Hawken rifle at Ft. Bridger WY

[Dave B]

Driving across country to vist my son in Minisota stopped at Ft Bridger just off the Hwy in WY. They have some interesting stuff there. In the Museum they have a nice reproduction halfstock Hawken rifle the some one built. Do any of you guys know who might have built it

[Bob Roller]

Could be anyone from the late Tom Dawson to the ONE and only one I made in 1968.Can you send pictures?
Bob Roller

[Dave B]

Sadly i didnt take any pictures. I was pressed for time and trotted through the exibits. Who ever did it took the time to open up the curl on the scroll of the trigger guard making the axis more purpendicular to the wrist. I have seen a few orgi als with that done and like the looks of it. The gun looks like it just came off the gumakers bench. There were no dents dings or scratches. I figured Herb may know. It might be one of his.

[dadybear1]

HATE NO PICS  IM AN OLD HAWKEN FAN----

[Mule Brain]

This may shed some light on it, maybe not.

 http://grrw.org/bridger-commemorative-hawken/

[dstock]

WoW! Thanks for posting this. Great reading.

[Crow Creek]

Dave, search and contact Mtn Meek (Phil Meek) on the forum if you still need more info. He can fill you in.
Tom

[Herb]

Dave B, I took some photos of that exhibit but can't find them.  That is a garden variety Hawken copy, not a Bridger copy.   I think I asked someone there who made it, and they were insulted, thinking it was an original.   I met with a committee there and offered them my close copy of the Bridger Hawken, but they weren't interested.  They said they would set me up with a table to do a Hawken tutorial at the Rendezvous, but they didn't list it in their events.  Here I am set up with some of my Hawkens, including the close copy of the Bridger.

[Scota4570]

Is there a list anywhere or original rifles that can be viewed?

For instance, the Donner Party Museum in Truckee California has an original on display.  I was told I would be able to document it and handle it but it never panned out. 

[Herb]

Jim Gordon's museum at Glorieta, NM has about 30 original Hawkens that you can handle, measure and photograph.  That is the most in one place I know of.

[Scota4570]

I wish I had known when I was planning my hawken build, ...on the way to Oklahoma.     I'll have to schedule a visit the next time I drive to Texas or Oklahoma. 

[dadybear1]

GREAT HISTORY AND INFORMATION---THANK YOU SO MUCH--JEFF in TEXAS

[Dave B]

Great stuff guys. I stopped off yesterday at the Museum of the fur trade in Chadron NB. The trigger guard detail i refer to was demonstrated on one of several Hawken Rifles in their collection. It struck me that the rear scroll of the guards have a more narrow end to the treminal of the scroll. The early guard has a more cicular design than what our modern castings do.