I recently picked up a very nice little 50 cal sidelock and need some help identifying the model. The left side of the barrel is marked Ardesa Spain 50 cal and Black Powder only. The right of the barrel has proofmarks. It is a Hawken style with half stock and one retaining wedge. The barrel is 26" and the overall length is just a shade over 40". There is no patchbox. It has set triggers. Any help with ID and suggested loads would be appreciated. I thought I would start with a 350 maxi-hunter and 70 grains pyrodex RS.
Ardesa 50 Caliber Identification
- Thread starter stevo59
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The Ardesa Hawkins where early Spanish imports.
CVA And Traditions later imported from the same makers, but the finish work of the early models Ardesa wasn't done by request too save cost.
Most of them have a fine finish to the lock internals and triggers and inletting not found in the CVA/Traditions and heavier lands/grooves dimention to boot.They have made fine target rifles for years.
Your gun will shoot a patched round ball comination just fine.
CVA And Traditions later imported from the same makers, but the finish work of the early models Ardesa wasn't done by request too save cost.
Most of them have a fine finish to the lock internals and triggers and inletting not found in the CVA/Traditions and heavier lands/grooves dimention to boot.They have made fine target rifles for years.
Your gun will shoot a patched round ball comination just fine.
troutabout
40 Cal.
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An overall of 40 inches sounds like somebody's "canoe gun" model.
Cascade Pete
40 Cal.
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CVA Frontier Model? Nice looking piece
I have one just like yours that I got off of Gunbroker acouple of years ago. Don't know much about it as far as model name, but you can web search Ardesa Arms and down load down load PDF manuals and information from their site. I do know getting replies by email from them or Traditions( the U.S. Dist. for them) has not has not worked for me. GTood Luck. Jim
rafterob
62 Cal.
Yes, basically what CVA sold as a Frontier. Traditions too may have offered that model under some other name. Basically same as the Hawkins models , only with a shorter barrel and no patchbox. Should be rifled 1:48 good for patched round ball or may shoot maxi balls too. I have a traditions Hawkins and it has pretty deep rifling which makes loading a maxi ball a PITA.
