Building a Hawken style cal 50 pistol

[runastav]

Hi all, and thank you Craig Wilcox and stubshaft!
I fix the hammer somting like Taylor said I hope ;)My checkering file is not so fine, 18 tpi but its the only I have for many years(They are sooo expensive!)The spot in the hammer is from my stickweld I will call it patina hehe
Runar

[Bob Roller]

I think you have done a fine job in making this pistol and showing how it
is done.The checkering on the hammer is a safety feature and I won't
make a caplock without it.

Bob Roller

[Clark Badgett]

Runar, I think you did an awesome weld for it being done with a stick. I've always been completely terrible with stick welding. I can do an ok job with TIG.

[runastav]

Hi all and thank you Bob and Clark!
The front sight made , copper base and SS blade. Now its ready for chekering of the grip(I hate chekering )  Parts is send to Taylor for engraving
Runar

[dogcreek]

That is excellent work, Runar! Thank you for sharing the build as you went along.

[PPatch]

Bravo Runar! A most excellent pistol you're created. Hard, exacting work, I know, but you did a wonderful job throughout. Love what you have done.

dave

[runastav]

Hi all! and thank you dogcreek and PPatch!
So beginning checkering the Stock
Runar

[Craig Wilcox]

You are very good with that checkering set.  And lucky to have a swiveling vise when you change direction.

The only BP pistol that I have checkered was a 16+" barrel - could almost be a rifle!  Be illegal if it were not BP.

The fore end was long enough to use as you would the fore end of a rifle, so I checkered it with 20 lpi, and 3-line skip.  Came out pretty good.  I even left big blank diamonds where the escutcheons were.  The pistol was for my son, and he does indeed enjoy it.

[runastav]

Hi All, and thank you Craig Wilcox!
So its done, not Perfect but good for me
Runar

[PPatch]

That checkering is more "perfect" than I could do - good job.

dave

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Nice work on the chequering Runar.  It'll make a big difference in the feel of the grip.

I have the hammer, lock plate and trigger plate from Runar's pistol...will be doing a little engraving to kick it up a notch.  I had eye surgery last Monday so I'm just letting the eye heal a little before putting it to the strain of engraving.  Runar has been patient.  Go ahead and finish the wood Runar...I'll get to the engraving this week.  You got your cart ahead of the horse a bit...I always completely finish the wood prior to chequering.  That keeps the chequering from filling with finish.  So use a tooth brush to remove all of the finish from the chequering as you apply coats, and it should be fine.

[runastav]

Hi Guys! Thank you PPatch and Taylor! Stock finish Aqua fortis and Danish oil. Taylor get well soon
Runar

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Runar sent me the lock plate, hammer and trigger plate of this build for me to do a little scratching for him.  Here's the process and results, at his request.

I used blocks of wood to mount the pieces in autobody filler so they could be held securely in the engraving ball vise.








Then, using a photograph of one of the famous J  & S Hawken pistols, I engraved the parts.  The trigger plate is out of my own thoughts, as no images of this part are available.  I used primarily a square graver and a light hammer.

[runastav]

Taylor that is beautiful and thank you :)So I hope the rest of the pistol can match this. Hmm think I to must beginn trayning some simple engraving

Runar

[p.d.]

A collaboration between two artists of the first order is always a joy to behold. 

[Martin S.]

I have been following this remarkable build.

Taylor "scratchin'" just adds to the already superb workmanship.

Well done to both of you.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

A feature of the Hawken engraving is its simplicity.  Yet it adds to the charm of the piece.  After reading Schippers, it was tough not to go crazy.  I'm happy you like it Runar.  I have it wrapped and will get it to the post asap.

Thanks too everyone, for your kind words.
Taylor

[Joe S.]

Wow,how cool is it to have two craftsman an ocean away make a pistol all it can be,tip of the 'ol cap to you two,well done sirs.

[davebozell]

This is turning out to be a very special pistol indeed.  Collaboration projects are the very best. 

[redheart]

Wow! That engraving is really the icing on the cake!

[runastav]

Hi Guys! and thank you all!So now I must have patience to parts arrive Norway and the pistol can be completed
Runar

[Marcruger]

Beautiful work Runar.  I think with your talent you will be able to do beautiful engraving with practice.  Taylor, that is indeed some elegantly simple engraving.  Nice collaboration. 

Regarding finishing checkering, my dad used a similar method.  He used painters tape over the checkering area when adding the finish after staining (he checkered before finish and stain).  After the main finish went on, he'd remove the tape, and place one drop of finish in the center of the checkering.  He scrub that one drop every which way with a soft toothbrush.  If it wasn't enough, he'd add another drop and repeat.  He always preached to me not to use more than a drop at a time, lest one "Goop up the checkering."  His always looked beautiful, and I have successfully done some modern handgun grips that way. 

God Bless,   Marc

[will payne]

That's jus amazing that somebody can take hunk of steel and turn it into something beautiful.

[Tim Crosby]

 Jezz Taylor, even your stir stick is Curley   Beautifully done.

  Tim

[smart dog]

Hi Taylor,
It is really easy to go wild with engraving when you have mastered much of it and want to express your designs and skills. However, the true professional matches his work with his objectives, which you have done here extraordinarily well.  When I look at this work, I am not dazzled by complexity and flourish, which has its place, but the merging of the artist with historical context. You succeeded in that in spades, Taylor.  Runastav created a wonderful canvas and you decorated it just right.

dave