Most authentic Hawkens replica
- Thread starter rfcjr
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J.T. Gerrity
Member
Of the commercial guns available, the Lyman's Great Plains rifle is about as close as they get. Go to a custom rifle and you can get a perfect replica, though you'll pay for it; but the GP rifle is pretty dang close, for a reasonable price.
These guys: http://www.thehawkenshop.com/
For a low price, the Lyman is pretty damn good. Blue barrels on pre-1850 guns make me want to vomit, though. I'd strip and brown it. I have put my money where my mouth is, too. At home, I have a 25-year-old T/C Hawken with a brown barrel, and an unfired Patriot with a brown barrel. No, they didn't come that way from the factory, even back then.
A nicer, really authentic one, a lot more so than Lyman's, with a brown barrel and maple stock, is this beautiful Pedersoli for $895 at Dixie:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13404
$200 less in walnut:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13405
Bottom line: AFAIK maple was the wood of choice, not walnut. Curly maple is highly desirable. I do not believe that blueing existed; rust browning, like the Pedersoli, is authentic.
T/C Hawkens and clones (CVA, Dixie, Traditions, Cabela's, etc.) are not authentic at all. The T/C Hawken was, in fact, the first "modern muzzleloader" for hunting use, before they invented those inline abortions. I have a T/C; it shoots well. But it's not authentic, though it is a halfstock sidelock with an old-fashioned appearance. It is a great choice for hunting, if you live in a state that requires you to use a sidelock, or if you just don't want to use an inline abortion during BP season.
You can build a pretty authentic rifle from a Lyman kit, if you brown it yourself. Or you can buy a really authentic production model from Pedersoli. To go farther up the scale, the Hawken Shop is one place to contact.
Austin & Halleck is out of business. They used to make a nice Hawken, too. http://www.austinhalleck.com/AH-Mountain.html
For a low price, the Lyman is pretty damn good. Blue barrels on pre-1850 guns make me want to vomit, though. I'd strip and brown it. I have put my money where my mouth is, too. At home, I have a 25-year-old T/C Hawken with a brown barrel, and an unfired Patriot with a brown barrel. No, they didn't come that way from the factory, even back then.
A nicer, really authentic one, a lot more so than Lyman's, with a brown barrel and maple stock, is this beautiful Pedersoli for $895 at Dixie:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13404
$200 less in walnut:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13405
Bottom line: AFAIK maple was the wood of choice, not walnut. Curly maple is highly desirable. I do not believe that blueing existed; rust browning, like the Pedersoli, is authentic.
T/C Hawkens and clones (CVA, Dixie, Traditions, Cabela's, etc.) are not authentic at all. The T/C Hawken was, in fact, the first "modern muzzleloader" for hunting use, before they invented those inline abortions. I have a T/C; it shoots well. But it's not authentic, though it is a halfstock sidelock with an old-fashioned appearance. It is a great choice for hunting, if you live in a state that requires you to use a sidelock, or if you just don't want to use an inline abortion during BP season.
You can build a pretty authentic rifle from a Lyman kit, if you brown it yourself. Or you can buy a really authentic production model from Pedersoli. To go farther up the scale, the Hawken Shop is one place to contact.
Austin & Halleck is out of business. They used to make a nice Hawken, too. http://www.austinhalleck.com/AH-Mountain.html
I don't know what I can add to what has already been said. If you're interested in an affordable choice, build the GPR kit. You can finish it to look a lot more authentic than the factory. Personally, I love the Pedersoli's but they're close enough in price that I think I'd just step up to a custom or semi-custom gun.
There are still a lot of Austin & Hallecks on the market also. If you're interested in one (I have flint and percussion, NIB), send me a PM.
There are still a lot of Austin & Hallecks on the market also. If you're interested in one (I have flint and percussion, NIB), send me a PM.
sundance44s
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Sundance44s
There`s a company on the net you can get by typeing in original Hawken rifles ... they have kits that are just like the originals ..starting at $1000.00 and on up depending on the furniture you want ...really nice stuff worth a look see.
If i ever buy a kit , it will be one of these ... right now i have a Lyman GP that i stripped and deblued ..finished it out with brown barrel and furniture in the white ...to give me the look i was after at a minimal cost . Very pleased with it and it`s a good round ball shooter .
