Nicholas Hawk style gun

[pathfinder]

I'm not a professional builder and my skill set is nowhere near most of the guy's here. I love to build and folks seem to like my work,simple,but neat and clean,mostly Tenn style. I was looking at David Keck's site and the Nicholas Hawk profile really hit me...HARD! I've built a couple of Lehigh's and Bedford's,but this profile is to me,stunning. In my limited library and contacts I have never seen this gun finished.
Where could I see a finished Hawk,and what would be appropriate hardware and barrel type for this gun. It may be in my near future.

[bgf]

Have you looked at this one?  Its a beauty:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=11408.0

[JTR]

And here's three originals to look at, one swivel breech and two rifles.
From the forum Library;
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=139.0

John

[Blacksmoke]

Pathfinder:   I like your idea to build a Nicolas Hawk style rifle!    I did one back in 1978 for my, then ,12 year old.    He is now 45 and  1st. officer on a 340 Air Bus for Air Canada.      I did not have an original to look at so I studied any picture of Hawk's work that I could find and used my own ideas for some of the furniture and mentions.    Below is how it turned out - it has taken several deer and one turkey!   
Hugh Toenjes

[Blacksmoke]

Pathfinder:  Here are a few close up photos of the N. Hawk style that I built in 78.

[billd]

Talk to Bill Shipman.   He has, or had, the original that Dave's pattern is made from.  Bill made a beautiful bench copy.  It may be on Bill's web site.   

Bill

[B Shipman]

Pathfinder, the bitch is there is no hardware. Not the lock or anything else. You chop it out  of something else. Or make it. www.billshipman.com

[Rolf]

Beautiful rifle Blacksmoke , I really like it. Could you post pictures of the thimbels and triggergard?

Best regards

Rolf

[Blacksmoke]

Rolf:    All I could do is crop and enlarge the existing photos that I have of That gun-  So here they are.  Also as Bill says - you basically have to make your own furniture as I did here except the butt plate and trigger guard which are heavily modified from sand castings.   All other mounts are hand made from sheet silver not German silver.     Hugh Toenjes

[Rasch Chronicles]

Ooooo...

Shiny!

That's a very handsome rifle; love the sideplate! I really like the the curve on the buttstock.

Now, I would like to know how you got the candy striped ramrod!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Range Reviews: Tactical

[Blacksmoke]

Albert:    Believe it or not the N. Hawk rifle that you are commenting on has a butt drop of 6"!!.  I've allways liked the curved butt shape of Allentown-Bethlehem rifles.  However if there is not enough drop in the butt they can be a real cheek slapper!   The "candy stripe" on the ramrod was done with a propane torch and a ribbon of sheet brass about 3/4" wide.     Hugh Toenjes

[Rasch Chronicles]

Thanks H!

6 inches! Stand up tall and straight I say!

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: George Washington, President and Fisherman

[pathfinder]

Thank's fella's,and in a word.....#@!! $#@*! I know,two word's,but those are awsome example's! It seems when I start this project,it's going to be a LONG one! I just hope I can do justice to the piece of wood that will be sacrificing it's life for this!

[Rolf]

Thanks for the pictures Blacksmoke. I've saved them for futur referance.

Best regards

Rolf

[Rasch Chronicles]

Pathfinder,

I'm glad I'm not the only one worried about doing justice to a piece of wood. Seems like that is my biggest worry, not ruining a one of a kind piece of wood, however mundane.

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
Best Hog Hunting in Florida!!

[pathfinder]

I'm a third generation Cabinet maker/Refinisher and was taught at an early age to respect wood. I have two Lehigh's and three Tennessee guns to finish before I start this project,hard to concentrate with the pic's of the Hawk gun above my bench! Must be gettin' old,no girlie pic's!

[gregg]

Albert:    Believe it or not the N. Hawk rifle that you are commenting on has a butt drop of 6"!!.  I've allways liked the curved butt shape of Allentown-Bethlehem rifles.  However if there is not enough drop in the butt they can be a real cheek slapper!   The "candy stripe" on the ramrod was done with a propane torch and a ribbon of sheet brass about 3/4" wide.     Hugh Toenjes

Wonderful rifle Hugh..

Don't use masking tape. Its the sh$t$ to get off after the torch.ha!!
Err Ahhh well so I been told?

[Don Getz]

Afghanus...........I know you're in a place where you can't pick one of those Lehigh's up and aim with it, but, I would strongly recommend you do that before you decide to build one.   They are different creatures, and it will take more than
a Beck guard like Hugh used on his gun to make it make it feel like a Beck.  They have a totally different feel than another
gun, especially one with a straight comb.   As much as I bad-mouth those Lehigh gun, I actually built one for my first gun.
Actually shot it a lot, but then wised up, ha...............Don

[Blacksmoke]

Don:  The only reason that I used a "Beck" style trigger guard back in 1978 is - that it was the only nickel silver trigger guard available to me!  At that time in my gun making experience I was not skilled enough nor had enough equip. to do my own casting!   Anyway the rifle was not intended to be an exact copy but only an influenced N. Hawk rifle!!  Furthermore the rifle was endorsed by John Bivins, Jim chambers, Bud Siler and Earl Lanning after it's completion!      Hugh Toenjes

[Don Getz]

Hugh....I go back to the early 70's with my first build, so I know what you're talking about.    I didn't have catalogs from
any of the supply houses, and I bought a pre-shaped Lehigh stock with a 7/8" barrel channel, a Douglas barrel to fit it,
a breech plug, Hadaway Lock, and Reaves Goehring buttplate and triggerguard.......made everything else.........Don