Thompson Center Hawken rifles

[LonesomePigeon]

I have two Thompson Center Hawken rifles. What can you tell me about these rifles, especially who made the barrels and are these any more or less desirable than any other T/C Hawken of a given time period?

One is a .45 cal percussion rifle. On the barrel is THOMPSON / CENTER ARMS ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE CAL 45 and serial number K7050.
On the side of the barrel it says RJK 1976 and these look like they were stamped one letter or number at a time.
On the underside of the barrel is the letter K.
On the wood underneath the barrel is stamped the letter K.

The other is a .50 cal percussion rifle. On the barrel is THOMPSON / CENTER ARMS ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE CAL 50 and serial number 210854.
On the underside of the barrel there is the number 2 and also the letter M in a circle.
On the wood underneath the barrel there is the letter R near the breech and again the letter R near the wedge.

 

[Curator]

Lonesomepigeon: Perhaps a T/C collector can comment on the "M" in a circle stamped on your .50 Hawken. The "K" stamped on the .45 is for "kit" meaning the gun was sold in kit form, assembled and finished by the consumer rather than factory finished. Early T/C barrels were made by several suppliers, some of which were marked in various ways. T/C began making their own barrels sometime in the early 1990s. The stamp "RJK 1976" is likely the initials of the original owner/kit builder and the date. Judging from the low serial number this is an early gun. Unfortunately Thompson Center had a disastrous fire that burned all their records so dating is pretty difficult. The T/C Hawken is a fine rifle, sturdy, reliable and accurate. Enjoy!

 

[Milkmaster]

Mine .50 caliber TC Hawken came as a complete gun. I even still have the box. Sure is a beautifully crafted rifle. It is the gun I used to teach my son about BP shooting. It hardly gets exercise these days, but I keep it because it is so purty! I have a .50 caliber pistol to go with it. Great combination with the same supplies to shoot both. I will look at the barrel labeling to see how it compares with your questions.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=194840&d=1392261924

 

[Texas Moon]

Your thread piqued the old curiosity so I checked my T/C barrel.
My rifle is a .54 percussion

upper right barrel flat between nipple and rear sight:

THOMPSON / CENTER ARMS
ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE 54 CAL HAWKEN

There appears to be an "M" on the bottom barrel flat near the wedge tenon.

Left side barrel flat:
Black powder only-instructions must be read before use

upper left barrel flat just forward of breech plug: 371xxx
I assume this is the serial number.
The fellow I bought this rifle from said he purchased it "in the 1980's".

I'd love to know when it was made.

 

[J-Bar]

I also have a TC .54 Hawken purchased new in the box in early 2000, serial 512xxx. Hope that can provide a benchmark of sorts.

I love mine! Taking it out again soon for my second deer of the season!

 

[Milkmaster]

Here's my writing on the barrel...

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Thank you for the info. If anybody finds out what the M means please do post.