Author Topic: An interesting find... Hawken-style .45 with German flair (Read 13962 times)

bones92 · « **on:** January 18, 2016, 07:04:50 PM »

I happened upon this as part of a deal for something else, and I thought you all would get a kick out of it.

I have not found any other maker marks other than "R. White" on the barrel. The hooked breech plug fits ok, but I think the tang is a wee bit off-kilter so it doesn't butt up quite flush (although it does when the tang and barrel are mated up out of the stock).

The bore is superb. I pulled the plug, lubricated with some lithium grease, and reinstalled (it's easy enough to do with a couple crescent wrenches).

Someone sure spent some time on it! I will likely list it for sale, but I wanted to share it with you fine folk first.

http://imgur.com/a/v7QH6

Joe S. · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2016, 10:11:30 PM »

is it me or is the forearm just a wee bit slabsided?

bones92 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2016, 10:19:52 PM »

Can you be a bit more specific?

Joe S. · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2016, 10:41:36 PM »

well,when you take a look at long rifles or half stocks the lines of the stocks tend to be rounded.The forearm is rounded and not so boxed looking.This look can also be what the maker wanted too.Take a look at some photos of half stock hawken rifles or plains style rifles and compare.Does have an interesting look and I'm not saying its a bad look either just pointing it out

bones92 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2016, 10:47:47 PM »

Ah, I see... and you're correct. It is very much slab-sided in the forearm. There may be a very small convex shape (I'll have to see at home) but not much.

Note the copper washer for indexing the drum.

The two screws holding the rear sight leaf to the dovetail are a bit loose, so the rear sight leaf can be moved from side to side. Looks like a 3/8" dovetail, so it's probably easier to order a replacement than to work on this one.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM »

That's really something....... $:-\$

David Rase · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2016, 01:44:28 AM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM

That's really something....... $:-\$

Nicely put Mike.

David

Joe S. · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2016, 02:56:16 AM »

and some tell it like it is

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:45:58 AM »

Man the guy that made this gun must have had eyes like Marty Feldman. Everything on this gun is about two bubbles off.

Hungry Horse

bones92 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2016, 01:53:44 PM »

I'm not convinced that the German is actually correct, either.

Should be interesting to see what it fetches on auction. I did get a decent Euroarms two-band Enfield, as well, which is what I really wanted.

Don Steele · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2016, 02:09:19 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM

That's really something....... $:-\$

Couldn't have said it better.
As I went down through the pictures...WELL before seeing the inscription cut into the barrel...I have to say...it certainly looks "Germanic"...and I'm not even sure what that means..!! $:-\$

Bob Roller · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2016, 03:00:53 PM »

Quote from: Don Steele on January 19, 2016, 02:09:19 PM

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM
That's really something....... $:-\$

Couldn't have said it better.
As I went down through the pictures...WELL before seeing the inscription cut into the barrel...I have to say...it certainly looks "Germanic"...and I'm not even sure what that means..!! $:-\$

Looks like a high school project from the German speaking area of Hawaii.

Bob Roller

grabenkater · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2016, 03:02:16 PM »

He means it looks like Berlin, in the middle of May, circa 1945.

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:04:23 PM »

Looks like one side is flat the opposite side alittle rounded. Huge front sight even I can see. Maybe it was someone's first build?

Robby · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:15:38 PM »

Ach du lieber!
Robbystein

Tony Clark · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2016, 08:33:16 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM

That's really something....... $:-\$

LoL...

bones92 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2016, 08:48:29 PM »

Dieses Gewehr ist schrecklich, nicht wahr?

Joe S. · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2016, 10:37:08 PM »

So much for being nice

Majorjoel · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2016, 10:48:01 PM »

Sure glad you have a good sense of humor there bones! Just remember, we're not laughing AT your rifle, we are laughing WITH your rifle!

bones92 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2016, 10:52:10 PM »

Well, if it were my name etched onto the barrel, I suppose it would be painful to bear.

But despite all its shortcomings, there's a part off me that likes it... perhaps only because I've never seen anything like it before. Of course, I'll still sell it... (mainly because I don't have room for every wayward ML that I come across).

Whenever I describe something as "interesting" there's always a wide spectrum of interpretation implied.

Quote from: Majorjoel on January 19, 2016, 10:48:01 PM

Sure glad you have a good sense of humor there bones! Just remember, we're not laughing AT your rifle, we are laughing WITH your rifle!

L. Akers · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2016, 11:00:27 PM »

My impression is a first build by someone who didn't know what it was supposed to look like. Sorta like MY first one.

bones92 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 21, 2016, 07:16:04 PM »

The more I learn about muzzleloading rifles, the more I realize that there are a great number of interpretations on the matter. I think the general consensus is that "more eye candy, more better".

I haven't found any maker marks for the barrel. I'm sort of curious to see how it shoots. However, I have other rifles waiting for their trip to the range, already, so that may not happen.

Majorjoel · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2016, 01:27:50 AM »

This rifle would be a very good piece to do some fixing up on Bones! Change out the sights and strip it down. Take some wood off the forestock and do some reshaping. Then give it a nice refinish. A good rifle for a 2nd chance. Make it a fun project for these dark winter months! It would also be a great learning experience.

Dphariss · « **Reply #23 on:** January 22, 2016, 04:04:57 AM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on January 18, 2016, 11:28:30 PM

That's really something....... $:-\$

Ditto.

Old Ford2 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 23, 2016, 04:31:06 PM »

It looks as though the barrel key is passing through the barrel. It is quite high.
Germanic??? Yeah the lock does look like a Volkswagon, in profile.
I must admit that the work on the end of the barrel ( muzzle ) is not bad, and the quality of lettering ( although a lot ) on the barrel is impressive.
My knowledge of German is poor, but, did he write his whole family history?
You could strip the gun down ( throw away the barrel, lock, stock, ram rod, trigger, trigger guard, butt plate, tang, sights ) keep the screws and make a new gun.

Fred

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Author Topic: An interesting find... Hawken-style .45 with German flair (Read 13962 times)

Tony Clark