Author Topic: Pecatonica Gunstocks  (Read 3385 times)

Offline Herb

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Pecatonica Gunstocks
« on: May 05, 2020, 07:30:20 AM »
I ordered a plain maple non-inletted Hawken halfstock from them March 27th.  Phoned them today to check on delivery.  Dick Greensides said a week and half to two weeks yet.  They are busy supplying stocks to us people with time to use them!
Herb

Offline FALout

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2020, 12:53:23 PM »
I ordered a stock/barrel from them around 8 months ago and they were pretty quick on getting it to me.  I asked to not have it shaped, cherry stock with .40 colerain barrel, they did a really good job on fit and when laying things out I was happy with ram rod hole placement.  This rifle is gonna be a Lehigh so wanted it thin in height at lock area, it will be (if I do my part), I had to drill for a 6x32 front lock bolt and just slightly notch bottom of barrel, very tight space which was okay with me.  I do wish the grain was running through the wrist area a little better, but with cherry there isn’t always much choice.  I’ve bought from them in the past and have never had any regrets.
Bob

Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2020, 02:32:37 PM »
Hi Guys,
I agree I bought a stock and some components for the Hawkin fullstock flint I am building. They did a good job and delivered when they said they would. I dealt with a fellow named Doug. I would buy from them again no problem.  I have heard that they supply stocks and some components to Track of the Wolf but I don't know if thats true.
Rob

Offline thecapgunkid

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2020, 02:50:29 PM »
I've gotten good use of their pre-rev stock with prompt delivery, fair pricing and willingness to customize.  Their barrel selection is good too.

Offline Herb

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2020, 05:46:38 PM »
My stock is a custom cut, I needed more wood in the toe line and 1/4" more behind the snail to make a close copy of the  Carson rifle.
Herb

Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2020, 03:04:43 AM »
Herb,
What do you think of their parts and stocks to build a Bridger Hawken in .50 or .54?
Thanks,
Rob

Offline Johnny Dollar

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2020, 05:06:49 AM »
Herb,
Everything is in slow motion right now.  Even components from TOW are coming at a snail’s pace.   I ordered a custom piece of curly maple about this time last year from Pecatonica and I got it in a couple of weeks from my phone order. 
Now, I’m waiting on stuff from several suppliers I ordered a couple months back.  I don’t know what a guy can do about it, ‘crept wait patiently...

Offline Herb

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2020, 08:54:12 AM »
Borderdogs, Pecatonica just calls it a Hawken, which is good.  It comes inlet for the L&R lock, and that hammer is different than almost all original Hawkens.  The inlet is larger than for a Davis lock, the correct one for the Bridger or Carson Hawkens. The LR-1400 triggers they show are both curved, which is not normal, but they probably have the straight front trigger.  That inlet is different than the Ron Long PA-20 triggers.  Both are good.  The trigger guard looks like the one I use.  The nose cap is a stamped Ted Cash, and they are much trouble to fit compared to a cast cap. The butt plate they show is not identified, but it is not the Jim Bridger buttplate, a very comfortable one to use.  I would not use this one, but they do not cut for the buttplate, so you could get Track's BP-Hawk-JB-I, the Bridger.  I don't know what the entry pipe is. The escutcheons and keys are in about the right place,

The stock is well shaped.  I get that stock not inlet for anything except the barrel channel and ramrod hole drilled 7/16".  It matches the Carson stock almost exactly, needing only about another half-inch depth to the toe line for correct drop at heel.  I cut the forend shorter.  I needed about 1/4" more wood behind the snail to fill that area, and this is the special order I made.  I ask for hard maple with the grain running down the wrist.  Previously I got their Grade CM#2, which has plenty of figure in it, costing only $15 more than CM#1 with little or no curl.  But I think Hawkens are mostly made way too pretty compared to the originals, so I want plain maple for this next Carson rifle.  The stock cost about $140 for CM#2 non-inlet and shipped.  Track sells the same stock, inlet or not inlet, 1" and 15/16", but for the special order I go to Pecatonica.

So it depends whether you want a "Hawken" rifle or a close copy of the Bridger.  It is the furniture and its location that makes a rifle look like an original.  They do supply this in a 1 1/8" barrel channel size like the Bridger, as a well as 1" and 15/16".   I get the 1", but have built the 15/16" for a lighter rifle.  I do not recommend an 1 1/8" barrel because the only tang available is badly humped.  And it will make a rifle 11 1/4 pounds, which is way too heavy for most people.  And a .54 is lighter than a .50.


Here is Pecatonica's inlet Hawken stock compared to the Carson rifle, full size photo.  I may have asked them not to cut the key escutcheons.


The L&R inletting is larger than the Davis lock, which I use.  I sent the stock back to exchange for a non-inlet stock.


Here is the non-inlet, showing how I need more wood behind the snail.


The non-inlet compared to the Carson stock.  I wanted more toe line for the 3 3/8" drop at heel to match the Carson stock.  It would have worked just fine with less drop, but I wanted it exact.



The top two are my Carson copies with Pecatonica non-inlet stocks, grade CM#2.  Top one has a 15/16" H&H .54 barrel, middle one a one-inch barrel, bottom is my 1 1/8" Bridger copy.


In summary, Pecatonica's  halfstock Hawken non-inlet stock is the best one I know of to build a correct looking rifle.  EDITED:  Correct for both the Bridger and Carson Hawkens.  I don't think it is worth the trouble to lower that butt plate 3/8" for a Carson.  And maybe the barrel could be set back another 1/4" for a close fit behind the snail. 
« Last Edit: May 08, 2020, 06:53:19 PM by Herb »
Herb

Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2020, 02:17:37 PM »
Thanks Herb, what a summary! I have a copy of the Carson that Brant Selb made for me in .58 or I should say his version. But it is heavy. I was thinking of what my next build would be and I was comparing Tracks Carson and Bridger and it is hard to see the differences for a greenhorn like me your summary points them out nicely. I like the lighter barrels an in the East anything .45 to .54 is a practical deer rifle. Do you use the Green Mountain barrels Pecontonica sells? What length was the Bridger Hawken barrel?
Thanks,
Rob
« Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 02:24:41 PM by borderdogs »

Offline Roger B

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2020, 04:53:18 PM »
I have also had them do some machining on barrels that was first rate & done pretty quickly. Prices are quite reasonable.  Dick is a great guy to deal with.
Roger B
Never underestimate the sheer destructive power of a minimally skilled, but highly motivated man with tools.

Offline Herb

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2020, 06:52:16 PM »
Here is Green River Rifle Work's tracing of the Bridger Hawken by Greg Roberts in November, 1978.   I made my own copy from the original.  At top is Pecatonica's stock I ordered with a lowered toe line, to get about 1/4" more drop at heel.  Notice how closely it matches the Bridger plan.  At bottom is a $245 non-inlet stock from Knob Mountain after a lot of whittling to get a Bridger stock out of it. 


This is the cheek side of Pecatonica's stock. The Bridger and Carson cheek pieces can be cut from it exactly like the originals.  My butt plate is the Jim Bridger BP from Track, but thinned on the front edge.  Notice how thin the Carson butt plate is.


Borderdogs, I have used Green Mtn barrels, they are good.  The Bridger Hawken barrel is 33 1/8" long ahead of the snail, 1.185 there and 1.120 at the muzzle, half the thickness of a dime taper per side.  Carl Walker of the GRRW said "you can make that much difference with a file".

I should note that the Bridger stock has a 3 inch drop at heel from the top of the barrel, and the Carson is 3 3/8".  Thus, you can make the Bridger from Pecatonica's standard stock .

« Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 07:17:07 PM by Herb »
Herb

Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2020, 09:52:30 PM »
Thanks again Herb,
Rob

Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2020, 03:54:17 AM »
Here are a few pictures of my Carson Hawken rifle built by Brant Selb. There are two that I tried to get a picture of the but plate and a third of the lock and lock panel. The butt plate is very thin at the bottom as  you described Herb and as you showed in your pictures, I havent measured the drop yet but I will. The lock and I believe the triggers are R.E. Davis. I weighed the rifle and it weighs 10lbs exactly in .58. The hammer has been bent slightly by heat to meet the nipple properly.
Rob








Offline borderdogs

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Re: Pecatonica Gunstocks
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2020, 03:21:47 PM »
Pecatonica leaves a lot of wood around the lock panel when comparing the photo of the original Carson to the stock below it. The photo of the lock  panel on my Carson is close to the panel on the photo of the original but it is not as sharp  at the rear of it. As you say its the little details that make the difference. The Carson I have weighs 10 lbs my guess is in a .50 it would be more like 11 1/2 lbs.
Rob
« Last Edit: May 07, 2020, 03:52:52 PM by borderdogs »