Author Topic: Hawken style rifle (Read 9326 times)

Rawhide Rick · « **on:** November 23, 2020, 05:07:38 AM »

The pics say more than I can. What I’m wondering is would this be a one off built by the guys named on the bottom flat, or did they work for a shop that built Hawkins? Seems odd that a shop building multiple guns would use components like Wm Large barrels and Roller locks, but I’ve not heard of either of the names on the bottom flat. Can someone shed some light on where the gun may have originated or who the 2 builders are?

I bought this gun several years ago at an auction in a small town in way upstate NY.

Kevin · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2020, 05:53:18 AM »

Greetings Rick,

Not sure if this is your "T. Nixon" but I recalled a Tom Nixon involved in gun building. I dropped "Tom Nixon gunsmith" into a search engine and various results turned up. Some were NSSA-related and another was from a past sale of a Tom Nixon rifle on Dixie Guns Works website.

Might be a place to start,
Kevin

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2020, 06:16:04 AM »

I did some searching and never came up with anything that looked good. Thought maybe someone might know one or both of these guys. The gun is well built so I doubt it’s their first gun or collaboration.

alyce-james · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2020, 06:24:33 AM »

Sir; thanks for sharing this time capsule of two people, a barrel maker and a lock maker, we all know of their work. AJ.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2020, 07:52:45 PM »

Tom Nixon is an old friend of many years but I have no idea about Mr.Adkins.
He may have been the first owner of this rifle and I know Tom worked alone
as do I.Tom Nixon's reputation as a gun maker will stand up to the best of them
and for years he specialized in Civil War reproductions that are highly sought after.
Tom used my locks on almost every Hawken type and for long fullstock rifles as well,
He used mostly my flintlocks and double set triggers on these.
The gun shown here is typical of Tom Nixon's work and I am glad to see it displayed
on this forum.
Tom Nixon lives about 10 miles South of me in Wayne County WV and no longer has a
land line phone number and I don't know if he is still active in gunmaking or not.
Bob Roller

I haven't seen Tom Nixon for a while but yesterday I saw the death notice for his wife
of many years.Ethel Jean Nixon on 4-15-2021

Daryl · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2020, 08:35:41 PM »

Nice "old" rifle with GREAT parts.

Good anecdotal post, Bob. We need those for perspective.

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2020, 03:07:16 AM »

Thank you for the input guys. I’m glad there is a little history for this gun. I’ve never shot it and was hesitant to take it apart, for fear of scratching something. It’s a display piece for now, but may see the range some day.

Hillbilly Delux · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2020, 02:06:59 PM »

We are so fortunate to have legends and scholars of the rifle world to lead us in preserving the rifles we are so endeared to. Maybe one day I'll try my hand at reproducing one. Rawhide, how does it shoot?

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2020, 04:33:35 AM »

I’ve never shot it. I have several guns that I shoot, just not this one, I can’t bring myself to get it dirty. Maybe someday.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2020, 05:08:31 PM »

Quote from: Rawhide Rick on November 25, 2020, 04:33:35 AM

I’ve never shot it. I have several guns that I shoot, just not this one, I can’t bring myself to get it dirty. Maybe someday.

Take it out and shoot it.Cleaning is not hard and I think it will be a good match or hunting rifle.
The parts are considered adequate for use so enjoy the thing.
Bob Roller

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2020, 06:37:09 AM »

Much too nice to knock around the woods with. I’ll shoot it at some point, maybe after this COVID thing thing calms down and our local matches start up again.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2020, 04:46:24 PM »

My own Hawken build was finished and tested 53 years ago today,'
I only made one of these and they are not an easy pattern to copy.
My rifle had my lock and triggers and a Bill Large barrel that was
54 caliber and 1and1/8 by 34 with a solid breech and tang
which was a booger to inlet.Tom Dawson made a butt plate for me
and the trigger guard came from lockmaker Harold Robbins.
This interest in the Hawken rifles continues thru the present day and
I hope someone will start making better locks for them,
Bob Roller

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2020, 05:31:28 PM »

That 54 cal sounds like a hefty gun, as is mine. My pics don’t do the rifle justice, it’s a beautiful piece of maple, a barrel that I couldn’t replace, and a lock that many consider to be about as good as can be had anywhere. It’s the only Hawken I have that is meant to closely match the originals. These factors have made me hesitant to take it off the wall.

I know the builders like these guns to be used, but I’ll wait just a little longer.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2020, 05:43:57 PM »

Hi Rick and welcome to the forum. Beautiful Hawken ya got there.
I know how you feel about shooting it.
I have a long rifle made by Len Meadows back in early 70s that has the Roller lock and Bob Paris barrel.
I finally took him out to our range and let others shoot him, and on our woods walk.
The old boy performed well.
You will know when you want to shoot it. Maybe not.
Appreciate your posts and pics.
Have a wunnerful Thanksgiving
Best regards Dave

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2020, 04:56:11 AM »

I appreciate the encouragement. When/if it happens, ain’t nobody else shooting it. And it may only be a one time thing. Hope that doesn’t offend anyone. I’ll pass it on to one of my sons, maybe they will take it shooting.

snapper · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2020, 05:42:26 AM »

It is your rifle, do with it as you please.

I would shoot it.

Fleener

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2020, 06:55:57 PM »

Rawhide IT'S your gun do what the want. Me I like to shoot all my guns. That's just me..I'm not a collector by any means.
But like the saying goes. "" Different strokes for Different folks
Enjoy your gun... Oldtravler

smylee grouch · « **Reply #17 on:** November 29, 2020, 09:35:33 AM »

Shoot it. Work up a good load for it and save the best group target for posterity. Keep it clean and you wont hurt it one bit. It was built with great parts by a real craftsman and was made to be a good shooter. Only use real black powder and no plastic wad patches. Enjoy it, brag about it, show it off, take a bunch of pictures of it, and had it down to someone who will do the same. Just my very humble opinion.

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #18 on:** November 30, 2020, 06:57:36 PM »

It seems there are a lot of votes for shooting it. So....
Upstate NY weather is nasty now and will be for a few months, but I’ll take it to the range in the spring and give it a go. Anything impressive will be in photos on this post. It’ll probably shoot better that me.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2020, 08:12:56 PM »

RR: If you are capable of cleaning the rifle properly, shooting it will definitely not hurt it one bit. It was made to be shot. N'uff said.

Wvwoods · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2021, 05:41:53 PM »

I know that there was a gunsmith active in the Ashland Kentucky area in that time frame ( very near too Mr Large and Mr Nixon's location).....the gentlemans last name was Adkins, I don't recall his first name. He done some reblue work for me. He sporterized many Mauser rifles in that area. He done very nice work....he always caught rain water in a barrel for his reblue tanks. I bet that might be your guy.

jbigley · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2021, 08:12:59 PM »

Quote from: D. Taylor Sapergia on November 30, 2020, 08:12:56 PM

RR: It was made to be shot. N'uff said.

Agreed. Thumbs up!!

Rawhide Rick · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:45:46 AM »

Waiting for spring thaw or something better than single digits on the thermometer, and less snow. It will visit the range this spring.

HughMan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 07, 2021, 07:33:10 PM »

Absolutely gorgeous. Display it or shoot it, it's your rifle and you're fortunate to have it.

Dphariss · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2021, 08:17:54 PM »

As Taylor said if you clean it properly and use only blackpowder shooting will not hurt it.
It was not built to hang on the wall.

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Author Topic: Hawken style rifle (Read 9326 times)

Wvwoods

HughMan