He inherited it form his DAD ! that makes it special there ! Start digging on that history alone ! it is a well used and somewhat abused rife for sure ! Will gladly take it off his hands if he isnt interested in keeping it !
You are/were anticipating the pan flash, unconsciously focusing on it (mostly due to "stories" you heard etc).
Once you "focus" on sights and target you will not ever see the pan flash.
Had a nice seneca .36cal many moon ago for the wife, found a douglas barrel in .45 same width flat to flat, and was a little longer so got a correct breechplug and had it fitted , added sights , had 2 rifles in one then !
several good books and info on the Hawken brothers can be found , just one on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Plains-Rifle-Charles-Hanson-Jr/dp/B002MZI9PE/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12N9G8NDAUO84&keywords=hawken+rifles+book&qid=1664278968&sprefix=hawken+rifles+book%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-5
Now there is a title and book Im guessing many here has never read ! Was in the medical arena for over 30 yrs (1967-2000) . let see if any one can guess "GOMER"
It has nothing to do with this specific forum but across all forums and other platforms Ive noticed a general lack of folks who seem they cant do any research on there own, but always asking for information that is readily available with a few minutes if not seconds of search ! Are they lazy ...
Flat rate box in Alaska same as lower 48 and even Hawaii ! Was in Alaska 2017 and shipped a bunch of stuff back to Texas, all in (12 ) FLAT RATE boxes with no extra costs at all. PLUS the Post Office at the Airport in Anchorage is open till 11pm !!