CVA "Hawken" Two Barrel Kit Question

[rp77469]

I stumbled on a semi-completed CVA "Hawken" two barrel kit in .50 and .54 calibers. I have been unable to track down the twist of these barrels. The .54 measures 1:32 and came with a fixed buckhorn sight. The .50 came with the modern adjustable sight like TC and was missing the front sight. It seems to be about 1:56 twist which is the one that bugs me. The older Mt. Rifles were 1:66 and the later St. Louis Hawkens were 1:48 if I remember correctly. I seem to be measuring in the middle.

I could not find any info on twist rate on the net in 20 minutes of running things down. Deer Creek had no info, CVA does not and Traditions only has since they took over. These kits in .50 and .54 were made from 1986-1988 and both have the button style hook breech Thanks for any info. Now back to Deer Creek to order the missing parts for the thing.

 

[Bearkiller]

I was just looking at this rifle F-337 Virginia Rifle 50 and it has a CVA barrel with a 1:56 twist

 

[Zonie]

Your in luck. (with the answer. If you want a round ball gun, your in luck there too.)

My 1986 Dixie Gun Works catalog says

"CVA HAWKEN RIFLE. If you're a round ball and a Hawken fan,
then this may be the rifle for you. All of the other Hawken
style rifles we offer feature a 1 turn in 48 inch rate of twist, which
works ideally with the big maxi type conical slugs. This rate of
twist is actually fast for shooting round ball projectiles with
heavy hunting charges. CVA's Hawken rifle features a 1" diameter
octagon barrel featuring a much slower 1 turn in 66 inch rate of
twist, which is perfect for shooting tightly patched round balls.
The heavy 1 inch barrel also insures plenty of strength when using
heavy hunting powder charges. Even wit the heavy barrel, this
rifle is nicely balanced and the short 28 inch barrel makes this rifle
fast handling in the brush or for deer hunting from an elevated
tree stand. Stock is walnut with comfortable cheekpiece. All furniture
made of polished brass. Lock plate and hammer color case hardened,
barrel blued. Rifle features a fully adjustable rear sight and a beaded
blade front sight. Double phase double-set triggers allow rifle to be
fired with triggers set or unset. Length overall is 44 1/2:,
Weight is 8 1.2 lbs. Available in flint or percussion. .50 or .54 caliber.
Recommended ball size for the .50 cal. is .490 and for the .54 cal. a .530.
Shipping weight 10 pounds.
PR0640 .50 caliber percussion Hawken-Finished..$219.25
PR0650 .54 caliber percussion Hawken-Finished $219.25
FR0710 .50 caliber flint Hawken- Finished...$218.50

 

[rp77469]

Thanks, Zonie. I don't know why I had problems measuring the twist. Must have marked the wrong flat or something.

 

[Zonie]

Well, it is possible your guns weren't made in those years.

If the stock's are not walnut and they are made from Beech wood which is a very "close grained" wood (very smooth without any visible pores in the surface), it might be made with a different twist in the barrels. Probably a 1:48.