What A Hawken Is Supposed To Look Like

[Jim Kibler]

I guess we are sure the finish on that California style Hawken rifle is original and unaltered since it was applied. That’s rare but possible.

I have little doubt of it being an original finish, though could be wrong of course.  It's a highly pigmented finish (I think virtually all the color is from the finish) and would expect someone capable of such a thing to have sense enough to leave a gun like this alone.  Besides, the overall gun and wear patterns make me feel the finish is legit. 

I think the finish is pretty spectacular and don't know if I've ever seen someone duplicate such a heavily colored finish well on a modern gun.

[Scota4570]

I also restore antique wood radios.  Those were originally finished with tinted lacquer.  They did not normally stain the wood separately. 

To duplicate it today, the wood is prepped then filled with a paste filler.  A thinned shellac seal coat can be used.  Then the colored lacquer is applied by spraying.  Rattle cans are available from Mohawk.  Several coats are done in rapid succession. Flash off time is about 10 minuets on a warm day.   Be careful with piling on finish to avoid blushing.  The result looks like the rifle above.  I have used this technique on guns and it works well.  The gloss can be adjusted to whatever you want by rubbing it out with fine abrasive.  I tend to use Automotive rubbing compound and Windex.  Lacquer is more durable than people realize.  Lots of factory guns were finished with lacquer.



I suspect the rifle in question was finished with some kind of varnish with the color mixed with the finish.  Nitrocellulose lacquer was not a common thing here at the time the rifle was made.    Lacquer tints are compatible with varnish.  IF I were to try to duplicate the finish n question I'd use spar varnish with japan dryer, tint, and automotive reducer.  I'd spray it.  I see no reason it could not be floated on with a soft sable brush.  When the color is correct, if the grain is not filled, then go to clear finish.  Cut an polish as usual.   

[Daryl]

Most old shellac I've seen tends to "crawl" a pretty serious amount.  The once smooth finish ends up having a prominent orange peel appearance.  I'm no expert on shellac though...

Taylor's Lang has that orange peel, however it is still smooth. I'm thinking it was some form of varnish. An old grandfather clock I had some time ago, was like that. Appeared a new clock,
but close inspection showed the cracking, (orange peel?) effect. The finish was still smooth, couldn't feel the cracks. (maybe to many callouses?)