Hawken breech plugs

[Jim Kibler]

Vert clean looking.  It would be interesting to see the firing chamber end so we will know what to expect as far as cleaning it.

Regards.

I would just put the breech in a bucket of water and siphon it through the barrel. 

[Jim Kibler]

That is a good looking part, scallops that fine will sand out quickly and easily for finishing.  Toolpaths on that are really clean.  Not easy to do that close to the chuck/collet.

What specific machine are you running that on Jim?

We use a Mazak Integrex I150. 

https://www.mazak.com/us-en/products/integrex-i-150/

This is a pretty neat machine for small parts like this.  Instead of a sub-spindle it has a vise that can rotate up, grab the part, cut off, rotate down and work on the back face, then automatically unload.

[canadianml1]

The breach fit up looks perfect! Great work!  Just finalized the order for my JK Hawken in 54 caliber and walnut. Now just waiting for a shipment date.
 

[P.W.Berkuta]

Gosh - all your parts look like jewelry not gun parts - amazing!

[Daryl]

Vert clean looking.  It would be interesting to see the firing chamber end so we will know what to expect as far as cleaning it.

Regards.

I would just put the breech in a bucket of water and siphon it through the barrel.

That is how we clean ALL of our rifles, regardless of the style of breech. No, they do not get chewed up around the pin holes. Does not take much skill to do this, as even I can do it.
Cap locks get the nipple removed first.

[L T Grey]

Amazing work Jim! The fit is incredible. Are you building the percussion locks?

[HSmithTX]

[/quote]

We use a Mazak Integrex I150. 

https://www.mazak.com/us-en/products/integrex-i-150/

This is a pretty neat machine for small parts like this.  Instead of a sub-spindle it has a vise that can rotate up, grab the part, cut off, rotate down and work on the back face, then automatically unload.
[/quote]

That is a slick machine,  the SMOOTH control is very nice as well.  Mazak is a Tier 1 machine for sure. 

[Leatherbark]

Much better than the standard way they are doing them now. Looks like a straight path up to the nipple area.  Bravo!

[Jim Kibler]

A question…. Has anyone seen original Hawken rifles with breech plugs constructed such that the flash channel has to be plugged on the far side of the plug?  This would be in lieu of an angled hole as I have shown.

Thanks

[snapper]

Jim

The picture you show of the plug with the flash hole drilled at an angle, does the drill cut into the wall of the plug at about 5 o'clock?   Perhaps I am looking at the part wrong, but that area would get plugged up with fouling?  Or am I looking at it wrong?

Great looking rifle, the lines flow well.

Thanks

Fleener

[Jim Kibler]

Fleener,

What you are seeing is where the cross hole slightly cuts into the corner created by the chamber in the plug face.  There isn’t much room for this cross hole in this style of plug and it pretty much has to go in this exact orientation.  In my mind I don’t think it would be any real issue with trapping fouling with proper cleaning.  I think this feature is standard fare for a Hawken plug.  Other commercially made plugs I’ve seen are just like this.  Thanks

Jim

[foxm2015]

A work of art unto itself...!!

[bama]

Jim, I just spent several hours fitting up a Hawken breech that when I got through with it, doesn’t come close to the fit up that you have achieved. Your quality of craftsmanship has amazed me from the first time I met you at WKU. Well done. What breech widths will these be available in?

[Jim Kibler]

Thank you Jim.  I wish I could go back to those days at the WKU seminar.  It was great fun.  I’ll bet it’s been almost twenty years. 

As far as the plugs and standing breech goes, it will just be available in 1 1/16”.

Keep up your great work as well.

[Kevin Fransen]

That breech plug will stay clean after multiple shots. Much better than drilled straight across and plugged.
I ordered one on faith that that is how you would machine it. Outstanding.
Your work never disappoints and always a great value for the dollar spent.

[HighUintas]

I'm excited for those plugs to be available. I'm also excited to get one of these kits, although it's going to be awhile until I get to order one

[Scota4570]

For those who like the long thin angled flash hole, what do you do to keep it clear and keep the gun firing reliably? Especially the first shot when there is likely oil in the hole. 

[JPK]

My Griffen Tool breech is drilled in this manner and has never been a problem. I snap a cap or two and load with complete reliably.

[L T Grey]

Scotia, I have two rifles with the same type plug. I pop 3-4 caps through them then load. I’ve never had any issues. They go off instantly. No fouling issues even after a dozen shots fired.

[Dphariss]

A question…. Has anyone seen original Hawken rifles with breech plugs constructed such that the flash channel has to be plugged on the far side of the plug?  This would be in lieu of an angled hole as I have shown.

Thanks

I think this was a carry over from the flintlocks. They used the cross drilled to pean a gold or platinum vent liner in place. In the percussions they used a “blow out plug or cleanout screw. I don’t think either is needed for the angle drilled breech. And at the time the cross drilling might have been better given the state of machine tools until the late 1840s or so.
The FL breeches, as I understand it, were drilled with a pilot hole, then most of the way through full diameter then counter sunk on the outside and then the liner material pounded till it filled the counter sink(s) so it would not blow out. The hole was plugged with screw at least on many single barrel guns. This would have aided renewing the vent if ever needed.  They the vent was drilled. I suspect the vented or unvented “blow outs” were done the same way. I suspect the vents on percussion arms were to ease loading tight fitting wads in shotguns. Which might come up off the powder if the air was trapped and somewhat compressed.  If this is incorrect someone please correct me. Forget where I found the vent install technique. 
I will say this. Having a large cross drilled cavity under the nipple would not be my first choice.
I have a rifle with a Nock Breech and the screw on the off side. I have pulled it out from time to time just to check. Its cleaned in a bucket, being “hooked”.  I have ever seen any fouling in the  antechamber of the breech.

[smylee grouch]

Not having to FIT the plug to tang is great as some people struggle with getting a good fit on that

[Habu]

A question…. Has anyone seen original Hawken rifles with breech plugs constructed such that the flash channel has to be plugged on the far side of the plug?  This would be in lieu of an angled hole as I have shown.

Thanks

I've seen two that showed the characteristic plug on the off-side from the lock.  One was on a J&S Hawken-marked rifle with family-history provenance to 1845.  The other was on an S Hawken-marked squirrel rifle with no history known before about 1868-'69.  The J&S rifle had a conventional hooked breech; the squirrel rifle had a fixed breech.  Both appeared to be original work, with no signs of the barrel being shortened at the breech.

The rifle I pulled the breech on, and all I've examined with a bore scope, had the angled hole.