CVA Hawkens bolster

[Kyle B66]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and already like a lot of the things ive read and the abundance of information about smokepoles old and new.
Im sure this has been asked before but being brand new i could not find a thread on it, I currently have a .50 CVA Hawkens, the bolster is broken off of the side of the barrel, is this something that I can replace myself or is it something I would have to have a gun smith do?
I know the gun is not worth very much but it is a great shooter and is very accurate and I would hate to just hang it on the wall for looks and forget about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Zonie]

Welcome to the Forum.

Thanks to necchi, I have a picture of the breech area of your rifle.
A section shows the interior.

If the bolster or drum is broken off you will probably have to drill out the center hole a bit and use a very large Easy Out to unscrew the remains.

Track of the Wolf sells a replacement part but it doesn't extend as deeply into the breech plug as the original CVA design.
If the threads are in good shape it is however, safe to use.

"#DRUM-CVA" is Track of the Wolf's part number for their part.
TOTW CVA Percussion Drum

The other option is for you to call "Deer Creek".
They bought up all of the replacement CVA parts and can often supply the original replacement.

They do not have a web site so you either have to call them or write to them.
Their address and phone number are

Deer Creek Products
6989 E Michigan Rd
Waldron, IN 46182

(765) 525-6181

There may be a "Deer Creek" on a Google search but I assure you it is the wrong place.

 

[Kyle B66]

I knew I came to the right place. Thank you for the help.

 

[necchi]

Right handy photo, I actually got it here from someone else, :idunno:
Deer Creek won't sell you just the bolster, matter of fact if you ask they get a little bucky.
They will install one for you, don't know how much, but it'll be just like the factory.

Getting the aftermarket one does have it's problems, not too tuff to over come. The nipple usually doesn't line up just right and after they're installed you don't really want to use max charges in it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

you don't really want to use max charges in it.

That sounds scary. :shocked2:
Care to elaborate?
Does Deer Creek agree?

 

[necchi]

you don't really want to use max charges in it.

That sounds scary. :shocked2:
Care to elaborate?
Does Deer Creek agree?

Deer Creek tells us to not use after market, Period.

Using the aftermarket has it's difficulties, as mentioned they seldom line up for a proper nipple/hammer fit.
It depends on the instalers experiance. I I won't ponder that on a forum because we just don't know what a guy has for tools or skill.

Installed by someone that has saftey in mind and the proper tool to remove the shoulder enough for a proper fit they are probably OK.
But I'm not a pro, and I can't advise folks to use these with absolute certainty.

 

[rafterob]

I had one done by a gunsmith. He matched the replacement up with enough of the stem of the threaded shaft that was left in the barrel so it did not leave any open areas inside the breach. Mated up the nipple to hammer alignment real well. I really doubt I could have come close to doing the job he did. In my opinion, the replacement that Dixie sells is a better option than the one from TOW.

 

[Leatherbark]

I have seen these broken off flush with the side of the barrel and the hole in it tapped to fit a 1/4x28 drum with nipple. This may or may not be successful as if someone tried to remove the original drum and it moved some before it broke then the communication hole might not be aligned anymore with the barrel hole.

Shine a light down the bore and shine a light from the side to see if the original drum is still aligned. If it is I believe you can drill and tap the hole in the broken piece for a standard drum. Dixie sells a 1/4x28 drum 7/16ths inch in diamter or 1/2 inch in diameter. I dont believe T.O.W sells one in that thread size.

If not use an easy out and get a new original type drum if you can find one.

Good Luck

Bob

 

[Rifleman1776]

I had one done by a gunsmith. He matched the replacement up with enough of the stem of the threaded shaft that was left in the barrel so it did not leave any open areas inside the breach. Mated up the nipple to hammer alignment real well. I really doubt I could have come close to doing the job he did. In my opinion, the replacement that Dixie sells is a better option than the one from TOW.

There are formulas for calculating how much to remove from the end of a barrel to perfectly align the flats and have no gap inside the barrel. Size, thread, etc. go into the calculation. Then a precise milling machine removes the metal from the breech end of the barrle. Not a job for an amatur, expert gunsmith/machinist only. I would like to hear from builders how they do it.