Full stock early Hawken build

[Daryl]

Here's an early one Taylor built.

Shown with a later one, both built at the same time with exactly the same finish and method on each. This just shows the difference in wood.

[Chocktaw Brave]

That is some beautiful wood on there. I think mine was kind of a medium grade. Has a lot of that curl in the front and it kinda gets sparse at the rear.

[Chocktaw Brave]

Progress has been slow, had to side track last month.
But I finally managed to get the ferric nitrate and the first  coatof tried and true on the stock.
I know your not supposed to put the nitrate in the inletted parts of the stock,
But what about the tried and true? Wouldn’t be a good idea to seal these parts of the stock?






upload

[Darkhorse]

I use Chambers finish and put it in all inlets and with a q tip in all holes. I had a rifle that was basically unsealed and the stock swelled and warped during a period of humid weather. That experience is why I try to totally seal my guns.
My two personal rifles, a 54 that's 25 years old and a 40 that's 20 years old are both sealed this way and have been out in all kinds of weather with no wood problems at all.
So I can't really see a reason not to totally seal the stock. Just because it might not have been done back in the day doesn't mean we can't do it today.

[mikeyfirelock]

You’re doing a great job !   Nice work !  Keep it up ! Just don’t get in a hurry ! ( the voice of experience here.)
mikeyfirelock

[Bob Roller]

If I live  another 89 years I will still not see the reason for a crescent butt plate on any rifle and have wondered why those gun makers
couldn't figure out a better idea for a stock shape.
Bob Roller

[Jim Kibler]

If I live  another 89 years I will still not see the reason for a crescent butt plate on any rifle and have wondered why those gun makers
couldn't figure out a better idea for a stock shape.
Bob Roller

How dare you, Bob! 

[Bob Roller]

You know of my reference for the English locks and rifles that use them that were contemporaries to the Hawken and if Jake&Sam got the idea for their rifles from seeing an English rifle they quickly forgot it.I know that comparing a London rifle with a St.Louis rifle in that time is like comparing a stone axe with a fine saw.You have taken the Hawken style to a new level and those who like them have a fine choice and maybe you can come up with a better stock as an option.
Bob Roller

[Chocktaw Brave]

“You’re doing a great job !   Nice work !  Keep it up ! Just don’t get in a hurry ! ( the voice of experience here.)
mikeyfirelock“
Thank you,
It’s taken me over 40 years to get this rifle to this point. I hope that’s not rushing it!😃

[Steeltrap]

If I live  another 89 years I will still not see the reason for a crescent butt plate on any rifle and have wondered why those gun makers
couldn't figure out a better idea for a stock shape.
Bob Roller

All they did was cut wood, plow fields with horses, skin and cut deer, and ride horses.  They had arm muscles like we have leg muscles.

That stinking curve was nuthin compared to building a log cabin!   

[Darkhorse]

If I live  another 89 years I will still not see the reason for a crescent butt plate on any rifle and have wondered why those gun makers
couldn't figure out a better idea for a stock shape.
Bob Roller

In my experience a crescent buttplate can help anchor the stock during the shot. I have noticed flatter plates trying to slide up due to the weight of the barrel especially offhand. I have always assumed this was the reason for the crescent plates to begin with. But I will admit some of them do go to extremes.