Austin & Halleck

[spitpatch]

I would like to know if any folks here have had any knowledge on the quality of the Austin & Halleck rifles. The one I am looking at is an unfired flinter. Not worried about price just quality and how they shoot. Thanks

 

[hanshi]

I always liked the way they looked but they never "felt" (shouldered) right to me.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I was told by someone who should know that the last few that left the factory were in pretty bad shape. The older ones( lower serial numbers) are OK.

 

spitpatch,
I had one, and have a friend with one. The early ones were much better, fit and finish, than the later ones. Never did shoot the one I had very much but it shot well.
Mark

 

[Zonie]

I've heard the same thing.

It seems that when A&H were going out of business they assembled some out of left over parts that were not the best.

IMO the problem with these guns is trying to find parts if something breaks.
Of course, if it is a wall hanger who cares?

 

[mazo kid]

spitpatch,
I had one, and have a friend with one. The early ones were much better, fit and finish, than the later ones. Never did shoot the one I had very much but it shot well.
Mark

I also had one with a friend who bought one after seeing mine. The only problem we had was they shot low; evidently was a common issue. Fixed by filing front sight and increasing powder charge a bit. Only reason I sold mine was that I was going to left hand flintlock guns and they didn't make a LH version.

 

[Captjoel]

I once had a percussion A&H rifle with a fast twist conical barrel. It was a very nice well put together rifle with nice wood. My only problem was it kicked like a British mule and was a cheek slammer.

 

[suzkat]

Mine also shot low, so I added and adjustable
rear sight. The fit and finish is very nice on
it. I'm pleased, but I haven't broken anything
on it. I'd like to find out who made the lock
in case I too need parts down the road. Don't
know what could go wrong with any of the rest of it. I use it as my hunter, so it doesn't get shot enough.

 

[750k2]

I have a cap that came as an upgraded model??
It does have Really nice maple - I mean nice.
Some had one lock bolt others 2??? Mine is 2.
Fit and finish are great - Lock is super strong and smoooth.
BBL is out with B.Hoyt right now being opened up.
Never had a problem with mine - did shoot low but
have since changed sights a couple times.
Quality is hit and miss from my reading and research.
Mine came out of Utah, Provo I believe - In 05 or so.
I was/am nothing but pleased.
Actually sits next to my customs quite nicely for a couple
grand less.
Posted around looking for exact Co. history but not much
info forthcoming.
If you get a good one you'll love it :thumbsup:

 

[wilded]

I have a flintlock with the deluxe stock marked Utah. It is a great gun and I will not let it go.
I have had to file or adjust the sights on nearly every rifle I have ever had. Shoulders like a Hatfield if you ever held one. :idunno:

 

[BrownBear]

Shoulders like a Hatfield if you ever held one.

Good comparison. Doesn't feel anything like a TC Hawken or Lyman GPR.

I've never owned one, but looked at lots and shot a few. All I've shot were seriously good shooters, but fit and finish has been real variable in those I've seen- from very good to "you want HOW MUCH money for that?"

Speaking of money, gotta tell a story. I was in the best-known general gun shop in Anchorage and they had one in the used gun rack for $1200. I picked up and the salesman drifted over to tell me how rare they are, and not made any more. A real collector's piece. :rotf:

He was a nice guy in my other dealings already that afternoon, so I didn't pop his bubble, rather agreed it was a nice gun but out of my range. The shop doesn't have a rep for scrawing people, so I have to assume they got pitched by someone and bought it. Goes to show even shops can be suckered.

Hope you're not buying a "real collector's piece."

 

[SgtSchutzen]

I also know where there is one for sale. It`s a well used but taken care of halfstock flinter like Wilded shows in I think .54cal, not as nice a stock though. Untill this post I`d never heard of these before other than this one in the shop I`m talking about. I think this shop thinks they have a custom made gun too BrownBear. At least that was the impression I got from talking to one of the guys there. It`s not priced as high as the one you saw though. I think they want around $600 if I remember right. I looked at it once, seemed like a nice rifle. Did they make any other types other than the halfstock mountian style?

 

[wilded]

Hatfield went broke and Pedersoli got the design which became their frontier rifle and the Cabelas Blue Ridge Rifle. Austin and Halleck was started by the same people involved in Hatfield so I was told. They made a regular model and deluxe model with fancy wood and finish like my rifle. They also made a line of modern inline rifles. There is more to the story but I am not sure what is true and what is rumor. :idunno: ET

 

[wilded]

Here is a link to a review and a link to a closed auction with some very good pictures. ET
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Equa...+at+Austin+and+Halleck's+Classic.-a0112646122
http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9029067