Hawken fron 8/4 Stock?

[nvandal]

Folks,
Sorry, but here I am again. Here's the situation. I used to make period furniture reproductions. I worked for Fine Woodworking Magazine and wrote articles and books on period furniture and woodworking technology. However, I'm a bit stumped on this seemingly simple issue.
First of all, I have some superb 8/4 tiger hard maple. Fantastic pattern tiger. But the thickest stock I have is 8/4. I can squeak 1 7/8 inches out of it, jointed and dressed both sides. I could probably get 1 15/16 inches if I only joint one face. I have a 20 inch wide jointer, so I can joint the entire face of the stock blank.
When I look at guns, ie. both actual guns and the Track Hawken drawing, I find the thickest point is right around 1 7/8 inches.
So, can I get a stock out of my 8/4 maple? I know I can set the barrel on the lock side close to one face of the stock, leaving a bit more on the other side for the cheek piece. I could also gain a bit by building in like 1/8" to 3/16" cast off, which I would prefer to do. However, from what I can figure, the cast off gets me little.
My barrel is one inch. The thickness of the lock is 1/4 inch, but I would leave more like 5/16 of material at the lock panel. So, if I add up the barrel plus the two sides. it come to 1 5/8 inches. This leaves only a 1/4 to 5/16 inches extra for the cheek piece. This enough?
If you saw this maple, you'd sympathize with me. It's stock I saved 30 years ago because it was so fine. However, am I facing the impossible here?
Thanks so much,
Norm Vandal
Roxbury Vt.

[Jim Kibler]

With a thin board, the constraining factors are usually, the butplate width combined with how tall the cheekpiece is.  A properly shaped cheekpiece isn't nearly as tall as one might think.  With this being the case, if the butplate is is somewhere around 1 3/4" or less, you should be able to get away with using your wood.  As you mentioned, cast off won't gain you much, but can be included if you like.  I wouldn't bother with jointing or planing your wood first.  No need for it and it might take off some would you could use.   

[nvandal]

Jim,
The butt plate is a late Hawken cast type from Track. Its widest point is just under 1 1/4 inches. Narrower than what you suggest would work. So, I guess I'm okay with the stock?
I do have to face one side as I'm inletting the barrel with a shaprsr cutter I've ground and I need a straight edge to run against the fence.
I may be able to taper off one face in the barrel area to allow for a modest cast off. I'd taper it off on the jointer. I could likely only gain about 3/16 inch of cast off.
It's great to have some confirmation. Let's see what other folks might say too, but I feel you're correct.
Thanks again,
Norm V.

[B.Habermehl]

Straighten your stock bank by hand with a plane, you can clean up any curve with more minimal wood removal. If you do it right you can use any slight curve to your advantage for a slight bit of cast off etc. In other words only straighten the forend to give you the straight edge you need.  BJH

[Jim Kibler]

With the dimensions you have given, you have all kinds of room.

[Herb]

I measured 3 sets of Hawken plans I have, and the cheek piece is the widest part of the stock, usually 1.7 to 1.8".  Five Hawkens I built, two with TOW parts, have 1.75 and 1.8" thickness at the cheek piece.  Nobody can see the little difference you might have.  You do not need castoff in a Hawken stock, but I usually toe-out a little, which doesn't affect thickness.

[David Rase]

An 8/4 wide piece of wood should not give you any problems.  The widest part of the Hawken rifle on my set of Robidoux plans is at the cheek piece and it is 1 13/16" in width at its widest point.  Also, there is no cast off on the Robidoux drawing.  I don't know how you would put cast oof into a Hawken with the long triggerplate and tang with out it destroying the lines of the rifle.  I know cast off was discussed on another thread but I had to mention it.
David

[nvandal]

Does anyone know if the Robidoux Hawken drawings are still available? I can't find them on the web. I'd certainly get a set if I could. Any used ones?
Thanks,
Norm vandal

[David Rase]

Does anyone know if the Robidoux Hawken drawings are still available? I can't find them on the web. I'd certainly get a set if I could. Any used ones?
Thanks,
Norm vandal

Here is some contact information from his web sight.  Looks like he is into smokers and air compressors but it might be worth a try.
Robidoux, Inc.
1234 South 9th
Lincoln, NE 68502

Toll-Free: (888) 396-8676
Local Phone: (402) 435-7203
Email Address: jamier@robidouxinc.com

Dave