I would approach ANY Hawken thought to be an antique with caution.Tom Dawson'e made up copies could be passed off as old ones and the only way to see is to remove the barrel and look at the bottom flat.If Tom made it it will say "T.K.Dawson Williamsport,Indiana and the date it was finished.This man was a master at such things and could copy mistakes,accidents plus dings and dents.His copy pf the Hoffman&Campbell marked J&S Hawken had the "broken"stock and the "In the field" repair seen on the original.The original rifle is said to have been carried by Francis Parkman on the Oregon Trail and is described in his book titled "The Oregon Trail".
Tom also had a Holland and Holland breech loader that wouldn't group with any ammunition so he separated the barrels and made up a hand load that would as he said,"Pit both barrels on a house cat's butt at 100 yards." I owned that rifle later and using his info it would do as he said it would.We lost a major talent when cardiac arrest took him away from us and leter that day I got the call from his wife,Helen telling me me about his sudden passing,.
Bob Roller
