CVA Mountain rifle

[54Paulie]

Howdy, was just wondering about my CVA Hawken I bought as a kit back in the early 80's, and wondering if any one here could help? I bought it as a kit from a friend who had a black powder gun shop (The patch and ball)here in San Diego years ago, it is a Hawken Mountain rifle, on the barrel is CVA inc. cal. .54 black powder only, ser. no. 0000137. It has been an ongoing project, I have added a patch box, some inlays, and an L&R lock, this rifle is a tack driver and I'm very happy with it. Any guesses would be appreciated

 

[Alden]

Welcome!

What is the actual question though?

 

[54Paulie]

Sorry, it's been a long hot day, I was interested on a possible date of manufacture and where it was made, in the U.S. or Spain?

 

[bubba.50]

almost assuredly made in Spain. when? anybody's guess. the mountain rifle is the best CVA ever made in my opinion.

 

[Alden]

I don't know about the date either but your having to add a patchbox almost certainly makes it a Spanish gun in all respects...



...as is my .50.

'cept for an L&R lock eh? Pics would be nice!

 

[Juice Jaws]

I agree, I have two they are the best guns CVA made. Both of mine are mid 70's and are USA made, stamp right on the barrel.

 

[richdeerht]

I have a CVA Big Bore Mountain Rifle .54 cal flintlock that I built from a kit back in the 80's. I sold it to a buddy who hung it on the wall for 30-some years. When he passed away, I bought it back from his widow.
I took it to the range and it shot well with 90 gr 3f, a .530 ball, and a denim patch. With a white chert (Pierce) flint, the CVA lock sparks reliably. I'm thinking about a L&R RPL lock for it.

 

[54Paulie]

L&R locks in my opinion are the way to go for the older CVA's, stronger main spring for one, very reliable, no more miss fires. I had to shave a little bit of wood, but very easy to install, was getting occasional miss fires with CCI caps, no more. Thank you all for your replies

 

[rafterob]

Just some early runs of the original had "made in USA" barrels and Maple stocks. But soon after all were produced in Spain. The .45 and .50 cal. had patch boxes and the .54 and .58 Big Bores did not. Other than Alden's picture. I have never seen a .50 cal without a patchbox. Across the board they tend to be excellent shooters. Deer Creek ran a number of them out with their own produced rifle barrels and a different trigger guard. Otherwise the rest of the rifle was original CVA parts. I have a Deer Creek Barrel on mine. I purchased an older unfinished CVA kit that no longer had the barrel. I understand they no longer have any barrels and stopped their rifling operations.

 

[kh0456]

I have a CVA Big Bore Rifle in .58 that I bought and built myself around '80 or '81. Around the same time I built a .32 squirrel and a Kentucky flint in .45 from CVA also. Fun easy kits at the time.
I just refinished the stock on it recently just because I was bored I suppose...

anyway, I'm pretty sure mine is Spanish. Didn't come with a patch box. My original lock works fine although I have thought about putting a better on one on it. I'd be interested to see some photos of yours after what you added to it.
Here is mine:

 

[bigted]

I had the mountain early kit in 50 cal and boy was it accurate. I also "built" the Kentucky as well in 45 cal and it was a tack driver at 100 yds.

those early rifles were just cool and very fun. the 45 Kentucky went in trade for a Fox 20 gauge double and the 50 later on went to trade for an early 30-06 made by Remington [700 model [[BDL I think]] and over the years since I have cried a thousand tears for both of them for the fun I had when a youngster on the Oregon coast wondering around in the still pristine forests with the old growth fir and cedar.

ahh grand memories.

 

[swathdiver]

The Big Bore MRs were introduced in 1979 which was the same year production shifted to Spain.

 

[azmntman]

I have a CVA Big Bore Rifle in .58 that I bought and built myself around '80 or '81. Around the same time I built a .32 squirrel and a Kentucky flint in .45 from CVA also. Fun easy kits at the time.
I just refinished the stock on it recently just because I was bored I suppose...

anyway, I'm pretty sure mine is Spanish. Didn't come with a patch box. My original lock works fine although I have thought about putting a better on one on it. I'd be interested to see some photos of yours after what you added to it.
Here is mine:

VERY nice. Love the wood. I missed out on one at a pawn shop when I went to get a jag to assure the bore wasnt bulged. $250.00 too

 

[Pete44ru]

I was interested on a possible date of manufacture and where it was made, in the U.S. or Spain?

The date of manufacture would be the day you finished assembling the kit. :wink:


:rotf:


.

 

[mr.flintlock]

I have a 54 caliber CVA Big Bore mountain rifle that I bought as a kit back about 1980 serial #0001820. It turned out to be an excellent rifle. My most accurate load was 90gr ffg and a 530 patched round ball. I haven't used it in years but don't want to get rid of it. I have thought about converting it to flint. It came with a curley maple stock.

 

[dave524]

I think all the Big Bores were Spanish, they were not offered initially but came out after production has moved.

 

[jferguson]

Other than Alden's picture. I have never seen a .50 cal without a patchbox.

Last month, I bought a used CVA Mountain in .50 and it has no patchbox either.

 

[Darto]

Pauline your serial number is WAY lower than mine. I think yours is a '70's gun (only 3 digits, wow).

 

[Darto]

gunbroket Item=503207090

I posted this link because this guy sells about 3 or 4 CVA mountain rifles a year on Gunbroker it seems to me, and he says CVA never made a factory assembled mountain rifle, they were (he says) all kits. His theory is the assembled guns that sold retail were actually made from kits in large batches by private parties. And these were then acquired (wholesale so to speak) by Dixie GW, etc. and sold as new. His auction page explains his belief on this.

 

[necchi]

I posted this link because this guy sells about 3 or 4 CVA mountain rifles a year on Gunbroker,,
His theory is,,,

Thanks for the link, the guy does offer a long dissertation.
He is perpetuating some of the myth, so I disregard most of it,, but what is interesting is the "Made in USA" being on the right side of the barrel,, that is a curiosity.