Lyman Signature Series GPR

[OldMtnMan]

It seems Lyman has two GPR's now. The Signature Series is made by Pedersoli and is probably their Rocky Mountain version. It's more accurate to the real Hawken with a better shaped stock and leaf spring lock. Of course, workmanship is way way better too.

You'll pay $300 more at $969 for it too.

[OldMtnMan]

Mods...Might as well remove this thread. It didn't spark any interest.

I wouldn't pay almost a $1000 for a production gun either but I guess there are some that will. Not on this forum.

[Daryl]

I wouldn't either Pete, but I expect there is a market. I once paid over $750.00 for an Indian-made Bess. Yes that was very foolish.

[Panzerschwein]

I just did some research and found this picture of it:



Looks most like a more plane Jane, rebranded offering of Pedersoli抯 Hawken. I hope it comes with an optional plain rear sight as the original Hawkens wouldn抰 have had that adjustable rear sight until close to the end of the 19th century mainly coming out of the Gemmer shop.

If Pedersoli had used a plain maple抯 stock it would have been a little closer to most originals, too, but that may have jacked the price up even more.

It will I imagine have tremendously better fit and finish over the original GPR. The originals are... well... rustic in this regard, to put it politely.

Kind of an uncommon price bracket for a traditional muzzleloader and that might be a good thing. Certainly seems like it could be a good option for someone wanting a more authentic Hawken of better quality without spending as much on Pedersoli抯 other pricier Hawkens or a custom gun.

[canadianml1]

I own a Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken in 54 caliber. I purchased it a long time ago. Fit and finish is very good and it shoots accurately.

[Fyrstyk]

If I were going to spend that kind of money for a production gun, I would get the Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken for a few hundred more.  I actually purchased a Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken in the late 80's from an estate sale.  A top quality gun with a beautiful maple stock. I don't shot it much as I prefer flintlocks, but I take it out once in a while for a trail walk shoot at my club.

[OldMtnMan]

Pedersoli offered the Rocky Mountain in walnut and maple. I'm guessing the Lyman version is just the walnut version.

I'm not sure what Pedersoli offers now. I always thought his guns were overpriced.

[hanshi]

They certainly are over priced!

[alacran]

They certainly are over priced!

Really? Price out the parts for a Hawken , say the Hawken Shop, Don Stith, or TOW. Tell me what you come up with.
Then it has to be put together by some one who is competent, cha ching.
 A grand for a production gun that is fairly authentic and shoots well is really not that high.
A Hawken is outwardly a simple looking gun. However it is a complicated build.

[OldMtnMan]

They certainly are over priced!

Really? Price out the parts for a Hawken , say the Hawken Shop, Don Stith, or TOW. Tell me what you come up with.
ld.

I come up with better parts and a better completed gun.

[bob in the woods]

Some 30 years ago, there was a real enthusiasm and marketing push for Hatfield rifles. At that time Hatfield was producing a "Hawken"  [ they termed it a mountain rifle] style rifle and a friend purchased one. It was expensive .   Many folks would be happy with that rifle but he wasn't and I wouldn't be either. Different strokes for different folks.  It's the small things that really end up getting to me , and in the end , I'd be replacing it with something else.  If I only still had the money I've spent over the years on " almost authentic" stuff     

[Roger B]

I'm with Alacran. Once you collect an authentic Stith stock, a pile of good parts, & a good barrel, you're into a Hawken around $750.00. Then try to get a builder to assemble one for $250.00 (unless you can do it).  It makes the Pedersoli product look down right attractive.
Roger B.

[OldMtnMan]

Roger........You don't think the end result of the Stith kit build would be worth the extra money? I sure do. I've owned a Pedersoli longrifle and wasn't impressed. Now I own a longrifle built by Dennis with quality parts and it's twice the gun that the Pedersoli was.

Sometimes spending a little more is worth it.

[Scota4570]

It find it strange that pedersoli would make the butplate, lock molding, and interior of the trigger guard wrong.  For the money involved you'd think they would buy an authentic original and copy it.  Once documented they could sell the original.  Once the wax molds are made the cost is the same to make the parts  right or wrong.

[Roger B]

I have two rifles made from Don's stocks & I paid large chunks of change to have them built up. They are worth every penny I paid.  OTOH, many guys want a Hawken but can't pay that much. Especially young guys with families.  Those are the guys who might be interested in the Pedersoli. You can do a lot worse.
Roger B.

[Daryl]

Especially young guys with families.  Those are the guys who might be interested in the Pedersoli. You can do a lot worse.
Roger B.

Isn't THAT the truth.

[alacran]

Remember back in the hey day of muzzleloading. There were a lot of junky guns out there. But folks were having fun with them. They wore outfits that might have come out of a Disney character, like Danl Boone, or Davy Crocket.
Then came the stitch Nazis. Telling them how wrong they were and how could they enjoy themselves, wearing such garb. Then came the documenters. Then the juried events.
Well the historical snobbery in my estimation, has been  exclusionary. Some one wanting to get into the sport today is easily intimidated by prices and the level of commitment that current practitioners imply is a must.
  I think the manufacturers  sensed that the black powder craze would wane and with the increase of muzzleloading hunting opportunities in more and more states. They opted to supplying inexpensive guns that made no pretense at being historical. These modern weapons were and are marketed as simpler and easier to use than old grand dads inaccurate and undependable relics.
The point is every time a manufacturer comes up with a new entry level traditional muzzleloader, the first reaction from seasoned shooters is to point out how wanting it is.
Pedersoli makes fine muzzleloaders with varying levels of quality and price points. Frankly I would rather see someone with an old Sharon, CVA or GPR hawken in the field than a scoped plastic stocked inline.

[OldMtnMan]

When a production gun gets to be over $1400 you start to look around for a better choice.

The young guy with a family can buy a used GPR. He's not the one buying a $1200 Pedersoli.

[flinchrocket]

Kids now of days pay more than that for a phone. The price is not going to stop someone who wants one.

[Daryl]

These people were having fun, in the 50's.

[Bob McBride]

These people were having fun, in the 50's.

Is that Miss Kitty in the middle?

[OldMtnMan]

That was before production guns too.

[smallpatch]

While it抯 true that some can put together a better rifle with the $1000 Worth of parts, most cannot.  Hence all those rifles worth $200 from $1000 worth of parts.
While I don抰 want a Lyman, there is definitely a niche for them.

[Daryl]

These people were having fun, in the 50's.

Is that Miss Kitty in the middle?

That's the late, Irene Hawkes, of Kalispel Montana. The off centre photo was taken by her now late husband, Lester H. Hawkes.
Both were very close & dear friends of mine, for 20 years until they passed. They were living on Walcott Road, about 10 miles West
of Houston, BC at the time I knew them.  Les was friend with Les Bauska and worked for John Buhmiller for a time, when in Kalispel.