Lots of good old pictures and history lessons on the Hawken site too .
There`s a company on the net you can get by typeing in original Hawken rifles ... they have kits that are just like the originals ..starting at $1000.00 and on up depending on the furniture you want ...really nice stuff worth a look see.
If i ever buy a kit , it will be one of these ... right now i have a Lyman GP that i stripped and deblued ..finished it out with brown barrel and furniture in the white ...to give me the look i was after at a minimal cost . Very pleased with it and it`s a good round ball shooter .
Lots of good old pictures and history lessons on the Hawken site too .
I've got some books written by the foremost authorities on the subject of original authentic gun making processes. The Gunsmiths of Williamsburg VA. The books tell of examining old (reaL OLD) barrels and under the crude from 100's of years of build up there was.....bluing. Yep. Bluing. After much study and research the Williamsburg gunsmiths replicated the bluing that was actually more of a dark blue-grey. They replicate the process by putting the barrel in lime? and then surrounding it for a long period with sap free red hot charcoals. Wood fire. I'd have to get the book out again to remember exactly how they do it. Anyhow....even though I feel like browning is more authentic than bluing there was bluing before there was browning. Weird uh? Anyhow....I think the Hawken Shops assembly of parts to build a Hawken are geatly over priced. Track of the Wolf has some pretty danged authentic parts fer a Hawken rifle.
Anyhow....I think the Hawken Shops assembly of parts to build a Hawken are geatly over priced. Track of the Wolf has some pretty danged authentic parts fer a Hawken rifle.Kaylee
Member
What about the build sets from Track of the Wolf?
Isn't theirs pretty accurate to the original?
Isn't theirs pretty accurate to the original?
Phillip Allen
Member
I'm just glad to see that there are others with enough class to dislike the in-line junk.
there were many other rifles being made in that era and they will be just as authentic...shop around and read-up
Tenn Valley Arms (Jack Garner) makes good replicas but prices are reflective of the improved quality...hang out at a few rendezvous...kain't go wrong
there were many other rifles being made in that era and they will be just as authentic...shop around and read-up
Tenn Valley Arms (Jack Garner) makes good replicas but prices are reflective of the improved quality...hang out at a few rendezvous...kain't go wrong
I actually bought a CVA Mountain Rifle kit about 25 years ago put it together and finished the furniture and bbl in brown and stock in nice brown also. It is a real nice looking Hawken with German silver forend cap and escutcheons for the browned bbl pins. Buttplate, trigger guard, and ramrod ferrules all brown.
rusty from italy
Member
Have you seen the new Pedersoli Hawken rifle??
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=242&lang=it
Very nice rifle i own one, good shooter, with V shape mainspring, many other replicas dress a coil spring, good but less than an original
(the various hawken selling with several mark are made in Italy by Investarm)
bye
Rusty
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=242&lang=it
Very nice rifle i own one, good shooter, with V shape mainspring, many other replicas dress a coil spring, good but less than an original
(the various hawken selling with several mark are made in Italy by Investarm)
bye
Rusty
icy
Member
The same page:
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=242&lang=en
in english!
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=242&lang=en
in english!
redneck2
Member
If you're really into it, look up the NMLRA and see when the Spring and Fall shoots are scheduled for Friendship, Indiana. Guys come from all over the world to shoot there. Big time stuff.
I went back in the early-mid 70's. Hawken shop was there with 6 originals. They let me hold 3 of them. Pretty cool.
I went back in the early-mid 70's. Hawken shop was there with 6 originals. They let me hold 3 of them. Pretty cool.
icy
Member
Uberti stops producing Santa Fe Hawken rifles since there was not enough orders.
Hawken rifle
Built a hawken with a heavy 45 cal bullet barrel I bought at a gunshow in columbus, oh. Was a good shooter for a few hundred yds with an elongated bullet. Hawkens are rugged, reliable guns...Put a tang sight on that bullet gun, but should'a got one of the brass scopes...
Built a hawken with a heavy 45 cal bullet barrel I bought at a gunshow in columbus, oh. Was a good shooter for a few hundred yds with an elongated bullet. Hawkens are rugged, reliable guns...Put a tang sight on that bullet gun, but should'a got one of the brass scopes...
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