Hawken Disaster

[Long John]

As a fire protection engineer I have heard zillions of times "Oh the things are replaceable its just the people that I have to worry about".  And then the fire occurs and they discuver what a devastating event it is.  There are few events in ones life as completely devastating as a household fire.  You lose all of the tangible artifacts of your whole life's history.  I have investigated dozens of these fires.  No one ever recovers completely.  My heart goes out to you.

The type of char on the stock suggests exposure to temperatures, but not flame impingement, in the neighborhood of 1000 F for a period of about 1 hour.  I suspect all the springs will have taken a set and will have to be replaced.  As Jim said, above, the barrel would not have been heat treated but that temperature is getting close to the yield temperature for steel where its strength has been cut in half.  Check for straightness.

I hope the family is able to recover.

John Cholin

[Vomitus]

Hi John,
 The barrel still has blueing on the bottom and the stocks barrel channel isn't burned. Ross told me he had it hidden on the floor behind a set of rims and tires which were against an outside wall.This may be the parts savior. The lock looks good,except the frizzen spring lost it's temper. The stock is charred but not consumed so the heat in it's hiding place wasn't as hot as other places in the trailer. Hope it works out for the good.Very gracious of you Taylor.  Here's the link to our local newspaper.
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20120825/PRINCEGEORGE0101/308259987/-1/princegeorge0101/fire-destroys-two-trailer-homes

[Roger Fisher]

Hi John,
 The barrel still has blueing on the bottom and the stocks barrel channel isn't burned. Ross told me he had it hidden on the floor behind a set of rims and tires which were against an outside wall.This may be the parts savior. The lock looks good,except the frizzen spring lost it's temper. The stock is charred but not consumed so the heat in it's hiding place wasn't as hot as other places in the trailer. Hope it works out for the good.Very gracious of you Taylor.  Here's the link to our local newspaper.
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20120825/PRINCEGEORGE0101/308259987/-1/princegeorge0101/fire-destroys-two-trailer-homes

Yes, gracious and then some!!!

[FL-Flintlock]

As a fire protection engineer I have heard zillions of times "Oh the things are replaceable its just the people that I have to worry about".  And then the fire occurs and they discuver what a devastating event it is.  There are few events in ones life as completely devastating as a household fire.  You lose all of the tangible artifacts of your whole life's history.  I have investigated dozens of these fires.  No one ever recovers completely.  My heart goes out to you.
I hope the family is able to recover.

John Cholin

Ditto.  With more than two decades in fire & rescue of course the priority is put on life but the effects of massive property loss can also be devastating.  Keep a very watchful eye on your friend for signs of depression, the effects can often be quite delayed and may not be readily evident from outward appearance and general social conduct.  Make sure you have one-on-one time with him and do more listening than talking.  Prayers sent.

[Bob Roller]

Taylor,
I have a frizzen spring for that lock I will donate if
you will tell me where to send it.How about the triggers?
I think you said they were mine.

Bob Roller

[doulos]

As a fire protection engineer I have heard zillions of times "Oh the things are replaceable its just the people that I have to worry about".  And then the fire occurs and they discuver what a devastating event it is.  There are few events in ones life as completely devastating as a household fire.  You lose all of the tangible artifacts of your whole life's history.  I have investigated dozens of these fires.  No one ever recovers completely.  My heart goes out to you.

The type of char on the stock suggests exposure to temperatures, but not flame impingement, in the neighborhood of 1000 F for a period of about 1 hour.  I suspect all the springs will have taken a set and will have to be replaced.  As Jim said, above, the barrel would not have been heat treated but that temperature is getting close to the yield temperature for steel where its strength has been cut in half.  Check for straightness.

I hope the family is able to recover.

John Cholin

Well I say that (if your are referencing to my comment) with alot of experience in  the matter. 26 years as a professional fire firefighter with a 500 man department that responded to an averaqge of 34000 incidents per year  . I retired as a Battalion Chief. I have seen literally hundreds of structure fires and fire deaths. All fires are  tragic and devestating. But a total loss house fire pales in comparison to a human life loss fire.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Bob, that's a generous offer.  But unless it's something you've made, in which case I'd love to have it, I will simply re-polish, harden and temper the spring that's there.  It's likely the frizzen too will need heat treating, whereas the internal springs seem unaffected by the fire.  The inside of the lock mortise is not burnt in the least.
I'm still in the process of buffing off the crud and stabilizing the steel.  The firemen poured the contents of four tanker trucks into the mess, and their mixture contains something that loves steel.  Everyday, the owner brings me more burnt stuff.  Today, it's two ball molds for his cannon.

[Bob Roller]

Taylor,
This is a stock L&R frizzen spring but I had no need for it and
thus the offer.I had a good bit of useless to me stuff here and
sent it all to Doug Miller a couple of years ago. I think he lives
in BC also.
Bob Roller

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

email sent, Bob.