Robert D. Reeves Hawken

[BigSkyRambler]

This rifle was just delivered to me from an auction in Oregon.  It is a really stunning .50 Hawken built by Robert D Reeves.  It has a heavy W.M. LARGE marked barrel.  Top of barrel has Robert D Reeves No. 48 1972.  Underside has what I assume is Mr. Large's inventory number.  The lock is a Bob Roller.  Looks like I hit the Trifecta for builder and components! I found an article in the June 1973 issue of Muzzle Blasts about Mr. Reeves building a Hawken rifle for a descendant of S and J Hawken. I found some older threads on this site about other rifles by Reeves.

[jgraham1]

She sure is purdy!

Jerry

[MittenJim]

Very nice!

[Jeff Murray]

chcecked all the boxes on that one.  Nece rifle.

[Dphariss]

You did well. It appears he used what I call the “Jake” stock pattern.

[Jeff Murray]

Obviously missed spell checking above.  OH well.

[Bob Roller]

I remember Bob Reeves but can't remember where he lived and my records from 50 years ago are not here anymore.So many of my long ago customers are now long.In the time frame when that gun was made the idea of a better quality lock was as popular as a cut in pay and good barrels and good looking wood was what was wanted.Is Bob Reeves still alive or also deceased like so many others?? The mainspring in  the lock looks like its be filed or ground.Can you post a full internal picture of the lock??

Bob Roller

[BigSkyRambler]

Here us photo of internals.  I believe Mr. Reeves lived in California.  It is interesting that I found a very similar rifle for sale in the June 1973 Muzzle Blasts that had the article about Reeves and the Hawken's Hawken.

[BigSkyRambler]

This may be of some interest to those interested in what happened to the Hawken family after Jake and Sam.
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/080811.html

[Bob Roller]

$350 had some purchasing power then.What is a full custom Hawken selling for today?
The last Hawken lock I made was $200 and the triggers were $75.
Bob Roller