My last Kit Carson Hawken- And some others

[Herb]

I finally finished my second Carson Hakwen, both from the stick.  A very close copy scaled from a full-sized photo of the original.

Top is my Jim Bridger copy, also made from the stick, with a 1 1/8" straight barrel.  The top three rifles are .54 caliber.  Next is my Carson rifle just finished, with a 1 1/8 to 1" tapered barrel.  Third is a Carson with a 1" straight barrel, otherwise also a close copy.  Fourth is my .58 flint plains rifle (I don't call it a Hawken).  Last is a .40 St. Louis Hawken squirrel rifle.

I did not "age" the Carson rifles.  The latest one was browned with Laurel Mountain Forge Barrel Browner and Degreaser and soaked in boiling distilled water for each of the five coats, which turns it more blackish than blue.  The breech plug, tang, lock, butt plate, toe plate, trigger guard and plate, escutcheons and keys, nose cap and entry pipe were all heat blued.  Same for the third rifle, except the barrel is blued with Brownells Oxpho cold blue.

The top two and the flinter are too heavy for me to shoot off-hand, but I probably will shoot my newest Carson rifle in Jim's Peep Shoot Sunday.  I can still do OK with the 1" barreled Carson.  I have lost interest in .40 caliber rifles, only having three I have built.

The entry pipe is cut to the same dimensions as the original.  The ramrod is a full 1/2", slightly tapered to larger at the front rod pipe.  Stain was Lincoln's dark brown oil leather dye, which I expected to be very dark, but it is not.

Of the 20 some Hawkens I have built, the Carson rifle with a 1" barrel is my favorite.  I will probably draw an antelope tag this year (have six points), and am considering using a 32" Rice .50 Jaeger barrel, which is swamped, to build another Carson Hawken for hunting.  Yes, I know this was probably never done, but  I just don't have the muscles any longer to hold heavy rifles for off-hand shooting.

[Joe S.]

Some nice rifles Herb,your knowledge on hawken rifles and the research you have done and supply is a big help to those interested in these rifles.As far as your next,build what's going to be comfortable to shoot,doesn't make sense to build a rifle for yourself that's not,especially for hunting.

[bama]

Herb I really love your work and attention to the details of building a Hawken styled rifle. These rifles look deceivingly easy to build but in reality they're really hard because if you don't get the details right they just don't make the cut. I have built 3 and the last was a little bit of a fanticy rifle because it had a checkered wrist and an engraved patch box and a 1" to 7/8" tapered 34" barrel in 58 caliber. This made a rifle that was a pleasure to hold and shoot. Most people don't understand how heavy a true Hawken rifle is.

[n stephenson]

Herb, Nice Work!!  Those are some good looking rifles, I know you put a lot of work into those. Thanks for posting.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Herb:  thanks for showing us your nice collection.  It is only by building over and over again, a rifle of this design, that one gets the little nuances worked out.  I admire your attention to detail, and your ability to nail it.

[flinchrocket]

Nice work Herb. Good luck on your antelope hunt.