Author Topic: ozark Hawken  (Read 2804 times)

Offline mountainman70

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ozark Hawken
« on: March 26, 2019, 04:57:36 PM »
Hello all, recently traded for a nice older fitted stock from an Ozark Mtn Hawken. No barrel, lock,triggs, everthing else there.
What is the story on this company? I remember hearing about them back in the day. Best regards,as always, Dave F 8) 8)

Offline Longknife

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2019, 06:25:52 PM »
They made very nice high quality and historically correct rifles in their day, circa 1980's. Located in Branson Mo. I visited them every time I went there. Had a friend buy one and it was a tack driver.  I believe they used all commercial made parts so you could probably match up parts for your stock,,,Ed
Ed Hamberg

Offline mountainman70

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2019, 06:28:52 PM »
Thanks Ed, that is what I am planning to do. Makes me wonder what became of the missing parts- probably a custom build. Have a goodun. Dave 8) 8)

Offline Longknife

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2019, 07:12:27 PM »
Thanks Ed, that is what I am planning to do. Makes me wonder what became of the missing parts- probably a custom build. Have a goodun. Dave 8) 8)

I was wondering that too,,,why part out a nice rifle???, They weren't cheap in their day!!!
Ed Hamberg

Offline Marcruger

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2019, 09:42:00 PM »
If you post photos perhaps someone may recognize the maker of the missing parts?

Offline Mtn Meek

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2019, 11:17:33 PM »
The story of Ozark Mountains Arms is rather convoluted.

The company was originally founded by Milt Hudson as the Mountain Arms Inc. in Ozark, MO around 1977.  In 1979 Hudson brought in a couple of partners who very quickly crowded him out of the company.

Milt Hudson formed a new company called The Hawken Armory in 1979 still based in Ozark, MO.

His former partners renamed the original company Ozark Mountain Arms in 1979 and moved it to Branson, MO.  They continued to produce the same rifle that Milt Hudson had.

At the end of 1983, Gene Arnaud sold Ozark Mountain Arms to Bob McKellar and the business was moved to Ashdown, AR.  Ozark Mountain Arms continued to operate in Ashdown, AR until at least 1987.

In the meantime, Milt Hudson plugged away at The Hawken Armory making its version of the same Hawken rifle as well as a squirrel rifle.  The company apparently changed owners and moved to Hot Springs, AR in late 1980 or 81.  I don't know how long The Hawken Armory operated after moving to Arkansas.

Milt Hudson's Mountain Arms Inc. Hawken was a copy of a contemporary Hawken that was made by Ed White.  Ed White had made his rifle as a copy of an original in Art Ressel's collection.  This was the same original Hawken that Art made most of his molds from for his Hawken Shop Hawken.  There are some similarities between the Mountain Arms/Ozark Mountain Arms Hawken and the Hawken Shop Hawken, but also major differences.  The Ozark Mountain Arms rifle used commercially available parts except for the breech plug and the hammer which is similar but slightly smaller than the Hawken Shop hammer.  The Ozark Mountain Arms rifle used a 1" straight octagon barrel where the Hawken Shop used an 1⅛” tapered barrel.  The Hawken Shop also used proprietary 1⅛” breech plug, butt plate, trigger guard, triggers, and nose cap.

The May-June 1980 issue of Muzzleloader had a review of the Ozark Mountain Arms Hawken.  The article described the barrel as a Green Mountain product that was 1" across the flats, 33¼" long, and available in .50, .52, .54. and .58 calibers.  It was made with a Ron Long lock and L&R triggers.  Another review in the October 1982 issue of The Buckskin Report described the same components but listed the barrel length as 33¾" long.

Prior to the change in ownership and the company move to Arkansas, they apparently changed to using an L&R lock.  Another product review in the July-August 1983 issue of Muzzleloader listed the components as Green Mountain barrel, L&R lock, and L&R triggers and stock shaped by Reinhart Fajen.

Looking at my two rifles, a Mountain Arms Inc. and a Ozark Mountain Arms, the breech plug appears to be a proprietary breech like the hammer.  It is a slant breech similar to Track's PLUG-RL-16-3 or PLUG-LR-16-3.  The butt plate is the same that GRRW used on their early Hawken rifles with 1" barrels and similar to Track's BP-HAWK-L-I.  The trigger guard is same as Track's TG-HAWK-L-I.  The proper L&R triggers are the ones with the straight front trigger.

This should get you started on sourcing parts.
Phil Meek

Offline mountainman70

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2019, 11:19:51 PM »
Mark, I have tried L&R locks, the Sam Hawken lock should do. The narrow Davis triggers too. Tang and plug I have,got a 54 gm 54 cal barrel on order,.This is a very nice shaped stock,and parts. Ya never know. Maybe gun was a fleabay victim. .Thanks for your input, Dave 8) 8)

Offline mountainman70

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2019, 11:24:10 PM »
Thanks,Phil. Was wondering how you are doing. The stock has the greenish cast to the finish as a lot of the guns of the 70-80 do.Dave F

Offline Mtn Meek

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Re: ozark Hawken
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2019, 11:55:52 PM »
Thanks,Phil. Was wondering how you are doing. The stock has the greenish cast to the finish as a lot of the guns of the 70-80 do.Dave F

You're welcome.

The 1983 product review in Muzzleloader was for a semi-finished or in-the-white rifle.  The reviewer mentioned that Ozark Mountain Arms included chromium trioxide stain in the kit.  That stain can turn a little green with time and exposure to sunlight.
Phil Meek