Author Topic: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship  (Read 2509 times)

Tizzy

  • Guest
Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« on: May 23, 2019, 10:56:00 PM »
Looking for a little advice from you Hawken experts out there. I am currently working on a project that I hope at least resembles a rifle that could have been made in the Hawken brothers shop..My question is...how close were the nose cap and underrib mated together on originals? Were they completely  mated, or was a gap present? I have never had the opportunity to examine an original.

Offline Mtn Meek

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • GRRW Collector
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2019, 01:27:17 AM »
Not an expert, just a student.  On some Hawken rifles the underrib was as close to the nose cap as practical and still be able to swing the barrel up and disengage the hook at the breech.

Here is a J&S Hawken rifle.


This is the Kit Carson S. Hawken rifle.


This is not an original Hawken rifle but it is one of Art Ressel's kits probably assembled by Keith Neubauer.  The nose cap has a small recess that the end of the rib fits into.

Phil Meek

Offline Daryl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14970
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2019, 01:40:29 AM »
They all look just great to me - even the English styled one.






Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9300
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2019, 03:20:02 PM »
In the long distant past the was a nice Hawken type rifle made using a
Bill Large barrel with a hook breech.To make a short story shorter,the
stock was unstable and elongated the forearm cap against the rib and
accuracy suffered.When the rib was filed so a small gap appeared between
the rib and the cap the problem with accuracy went away.

Bob Roller

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 17985
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2019, 12:44:57 AM »
They all look just great to me - even the English styled one.





 Dang I like not only the looks of those leaf sights but their usefulness. It would be fun just sighting them in.
 I'd like to see some other Pix of that one.


   Thanks, Tim

Tizzy

  • Guest
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2019, 09:22:57 PM »
Thank you everyone for the replies. The information has been very helpful.

Offline Dphariss

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9741
  • Kill a Commie for your Mommy
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2019, 04:55:06 PM »
Looking for a little advice from you Hawken experts out there. I am currently working on a project that I hope at least resembles a rifle that could have been made in the Hawken brothers shop..My question is...how close were the nose cap and underrib mated together on originals? Were they completely  mated, or was a gap present? I have never had the opportunity to examine an original.

Gaps are always unsightly. Set it as close to the cap as will work if a hooked breech or even cast the tip around it.  This is the cast cap on an early J&S Hawken percussion rifle, probably 1834-36 at the latest due to marking on the lock.


Dan


the end of looper
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12522
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2019, 06:39:09 PM »
Dan, cast, as in pewter?
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Dphariss

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9741
  • Kill a Commie for your Mommy
Re: Hawken Nosecap/Underrib Relationship
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2019, 04:02:04 PM »
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine