Browning Hawken Rifle - help? Anyone know about this black powder gun?

[Tennessee.Butch]

I received as gift a BP muzzleloader of the following description:
It is a traditional Hawken Mountain Rifle, .50 cal., apparently a browned finish, with these markings on the octagonal barrel.
Top flat, in Script: The Johnathon Browning Mountain Rifle
On the left side: Browning Arms Co., Montreal, Utah and Montreal, P.O., Made in U.S.A.
On right side: .50 Caliber Black Powder Only Patent Pending
No Brass anywhere. No patch pocket.
It has a beautiful burled stock and forearm without a mar or scratch.

The only damage is 4 screw holes in top of barrel, apparently for a scope or other sight.

Has one seen or heard of this one? Will the screw hole holes weaken the chamber/barrel?

Thanks, TN Butch

 

[witchhunter]

My buddy has had one for years, it is a nice rifle. I think it has 1 in 66 twist for round balls though. It is a beauty! Those holes shouldn't be a problem if they were done correctly.

 

[Hairy Clipper]

I have had one of these for many years and hope to have it many more. I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but, it does have a set trigger that works quite nicely. To set the trigger merely push forward on the trigger. Then the usual pull on the trigger will make it go bang. If I remember correctly the maximum charge of powder is 120 grains, but, you had better check something better than my memory for that. I would suspect that Browning's website may have the loading data for it. When it was being built Browning offered two versions: one with brass furniture and one with browned steel. I seem to recall the steel version was a bit more money and true to the original.

They are very accurate with round ball and patch. A fellow in a nearby town shot a one hole four shot group at 100 yards years ago. It was very impressive to see done.

I think you will like shooting it. It is heavier than the T/C Hawken, but, there is more steel in it, too. Have fun!

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

I believe this rifle was made by Miroku in Japan. Some came in wooden presentation cases. It didn't catch on with the purists. The rams-horn design on the drum was a little much.

But back in the day when the Hawken was "king of the hill", everybody was looking to fill the niche.

Miroku made the Charles Daly firearms, the Brownings, & the Winchester 101, so the quality is there in the Mountain Rifle.

One of my gun show partners has one for sale in the presentation box. It might have been a Browning Centennial version.

 

[witchhunter]

Welcome to THR Butch! I forgot to say this in my first post.

 

[slumlord44]

Great rifles. Great shooters. The holes won't cause any problem shooting it but do lessen the value somewhat as a collector. Prices go anywhere from $450-500 for a well used shooter up to $750-800 for NIB with all the paperwork. Nice gift.