Hawken First Build - Thank you

[grey8833]

I posted this on the Builders Forum because without this forum, there is no way this would have turned out the way it did.
I have been reading this forum for about 18 months and building a Jim Bridger TOTW Hawken M4 Maple kit with a Goodoien 60 Cal 1 1/8 tapered barrel for about six months. I have been driving my wife crazy for about a year and a half :shocked2:. The barrel is browned and the furniture is done in a brown and French Gray. The whole thing turned out great. (And yes, I now understand why you don't want to do this kit as a first build, I was watching the Herchel House video on a Hawken, he got to the nose cap / entry pipe / ramrod hole and said "Wow there are a lot of angles here?!" yea, no kidding :rotf: )

I would like to thank:
Mike Brooks for his detailed tutorial.
Zonie for his general advise.
Herb for his style advice on a Hawken build.
And everyone else who generiously shared their experences - good and bad.
Photos:

 

[BLAHMAN]

Nice job! :thumbsup:

 

[davy]

... very nice Mikey! :grin: :hatsoff:

Davy

 

[Zonie]

Why hell!
If I knew someone was really believing what I wrote I would have been more careful with what I was saying.

Mike F, you did a beautiful job with your Hawken and it is nice of you to take the time to thank us and to post the great pictures of your rifle.

Now that your posting, stick around and join in with the conversation. Believe it or not, the fact that you have built that rifle puts you in a position to help others who may have questions. After all, I know you've had problems with your build (we all do) and found ways of solving them. Some of your solutions may even teach the old timers a new way of doing things.

zonie

 

[david50]

wow! beautiful rifle exactly the type of rifle i wish i could build. very nice job.

 

[captgary]

Very nice the browning job came out real good :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

Mike F: That is one FINE looking clean built rifle. You did a Super job on it !!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Bill Hall]

Good job. Nice lines around the lock, flows really nice. Did you say this is your first build? Bill

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Beautiful Mike, beautiful. :bow: :bow: :bow:
You did a wonderful job on that Hawken. You ever get tired of it, why just send it to me. :winking:
Scott

 

[grey8833]

Yea. First build. Should have listened - but hea, how hard could a Hawken be ? :youcrazy:

The lock was fun, could not decide if I wanted the line to follow the forestock or the lock panel, so I split the difference and filed the lock bolster to match both > big bastard file for the first cut and rounded the molding to match the forestock with the needle files (needle files are your friends).

 

[grey8833]

Zonie:
Yes, I read what you write (wrote?). Promise to add my two cents, now that I have two cents to add.

Mistakes - someone here said: It is not your mistakes, but how you react to them that counts. (There is a piece of a hickory ramrod used as a plug under the top screw on the butt plate - followed the wrong line drilling it - dumb, but the hickory is probably harder than the maple - and you would never know unless someone was foolish enough to tell you).

 

[renovato]

Mike, that gun came out really nice! The metal to wood fit is superb. The wood and metal finishes came out great too. I especially like the combination of brown and french gray. Outstanding job all around.

 

[Herb]

Mike- a very nice job. You will encourage others to do the same.

 

[rabbit03]

Mike that is one nice looking Hawken. You can be extremely proud of how it came out. The browing looks great as does the whole rifle.
I too split the difference on mine at the juncture of the lock plate where it meets the forarm. Really nice work.

Now your might have to build the Mrs. one! :blah:

rabbit03 :thumbsup:

 

[jeepwj992002]

That is one absolutely beautiful rifle! :bow:

 

[davecampperry]

THAT SHINES!!!!

 

[howdydoit]

stunning, that is one hell of a rifle. :hatsoff:

 

[Goldhunter]

Dang limitations, can't see pictures at work anymore (guess I should be working. :grin: ) Can't wait to get home to take look!

 

[d.thomson]

:hatsoff: You did a great job. How much dose a kit like that go for, mabe in flint .54. By the way that wood made a great looking stock. Regards Dave T.

 

[shmrck1]

Mike,
Great job! Really like the stock.
snake-eyes :applause: