Cheekpieces

[bountyhunter]

Hawken came out with the beavertail cheekpiece with their half stock rifles.   It seems that the wedge cheekpieces were more common.   Did any of the other 1840-50ish makers use the beavertail cheek piece?  Or perhaps I should ask when did the beavertail cheekpice first appear and who used them other than Hawken?

BH

[flintriflesmith]

I think they were used in English sporting rifles before they turn up here but I don't have any books on that later period.

Gary

[oakridge]

Bountyhunter,
I have several southern made half-stocks of the 1840-1860 period, with beaver tail cheekpieces. Don't know how prevalent they were elsewhere, nor do I know how early they started using them.

[Collector]

Nothing that new about them.  Found in Mid-18th Century German Jaegers, as illustrated in Shumways' RCA-I and in some early American longrifles as illustrated in RCA - II, No.'s 122 and 128.  Like the 'square' cheekpieces, they are found in variations, of the same theme.

[northmn]

The Hawken has a lot of characteristics of a English sporting rifle.  A while back Daryl or Dan Dapharsis posted pictures of English halfstock flintlocks that at a glance looked similar to Hawkens.

DP

[Dphariss]

If you really look the later 1/2 stock Hawken is pretty much an Americanized English sporting rifle circa 1800-1810.

They kept the 1/2 stock, and the good breeches but reduced the caliber, put in an American set trigger, buttplate and a long tang to increase durability since these were largely horseback guns. The overall rifle is probably the best *small caliber* (relative to the average English hunting rifle) hunting rifle ever built. It is also a better offhand rifle than the English rifle. The English rifle is superior when the caliber exceeds 54-58 due to buttstock design. But they are more fragile in the wrist.

Dan

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Excellent observations Dan.

[Acer Saccharum]

Excellent observations Dan.

My sediments exactly. Very well put, Dan.

[Robert Wolfe]

Acer, exactly what kinds of sediments are those, alluvial?   

[bountyhunter]

I obtained a walnut stock with beavertail cheekpiece, and I'm wondering what to do with it.  It has to be percussion, and fur trade era, so that about leaves the English Sporter or Hawken, as most other rifles of that period appear to be the wedge cheek pieces.  I appeciate the comments, I'm just looking for some information to help me make up my mind.

[oakridge]

Yeah, sporting or plains rifle, depending on the size of it.

[Dan'l 1946]

I obtained a walnut stock with beavertail cheekpiece, and I'm wondering what to do with it.  It has to be percussion, and fur trade era, so that about leaves the English Sporter or Hawken, as most other rifles of that period appear to be the wedge cheek pieces.  I appeciate the comments, I'm just looking for some information to help me make up my mind.

For the fur trade era, there are actually a number of half-stocked percussion rifles you could go with. But in my opinion, nothing is half as satisfying as owning an accurate Hawken reproduction. They just feel right in your hands and at your shoulder. They are the essence of simple elegance and purity of line. Of course, some might say I'm biased, and they are entitled to their views, wrong-headed as they are....

[rich pierce]

You could make a New English Scroll Guard trade rifle.  Probably more prevalent than the Hawken.  But a Hawken has its own mystique.  Every builder should make at least one.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

BH  Check out:

http://web.mac.com/j.henry.artificers/Site/Home.html

[Dan'l 1946]

I've e-mailed them a couple of times but have never gotten a response. The rifles are very nice indeed.

[bountyhunter]

Sorry to be so late in replying, but we are having family problems.  My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and we have been out of state taking her to the hospital every day for some treatment to buy a little time.
  
I did find a picture of one Hawken fullstock which is in the museum at College of the Ozarks which has a beavertail cheek.  I just cant think of anything else that would be appropriate for a finely figured walnut fullstock with a beavertail other than a Hawken.  These stocks are very small, and I am making some 5/8 scale rifles with the intent of giving them to some kids.  .38 cal barrels-13/16" Octagon.  They'll handle spitwads, small round balls, or .38-55 bullets.

I also picked up in the deal a really nice figured maple stock and an ash stock which will obviously become an Early Tennessee.  They have wedge cheeks, but this beavertail was causing my thinker to go on overload.

OK I found a picture of the 3 stocks.  Top is the walnut, then the middle is curly ash, and the bottom is curly maple.  I have them cleaned up now ready to inlet.  


I might keep this one for myself.
These little stocks are just 42" long.  Once the buttplates are fit and the pull is pulled down to 13 inches or so, then the OAL on these finished rifles will be about 40 inches maybe.  They will handle about like a 94 winchester.

There is no problem with the bottom 2,  it is just planning out the walnut one.  The fullstock at Ozarks was made by Sam in 1850 I believe it is marked, so that lends some documentation that they did in fact exist.  The other problem with these tiny stocks is finding parts in small scale for these little 13/16 barrels, so a good amount of conversion is going on.