TC hawken aging

[WestKentucky]

I read somewhere (probably on here) that the first year of TC hawkens were the only ones to have case hardened lock plates. Can anyone confirm or deny? I noticed this weekend my lock plate is case hardened and I was curious about the accuracy of that comment that I remember from somewhere.

 

[mykeal]

All of mine (5) but one have color case hardened locks. Two of them are kit guns. The one that does not have the cch lock is a custom shop build with a polished black finish.

 

[AJumbo]

I believe that all the regular production TC locks were casehardened. There are actually better ways to date TC pieces by comparing their bolster cleanout holes, tang bolt arrangements, sights, barrel stampings, the level of detail in the triggerguards, the shape of the hammers...... and no way am I getting into it right now. Perhaps if you could post some pics, I could take a swing at it; better still, send TC an e-mail with the serial number and see what you get back.

In this day of internet lists of EVERYTHING, I'm willing to bet that there's a blackpowder or TC forum somewhere that can scratch your itch.

 

[WestKentucky]

No real itch, just thought I had read that and wanted to confirm or deny. One way or the other it's a hunk of steel screwed to a hunk of wood with some pretty brass stuff stuck to it. I just like to know the history of my guns as much as possible. If it bothers me much I will send TC an email.

 

[mykeal]

TC can't provide production dates based on serial number; their production records for the Hawken were lost in a fire.

 

[WestKentucky]

That excuse is far too common in the industry. TC isn't that old of a company either.

 

[J-Bar]

I bought mine new in 1999, and it displays case hardening/ coloring on the side plate. I have no idea what the 1st year was.

 

[mykeal]

That excuse is far too common in the industry. TC isn't that old of a company either.

So, what are you saying? They're lying about it?

 

[WestKentucky]

No but it seems that everybody has lost records in a fire. Even in the late 19th century it wasn't so much a novel idea that if you wanted to protect something you built a brick structure with iron beams and used clay or tin roofing.

 

[Milkmaster]

I also have the TC Hawken. In my opinion it is the best of the hawken gun choices out there. At least this one has quality materials and workmanship on it. Mine was not a kit gun, dates back a while, and I have the original box with it. I tried at least 10 years ago to date the gun, but was also told the records were lost. Please post here again if you find a source for the dating on them.

 

[BigG]

I bought a 50 cal T/C Hawken flintlock in 1989 and shot the thing quite a lot with maxiballs and patched round ball. Nothing like a flintlock to teach you to make every shot count.

 

[Browning Guy]

I've got a factory built Hawkin I've been throwing smoke out of since 1975. It has a case hardened lock plate and another kit I built in 1980 also had one.

 

[Zeke/PA]

My built from kit early 80's T/C Hawkin has a case hardened lock as does my T/C Seneca close to the same era.

 

[BigG]

Besides, any "casehardening" on those T/C locks is paint.