Author Topic: A Hawken Rifle for my Brother (Read 1667 times)

bama · « **on:** July 10, 2023, 01:20:04 AM »

This is a project that I have been working on for a while and still have a way to go to finish it but I thought I would share it at it's current state. It will be a while before I can work on finishing it, so before I put it on the back burner here it is.

The barrel is a Don Getz 36" 1 1/16" x 1" straight tapered 54 cal. The wood I got from Tim Cosby down Alabama way. The lock is a Davis and the triggers I don't remember where I got them. The Butt Plate, Tigger Guard, Nose Cap & Thimbles came from the Hawken Shop.

This is not a copy of any rifle but is just in the style of the Hawken rifles, so all you Hawken experts be gentle with me.

TommyG · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2023, 01:59:42 AM »

Looks like some very fine work on a beautiful piece of wood. Your brother will be very happy with this one I'm sure. Looking forward to seeing it when finished

mony · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2023, 02:41:46 AM »

I agree with TommyG. Is that a piece of curly walnut?

dadybear1 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2023, 02:43:56 AM »

SURE LOOKS LIKE WALNUT--BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT JOB

TDM · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2023, 03:11:30 AM »

Your brother is a lucky man. It’s beautiful.

bama · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2023, 03:28:50 AM »

Yes that is a piece of curly walnut that Tim had squirreled away for himself but I talked him out of it. It is a very fine piece of quarter sawn wood. Not sure where he got it but it is hard as a brick bat and should finish up nicely. If you know Tim you know he likes pretty wood. All I can say is Thanks Tim.

Beaverman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2023, 05:15:09 AM »

looking great, I like that you chose no patch box!

Herb · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2023, 05:41:27 AM »

You did really well. I especially like the grain flow following the wrist.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2023, 06:27:09 AM »

That is going to be a beautiful rifle.

I noticed one little thing. The lock molding in front of the snail is treated different on some Hawken rifles. Instead of the step in front of a square lock plate, the lock plate and molding are shaped the same. You get a little triangle facet on the plate that blends into the wood molding. That makes a very flowing molding.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2023, 02:56:10 PM »

It looks great now and you obviously know how to inlet metal into wood.First class work into beautiful wood.
Bob Roller

alacran · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2023, 03:21:40 PM »

That indeed is a pretty piece of Walnut Jim. I like the trigger guard you chose. It gives a firm grip on the wrist. I have always loved Hawken rifles, and the one I made for myself is one of my favorite rifles. Your brother is indeed lucky.

bama · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2023, 03:46:31 PM »

Scota4570, thanks for the comment. This is an area that’s hard to see in detail in pictures. The plan set that I have of an original shows that area flat and square. I have seen others that taper like you have shown. On this one I did taper it a bit and I also rounded the outside edge so there is not a sharp edge. I have seen this done a few, anyway that is what I attempted to do. I will take a better photo of this area so you can see it.

Herb, I was hoping you would comment. I know you are passionate about the Hawken rifles and have studied them very much. I have admired your builds over the years.

Beaver man, sorry to disappoint you but I will be putting a patchbox on this rifle as well as a silver oval in the cheek rest. I am also probably going to put a comb inlay on it. The rifle will also be engraved.

This rifle will be a presentation piece to my brother who lives in Thailand. He commissioned me to build it for him. I am also doing a Hawk, Bowie knife, Powder Horn and presentation case for it all. I will post pictures as I go along.

Mule Brain · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2023, 06:37:34 PM »

That is gonna be purdy, nice work on it

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2023, 06:41:26 PM »

Bama everything you do I'm very impressed with....SO I have decided you can adopt me....lol...Your brother is a very lucky man....!

smylee grouch · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2023, 08:03:06 PM »

Nice clean crisp work on a nice stick . The original Hawken rifles had variations and one was the shape of the lock panel. Some had longer taper shapes behind the lock and some had a more rounded shorter shape. I have been lucky to see many originals, Dr. Kenith Leonard and Jim Gordon collections and that is one of the things I noticed.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2023, 08:10:34 PM »

Jim, thanks for posting these pictures of your work. I love to see a well done Hawken rifle and this one is just such a piece. I know it will be stellar when it is done.
I have used Davis' lock many times, and I see it used on Hawken rifles all the time. But the hammer offends me. I've never seen a picture of an original Hawken with that big fat hammer. Rather, their hammers were slender and long, and there is such a hammer in that casting. Sure, that hammer will bust a cap, but you are going to such lengths to create a super rifle, I'd like to see you put a file to that hammer.
I'll see if I can find some images to reinforce my observation.

The last picture illustrates the filing of the lock plate forward of the bolster that was referred to in a posting above. I have treated this area both ways, but prefer the tapered effect. The point is, there are no wrong answers here.

Herb · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2023, 08:14:34 PM »

Here is the Bridger Hawken, the Carson Hawken and a Pistol Grip Plains Rifle at Cody.

bama · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2023, 08:39:29 PM »

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments and I will take them into consideration when I get to go back to work on this project. Sometimes I get confused about what I have done on a project and this was one of those times. After the comments about the lock plate if front of the snail I found that I had not tapered it yet. I did that on the last Hawken style rifle I built a little earlier this year. Oh well, something else to add to the list of things to do. Again, thanks for the good comments.

Jim

Herb · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2023, 09:07:08 PM »

The Davis hammer on the Bridger photo.

A Carson copy I made with the hammer slimmed a bit.

Another ditto.

I was not aware of that fat hammer before Taylor posted the above photos years ago. Thanks, Taylor!

Notchy Bob · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2023, 11:44:11 PM »

The rifle is outstanding, Jim. The wood alone is incredible.

We will look forward to more photos as the work progresses.

Notchy Bob

hudson · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2023, 04:24:01 AM »

Wonderful work nice clean lines love it. Really like the wood.

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Author Topic: A Hawken Rifle for my Brother (Read 1667 times)