DP, I like a 34" barrel on a fullstock early Hawken. They were a transition stage from longrifles to plains rifles & tended to be slightly longer than the later & more famous half stock Hawkens. Black powder is being terribly over regulated in Canada & is getting more difficult to get every year as shops don't like to carry it for the small amount sold. As several of our insightful friends pointed out, there are many substitute powders that work well in a caplock.
Bruce, handguns are highly regulated in Canada & if one orders a pistol length barrel it creates all sorts of paperwork with customs & police. I can get a lock without arousing suspition & all the rest of the parts & wood are easily made/obtained here. After the pistol is finished it's a simple job to have it verified & registered. As to the twist, pistols are shot at such ridiculously close range here that rifling isn't needed at all.
Taylor, I've been pondering cutting my barrel all winter & have slept on it more than long enough. That trail walk I shot with you last year at Heffley is reason enough! I hope to get the Jim Bridger parts from Track to build next winter. Which would you suggest, 58 or 62 cal? I really didn't give caplocks a fair try. When I got into muzzle-loaders in 1977 I bought one of those cheap Italian "Hawken" kits. I met Hugh Toenges shortly thereafter & he was so against caplocks, he practically gave me that 50 Sharon barrel I sent you for Wayne & sold me an L&R Late English flint kit to assemble a nice lock. I only used the cap gun for a few months before Hugh "converted " me & the breech on that was poorly designed, very prone to misfires. A well designed Hawken would be a delight!
