Just to clarify, we can't confirm the existence of a half-stocked Hawken flintlock. However, there were absolutely full-stocked percussion rifles. The John Brown Hawken in Salt Lake City is one example:
The percussion fullstocks typically had a solid patent breech (not hooked), with the "comma" shaped snail, and no escutcheon plates for the barrel wedges.
The John Barsotti Hawken is a fullstock, although the distal end of the forearm has evidently broken off:
I don't remember where I found this next image, but it is another beautiful example of an original J&S Hawken percussion fullstock:
I believe the full-stocked rifles were offered by the Hawken shop well into the percussion era as a lower-cost option, as compared to the half-stocks. The presence of a patent breech argues against conversion of these fullstocks from flintlock to percussion. The hooked breech typically found on original Hawken half-stocks required considerable hand fitting that was not needed with the solid breech, and the simple wooden fore-end required less work than the half-stock, with its under-rib assembly and carefully fitted nosecap and entry pipe. I suppose the metal parts which were needed to make a half-stock may have cost more than the wood, also.
There were some percussion Hawken rifles that are believed to have started out as fullstocks, but were cut down to half-stock configuration later one. The Augustin Lacome Hawken in the state museum in Santa Fe is one example, and actually has a wood under-rib. This rifle, whcih sold on the RIA auction site a couple of years ago, was almost certainly cut down:
So, I would respectfully disagree with the assertion that all Hawken percussion rifles were half-stocks and the fullstocks were all flint, as stated above. However, it's always fun to discuss this sort of thing.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
The percussion fullstocks typically had a solid patent breech (not hooked), with the "comma" shaped snail, and no escutcheon plates for the barrel wedges.
The John Barsotti Hawken is a fullstock, although the distal end of the forearm has evidently broken off:
I don't remember where I found this next image, but it is another beautiful example of an original J&S Hawken percussion fullstock:
I believe the full-stocked rifles were offered by the Hawken shop well into the percussion era as a lower-cost option, as compared to the half-stocks. The presence of a patent breech argues against conversion of these fullstocks from flintlock to percussion. The hooked breech typically found on original Hawken half-stocks required considerable hand fitting that was not needed with the solid breech, and the simple wooden fore-end required less work than the half-stock, with its under-rib assembly and carefully fitted nosecap and entry pipe. I suppose the metal parts which were needed to make a half-stock may have cost more than the wood, also.
There were some percussion Hawken rifles that are believed to have started out as fullstocks, but were cut down to half-stock configuration later one. The Augustin Lacome Hawken in the state museum in Santa Fe is one example, and actually has a wood under-rib. This rifle, whcih sold on the RIA auction site a couple of years ago, was almost certainly cut down:
So, I would respectfully disagree with the assertion that all Hawken percussion rifles were half-stocks and the fullstocks were all flint, as stated above. However, it's always fun to discuss this sort of thing.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
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