Jonothan Browning .54 caliber Hawken

[ThomasT]

Jonathan Browning .54 caliber Hawken

A friend just brought over a Browning .54 caliber Hawken that he wants me to list on GB for him. The gun is in overall very clean shape. There are a few dings on the wood but not too bad. It has had a Lyman Peep added to the tang but still has the original rear sight.

It has a single set trigger and poured pewter nose cap. Double wedges on the barrel. I am not sure it has been fired. It doesn't look like it.

Anyone have a guess on the value of this gun? I saw one that sold on GB for $900 but it had a wood case and the original box and was a commemerative one of one thousand. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Most folks think these are worth way more than they actually are.
If it's not new in box, don't expect to get that kind of $$ for it.
Used, they generally sell in the low $500 range
& the peep sight will probably drop the price a bit.
--Dawg

 

[arcticap]

These guns are named the Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle and they have a wide variation in price.
For instance, there was a mint new in the box .50 listed on Armsbid for $825. While a used .54 is currently listed on the CAS City classifieds for $450.

http://www.armslist.com/posts/20970...-jonathan-browning-mountain-rifle--new-in-box

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,42496.0.html

Some folks really like their performance while other folks have complained about it.
Here's two threads about it, the first one has photos and the 2nd mentions its performance.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?p=2151250#post2151250

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4741993/1

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks PD and articap for the replies and links. I think I will list it for a starting price of around $450.00 and see if it sells. Its a nice rifle and if I were more into BP than I am I would buy for myself. I still have a 54 cal Cabelas Hawken I bought two years ago that I have never fired yet. I just don't shoot like I used to. If it weren't for 22 rifles and pistols I am not sure I would shoot at all.

I don't understand the post saying they shot poorly. I have read these have Green Mountain barrels on them. This barrel looks like it has some of the deepest rifling I have seen on a BP rifle. This should be a RB shooter delux.

 

[Nite Ryder]

I have one of these rifles in 50 caliber and I have been surprised to find they are not worth all that much. Mine is in excellent condition, having been shot very little. I have several other ML rifles as well, four are the inline type. The only thing I didn't like about the Johnathan Browning rifle is it's weight, it's heavier than my other rifles, but I can't say it shoots poorly, I've done rather well with it.

 

[buggley]

let us know if you ever find a harmonica gun that would be a much better find
big fan of jonathan browning. alot of his ideas and drawings were lost back in IL.
real interesting history behind the browning name that is rarely thought about any more.
what i wouldnt give just to spend an hour in the L.D.S. archieves and vaults

 

[ThomasT]

I have the rifle listed on GB now. It has a couple of bids so far and 8 people have it on thier watch list. The buddy that owns the gun said he did some research and found that the 54 is not nearly as common as the 50 caliber guns.

So I guess we will know by monday just what peolple think its worth.

Here is the listing on GB.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=283623546