Full stock early, Hawken 99% complete

[Chocktaw Brave]

Well, I couldn’t find the original thread from when I started building this rifle, but I have it mostly completed.
I still have to put a rivet in the nose cap. And a little more touchup on some of the iron parts.
I think I bought the wrong size ramrods because they do not fit the end cap very tight.

But at least it’s ready to shoot.

[Daniel Coats]

Looks good from a distance can you get closer pictures please?

[Chocktaw Brave]

Here you go.






Some pictures not loading.

[Daniel Coats]

Nice looking gun!

[Daryl]

Yes, I agree. Really like the colour.

[Chocktaw Brave]

Thank you, there’s a lot of mistakes, but it’s my first build.
And the mistakes are what distinguishes it from every other rifle!

[Bob Roller]

If I had a dollar for every mistake I have made in any shop work I could put in a high bid on a Duesenberg car and the last one I worked on sold for $1,600.000.
Bob Roller

[Steeltrap]

“A riviet in the nose cap”

On one of my early builds I tried to install a rivet. I ended up cracking the thin wood under the nose cap.

I fixed it with a small pin and ended up using Accraglass to install the nose cap. Not HC…..but after many years it’s still holding.

[Chocktaw Brave]

You know the nose cap fits pretty tight. I almost thought about putting some epoxy on it and forgetting the rivet.
I had a rivet set aside in a box with the kit and now I can’t find it. Maybe I should epoxy it before putting the Rivet in?
That area is awful thin.

[smylee grouch]

I'm thinking a piece of #10 or 12 copper wire would make a good rivet. 

[bluenoser]

It does. Head up the inside end and lightly countersink the wood before installing.  Use a shop-made die block to create a head that matches the countersink.  Solidly support while gently upsetting the exterior.

[Polecat_Tom]

When I went to install the nose cap on mine I used epoxy to insure a good fit. After the epoxy sit up I could not get the nose cap off. I ended up not installing a rivet after deciding if it comes loose I will rivet it then.

[stan57]

Choctaw Brave, How much does your Hawken weigh?

[Daryl]

Is that beast rigged with a 1/2" or 7/16" rod. The forend would appear sized for a big rod.

[Chocktaw Brave]

I’m not sure how much it weighs, but it’s heavy. I’ll See if I can get a weight on it.
Update, I just weighed it, right at 10 1/2 pounds by the bathroom scale.

The ram rod that’s in it now is a 3/8 inch, but it is really loose in the thimbles. If I turn the barrel down, it will fall out. I need to order some 7/16 inch ram Rods. They might fit a little tight, but I can always sand them down for a snug fit.

[smylee grouch]

JMHO but DO NOT GO FOR A SNUG FIT ON YOUR RR. They can at times swell up at inopportune moments 

[Chocktaw Brave]

JMHO but DO NOT GO FOR A SNUG FIT ON YOUR RR. They can at times swell up at inopportune moments 

Got it!👍

[reddogge]

10 1/2# is a beast. I struggle with my 9# Ithaca Hawken but I'm older now (81).

[Chocktaw Brave]

It actually balances really good on the left hand.
And the weight is not that bad, my M14 that I regularly shoot weighs 10.7 pounds with a fully loaded magazine. So I’m used to the weight.
Now taking it on a 5 mile hike might be a little excessive!😁