AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: rbs on February 20, 2012, 01:35:06 AM

Title: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: rbs on February 20, 2012, 01:35:06 AM

I am interested in buying a "hawken" rifle and would appreciate recommendations as to best maker(s). Thanks. Rick Schreiber

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: roamer on February 20, 2012, 02:48:58 AM

Wait a moment I demand equality. I would like a list of the worst builders

Hope thats taken with some humor but best and worst is so subjective

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Randy Hedden on February 20, 2012, 03:07:53 AM

Go see what Don Stith has to offer.  He has some of the best when it comes to Hawken rifles.

www.donstith.com

Randy Hedden

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Keb on February 20, 2012, 03:17:42 AM

I have one (.50cal) made by JR Salvo that I think is pretty special. He made everything except the barrel. It's a cherry stock. He was planning on making many of them  to sell but unfortunately he passed away before this happened. This one is marked "H-1" & can be bought.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken01.jpg&hash=5fb8840545dfbc77f97786a489784831d90c509f)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken02.jpg&hash=9147049fa5c9387b2ef1611cc411df0fc6b02bbc)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken03.jpg&hash=af43f8efae61e53300aa7d9baee08009a315781d)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken04.jpg&hash=ee68fe40412ce45fdff66a28f3cd30afde312f18)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken05.jpg&hash=1e47b5a43fe73b7b4752f0e616f9c811def464d9)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb1%2Fhawken06.jpg&hash=eff85f326f87bdbb52d47f3203f9614aa4f976b1)

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: JDK on February 20, 2012, 03:25:54 AM

Have you tried asking over on the Contemporary Longrifle Collecting page?  J.D.K.

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: louieparker on February 20, 2012, 03:52:43 AM

Check out Bob Browner in St. Louis,,,,,,

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Roger B on February 20, 2012, 04:41:00 AM

Any number of people can build a "good" Hawken rifle.  What makes the difference between a well built Hawken and an authentic, well built, Hawken, is attention to detail.  The barrel should be tapered as were most Hawken "Rocky Mountain" rifles.  The lock panels should flare from the rear to the front which is a trick to perform with a tapered barrel.  The breech plug, tang, lock, and trigger bar, will be case hardened and the furniture and barrel should probably be rust blued (easy).  On the very late rifle of Kit Carson, everything was case hardened.  None of the comercially available breech plugs are really authentic, but they can be made better by at least rounding off that square shoulder at the front of the bolster.   Don Stith makes the best parts sets around.  If you buy a rifle from a private builder you can easily spend upwards of $1,500.00 (and for good reason) and still not get a really authentic rifle, though the craftsmanship will be very good.  If I were you and wanted a "good" Hawken halfstock, I would buy a Pedersoli for a lot less money or build a Stith parts set.  If money were not an object, I would buy a Stith set and have any accomplished builder put it together.
Roger B.

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Loudy on February 20, 2012, 07:21:35 AM

I agree with Louie.  Bob Browner in St. Louis builds a great Hawken.  Send me an e-mail or PM if you need his contact information.  He is a CLA member.  A few examples of his work will be on display at the upcoming NRA annual meeting in St. Louis in April. 

Mark Loudenslager

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: greybeard on February 20, 2012, 10:06:16 AM

Check out Taylor Sapergia .He is on this site
Bob

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: stilts1933 on February 20, 2012, 10:53:05 AM

Howdy , if interested in a Hawken full stock flintlock , 50 cal made by Jack Garner --- copy of the one at museum of fur trade in Chandon ---Frenchy at Old Sage Traders in Bend Oregon has one thats beautiful , been shot about 7 shots only .  He's at oldsagetraders@aol.com

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: rich pierce on February 20, 2012, 04:07:20 PM

+1 on Taylor Sapergia and also consider Dan Phariss who has a wealth of knowledge on Hawkens and builds fine rifles.

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: westbj2 on February 20, 2012, 08:58:22 PM

I recall John Bivins saying that if he ever had a Hawken made it would be by Don King.
Don is getting on in age and I am not sure if he is still at the bench, Dan Harris would likely know.
http://quacked.com/image-129-don+king.htm
Some of his work is also shown on the Contemporary Makers Blog:
http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2011/01/don-king-awarded-contemporary-longrifle.html

Jim Westberg

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Flinter on February 20, 2012, 11:09:15 PM

The best would be Taylor Sapergia.

Here is a link to one he built.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=14977.0 (http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=14977.0)

Title: Re: Best Contemporary "Hawken Rifle" Makers
Post by: Mike L on February 21, 2012, 07:33:13 AM

I also agree with Louie and Mark. Bob Browner builds a nice rifle. I had one of his first and now have one of his latest builds which is an excellent copy of an original and my favorite. Depending on where you live he will also be at the Prairie State Longrifle show this weekend Feb 24 and 25. Louie builds a fine rifle also.

Mike