Author Topic: Kibler Hawken Antique Finish By Daniel Coats (Read 1873 times)

Daniel Coats · « **on:** December 04, 2025, 11:25:45 PM »

Here's my Kibler Hawken with finish inspired by the original Hawken Guns I've handled over the years. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. This 58 caliber rifle weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces finished which is 1 ounce lighter than it was in the white. I hope you enjoy seeing it!

Spalding · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2025, 11:33:46 PM »

Wow Daniel, very nice.
Did you use bleach/ salt on the metal? Very convincing.
All these JK Hawken posts have convinced me to save my pennys for one.

Bob

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2025, 11:58:15 PM »

Quote from: Spalding on December 04, 2025, 11:33:46 PM

Wow Daniel, very nice.
Did you use bleach/ salt on the metal? Very convincing.
All these JK Hawken posts have convinced me to save my pennys for one.

Bob

I did all the metal parts at once on a cold drizzly day outside temperatures in the '30s with a spray bottle of bleach and no salt. Check them about every 30 minutes or they'll get away from you and go too far. Neutralize the parts in a baking soda bath with a soft nylon brush shouldn't take more than about 3 or 4 hours maybe less.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2025, 11:59:30 PM »

That looks nice and feels good to see!!! I love an aged rifle and your's looks great! Thanks.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2025, 12:44:48 AM »

I appreciate that, it's actually harder to make one that way!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2025, 12:48:09 AM »

Getting out my Jack Brooks Buffalo horn and House brothers knife! Going to need the right bag now

HighUintas · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2025, 01:28:44 AM »

Agreed. It looks great. Is the black on the metal a different treatment or does that happen when bleaching and neutralizing? I haven't aged anything and think I should probably experiment.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2025, 02:14:05 AM »

Any rubbing you do afterwards will polish the high areas and create more contrast. I typically don't overdo that because it creates shiny spots. If you don't do a chemical treatment before bleach, it tends to leave shiny areas in the scratches which are hard to get rid of.

So you can either:
Apply cold, blue and then spray bleach resulting in highest chemical reaction.
Apply bleach without any chemical treatment leaving shiny scratches.
Achieve black in lower areas by using India ink and rubbing off with a soft cloth.
Achieve black in lower areas by using flat black paint and rubbing off of a soft cloth.
Chemical treatment like Jax black which will treat everything and usually add a blue hue which I don't care for.

The bleach will tend to melt the scratches together as long as they're small and circular in nature. Straight scratches are really hard to get rid of. I've used all of the methods described above on various rifles. In this case, the black was achieved with flat black paint after the bleach treatment and rubbed back with a soft cloth.

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2025, 03:21:31 AM »

That looks great. And the weight is a dream. Perfect hunting partner.

AZshot · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2025, 04:00:16 AM »

I like it a lot! You finished yours before I did mine, I'm just doing 1 task a day (plus a coat of oil finish on the wood). Today's work was disassembling, polishing, and bluing the lock. I'm going for a shiney, "almost new" look on mine. But again, love yours too.

HighUintas · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2025, 05:22:38 AM »

Thanks, Daniel mm that's a whole lot more instruction than I asked for and it's appreciated. I almost feel like you gave us a deep dark secret! I'm excited to experiment on some parts.

Great work!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2025, 06:25:23 AM »

Quote from: HighUintas on December 05, 2025, 05:22:38 AM

Thanks, Daniel mm that's a whole lot more instruction than I asked for and it's appreciated. I almost feel like you gave us a deep dark secret! I'm excited to experiment on some parts.

Great work!

Good thing I didn't tell you everything or I'd have to kill ya!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2025, 08:50:49 AM »

Well I don't own it anymore. Going to build another one!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2025, 11:16:14 PM »

Three shots in the bull 25 yd offhand. 120 grains FFG .015 patch it's definitely a hunting rifle!

bptactical · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2025, 11:20:21 PM »

Quote from: Daniel Coats on December 08, 2025, 11:16:14 PM

Three shots in the bull 25 yd offhand. 120 grains FFG .015 patch it's definitely a hunting rifle!

Thumper!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #15 on:** December 09, 2025, 04:09:57 AM »

On its way to it's new home in Colorado. Perfectly fitting for a fine Rocky Mountain style Rifle inspired by the Hawken brothers of St.Louis abt 1850

elkhorne · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2025, 03:50:51 AM »

Beautiful job Daniel and interesting the weight of the finished rifle!

Notchy Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2025, 03:52:18 AM »

Outstanding work, Daniel! The metalwork is beautiful, but it's the shaded finish on the wood that really got my attention. It reminds me of "the look" of the Bridger Hawken.

Thanks for showing your work!

Notchy Bob

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2025, 03:34:56 PM »

Thank you, "the look" of the Bridger Hawken is exactly what I tried to do!

RobertS · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2025, 03:06:05 AM »

Thanks for sharing! Your work is excellent and I always enjoy seeing it!

Duane Harshaw · « **Reply #20 on:** December 18, 2025, 04:11:42 AM »

Wow, I like it.

foxm2015 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 18, 2025, 02:28:16 PM »

Great work!! Would make Gentleman Jack proud..... !!!!

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Author Topic: Kibler Hawken Antique Finish By Daniel Coats (Read 1873 times)