Just a picture of "my" Hawken

[Jacob L Freeman]

My grandpa built this T/C 50 from a kit - my guess would be in the 1970s? He didn't own any junk guns, and kept all of his in the most pristine condition possible. I've seen other Hawkens, but none this pretty. I should have polished the brass before this picture, but sadly, I am not my grandpa. I shot this for the first time - first time shooting anything .50 and anything black powder - I pulled it in tight, only loaded about 40 grains expecting it to practically tear my arm off, and was pleasantly surprised at how little noise and recoil I felt. Later I loaded it with 70 grains, and noise and recoil were still perfectly within comfort range. It was even accurate, surprising for having spent at least 20 years hung on a wall, and another 10 in a case without being sighted.

My coworkers especially got a kick of of it - I'm always the one bringing something other than a Glock, Springfield or run of the mill semi auto to our shoots. None of them had ever shot black powder before, or even knew how to load a single action!

 

[BHP FAN]

Nice! My dad made one about the same time...

 

[[email protected]]

I made one about the same time 1972.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Me too!
I made mine in the early 80s from a kit I bought at a garage sale!
That $20 gun took a lot of Ohio deer!
--Dawg

 

[Chawbaccer]

Made mine in 75. That brass looks better with patina rather than all shined up.

 

[Armored farmer]

Built my 54 t/c hawken from a kit in'83 while at college.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Did gramps put laquer on it to preserve it?

 

[chuckles]

I still have mine I made from a kit in 1972. I was in college at the time. I paid right at $100 for the kit at Gander mtn mail order. Lots of work but I'm still proud of it.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

I built mine in the '70's. It is another from Gander Mountain. Paid just under a hundred dollars delivered. I still have it and still shoot it.

 

[rodinal220]

Nice gun.I remember these older kits when the barrel/rib was "in the white" and you could finish(brown) them yourself.

 

[MrMarty51]

That is a real nice example of a real fine rifle.
I have two fifties in the vault, the most fun one to shoot is the flint lock.
I always use the 70 grains of powder, Our range goes to two hundred yards and I can`t see too good but I can hit the paper every time, I love firing those old rifles.
Mine did`nt come from kits, but, the prices was sooo goood that I could`nt pass them up. I had been looking at kits too and I still might, someday, pick up one of those and do the finishing work Myself.
Here is a site that I check often, it has a lot of parts for most any muzzle loading rifle, buffalo rifles and many others too.
I dont know, it seems to Me that some of their kits are a bit expensive but the quality is of the very best, selection is great too, when building Your own special muzzle loader. Left handers too.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Category.aspx/588

 

[Choctaw]

Very nice rifle. Your grandfather did an excellent job. I sold mine years ago while poor and in grad school to keep the electricity on. I should have just sat in the dark for a few days. :banghead: