7, 2018, 04:03 PM   #15
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may I suggest adding a flash-cup.
The first time you get a fired cap that "welds" itself to the nipple you'll get rid of it.
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Old February 7, 2018, 08:32 PM   #16
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beautiful build, you did an excellent job
what did you use to make the brass black ?
I used Birchwood Casey's Brass Black.
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