J&S Hawken build complete!

[CooleyS]

Last year about this time there was a discussion on upcoming 2024 builds. At the time I had just started this J&S Hawken and thought, geez I should have this done by hunting season. Boy was I in for some lessons in building a hook breech half stock! No wonder these rifles were so much more expensive than a standard full stock, it is a challenging job!

It began with a nice piece of Missouri walnut from Watt’s Walnut, I had a Bobby Hoyt 1”-7/8” tapered .54 gain twist barrel, a beautiful straight hook breech of unknown maker, and a Bob Roller lock and triggers. I drew up my plans, not of any specific J&S, but it does incorporate some features of my favorites including a pineapple patchbox, paneled cheek piece, 2-piece brazed buttplate and 2-piece nose cap. Dave Blaisdell made the 2-piece buttplate and I believe it’s a highlight of the rifle. He did a wonderful job. I had the rifle in the white this last summer and stopped in St. Louis on my way through to have Bob Browner offer any suggestions or changes…he had a few and his constructive criticism was welcomed. Bob is a wealth of knowledge and has the eye for the slightest thing not right. Also, thanks to Taylor and Herb for their posts on ALR of some finer points of building Hawken rifles, it helped tremendously. My engraving is coming along alright, it’s a journey in itself. Hope you enjoy this rifle, it has been my favorite build to date and I really enjoyed its challenges. These early Hawken rifles are a favorite and I’m sure to build another. This rifle is shooting sub-2” groups at 100 yards.

[Daryl]

That's a good looking rifle.

[rich pierce]

Well done! That’s a beauty.

[Bob Roller]

Ouitstanding example and upgrade on Jake and Sam.The accuracy report is great That hammer was cast in a mould that used an original for the master and a plate as well.This plate looks like a milled version.Thanks for showing this fine workmanship.St.Louis style and London craftsmanship.
Bob Roller

[HSmithTX]

Love it!!  Beautifully done.

[wapiti22]

I really like the engraving and a very nice piece of wood!!

[MuskratMike]

Simply outstanding in every way!

[smylee grouch]

Great job on that tang. Those can really challenge a lot of builders.

[hudson]

Out standing love it!

[David Rase]

Beautiful!  Very nice work.  Great example of a Hawken.
David

[Jakob]

Gorgeous!

[A.Merrill]

   That's a fine looking rifle. I hope to get back to work on the Hawken I'm building for my son soon. Your color case hardening looks good, did you do it yourself or who did? I have the Roller lock and triggers to and had planed on having them color case harden but was a little worried about warping.   Al

[CooleyS]

   That's a fine looking rifle. I hope to get back to work on the Hawken I'm building for my son soon. Your color case hardening looks good, did you do it yourself or who did? I have the Roller lock and triggers to and had planed on having them color case harden but was a little worried about warping.   Al

I use Wyoming Armory out of Cody, Wyoming. Reasonable pricing, fast turnaround and I’ve never had a piece warp. They also don’t have super gaudy colors that aren’t correct for these rifles.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Wow, that’s a gorgeous rifle. I’m a total sucker for a Hawken. Just wish they were heavier 😁

[CooleyS]

I should have mentioned that with the 1”-7/8” tapered barrel in .54 this rifle only weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces…and balances well off hand.

[Bob Roller]

My milled lock plates are cold rolled 1018 and I "cooked" them with a big bore torch before milling.I used a 5 flute solid carbide stub end mill for the manufacturing of the shavings needed to make a lock plate.On my 451 long range I used the same procedure and sent it with hammer,breech and tang to  a shop in Ohio and I can't remember the name of the man or his shop. No warping and I had inletted it before send it and  no problems.
    I saw the comment about loose hammers on the L&R?Roller flintlocks and this is the very first time I heard of this.They mostly went to Germany and not ONE complaint of any kind came back.A very "soft"steel or someone trying a new set of small files may be the culprit because I made sure nothing squeaked or rattled on every lock and trigger I made and Helmut Mohr said he thought the fit was fine and he said his own pistol had been shot for years and nothing came loose.I recommend checking the 2 bridle screws once in a while.He got most of the L&R/Roller locks and he told me the number but I didn't remember what it was/is.
Bob Roller

[whetrock]

Beautiful work on the Hawken.

I guess this is a little off thread here, but I also wanted to reply to Bob's comment.

I saw the comment about loose hammers on the L&R?Roller flintlocks and this is the very first time I heard of this.They mostly went to Germany and not ONE complaint of any kind came back.A very "soft"steel or someone trying a new set of small files may be the culprit because I made sure nothing squeaked or rattled on every lock and trigger I made ...
Bob Roller

I think you are probably correct, Bob. I bought a secondhand Chamber's deluxe Siler a while back and it had a similar situation. I ordered a new cock from Chambers to fix it, only to find that the new cock was just as loose as the old one. So the problem wasn't the cock. The problem was that someone had naively "worked on" the square of the tumbler.

[Jimclassjr]

Wonderful job on the rifle ! Thank you for sharing the photos!

[Herb]

You do really nice work.

[recurve]

you will love the gain twist barrel


picture back

[CooleyS]

I’m already impressed with it. Loads easily, doesn't foul and dang it’s accurate! The circled x’s were me playing with the sights.

[recurve]

same here the first shot is the high one then 3 cut the same hole moved sight hit center
I also have a gain in 50 from bobby and it shoots great and flatter than the 1-56 he makes for reg twist by 2-3 inched at 100

[recurve]

wow your engraving is fantastic

[CooleyS]

wow your engraving is fantastic

Thank you…It’s coming along, still a long ways to go! I have Smilee Grouch to thank for being a great teacher and his continuing guidance.
-Steve

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

You've done a very nice job building this Hawken rifle.  You started with a nice stick of wood and good components.  The hook in the buttplate has enough heel and the braze line is a nice touch.  I'd like to have seen 1/16" pins instead of 3/32" for the entry thimble.  Your wood is filled nicely and your finishing is crisp...nice!  Your milled under-rib will have added more weight than a sheet steel rib, but that's minor.  Nice job inletting the tang and breech and fitting the bolster/snail to the plate.  The alignment of the hammer cup and the nipple is good too.  Your engraving is perfect for such a rifle...congrats on a fine build.