Hawken, not Hawkin, not Hawkins

[nkbj]

Sadie. What a name for a rifle!

 

[dmills]

[/quote]
If it makes you feel better, call them "Plains" rifles! :wink: :thumbsup: [/quote]

I've been calling my GPR a Great Planes Rifle. I hope no one is offended by that. :stir:

 

[azmntman]

Aerodynamic firearm will do

 

[Rifleman1776]

These spellings appear in transciptions of original diaries, inventories, and memoirs of the period. So while it might rile the collecting community to hear their precious Hawken's name taken in vain, it is really a testimate to their influence and impact on both the frontier as well as the modern psyche.

Many families 'back in the day' and, truth be known, up to current times, cannot correctly spell their own family names, or many surnames. Note the common usage of strange first names, many obviously meant to be something else but turn out 'strange' because they are misspelled.
I subsitute taught for many years and it was not uncommon for some children to not know their own last name or their fathers first name.

 

[Shine]

Hey I don't know my fathers name and my mother took off before I was born.

 

[galamb]

Well if we are going to throw around spelling we should go back to the American beginning of the name as it relates to the rifles being discussed.

Two brothers, Nicholas and Wolfgang "Hachen" emigrated to Pennsylvania from Switzerland in the 1750's.

Nicholas settled in the Hanover area and Wolfgang in Reading.

Nicholas died in 1758. It was his sons, Nicholas (Jr) or Christian (or both collectively) that "Americanized" the name as it was pronounced making the spelling "Hawken".

Christian was the father of Jake and Sam.

Wolfgang shortened the name to "Haga".

So if Wolfgang hadn't been the brothers "Great Uncle" but instead the Grandfather at least the spelling wouldn't be subject of discussion, because I don't see how you could "mis-spell" Haga :idunno:

 

[smoothshooter]

I too, find some people's misspelling annoying, and try not to let it bother me too much most of the time. Heck, I proofread nearly every post before I submit it, and still miss something once in a while. But words DO mean things, and attention to detail is an admirable human trait, especially when dealing with things mechanical, financial, chemical, historical, etc. There is a magazine I buy every month that covers primitive skills, living off the grid, etc., that is one of my favorites, that makes me feel like pulling what little hair I have left out over their typos and misspellings that are so bad that sometimes the misspelled word actually changes the entire meaning of the sentence (like using the word pedestal, when meaning pestle, for example). This could be disastrous if the subject is reloading ammunition for example, and the person reading the article is attempting reloading for the first time. An experienced reloader would catch the error- a newbie, maybe not. Perhaps I should get down off of my "pestle" now, and just go back out in the front yard and shoot my flint rifle some more like I was doing before reading this thread. Sincerely, Smoothshooter

 

[azmntman]

ff My wife was a editor at local paper, proof reader before that. When I ask her to read a report or letter I'm sending she gets all over me for the grammar n spelling. I just wanna know if its sounds like what I'm saying? I was a pressman when we met and my answer to the paper haters was always "I'm responsible for coverage of INK NOT CONTENT"! And the ink looked dang good. Boss told the publisher once I was the second best pressman he ever had! :grin: The he said all the others were tied for first! :shake:

 

[Alden]

Dude, your on an role tonite!

:rotf:

Oh, that Hawkens had been named, called, "Wolfgangs" instead! "Don't you dare call a T/C Wolfgang a Wolfgang, the barrel is 2" shorter than one I saw at the Fur of the Museum Trade!"

 

[Cpl. Ashencheeks]

Yup Family name for sure. Hawken built rifles. Hawkins was the kid in Treasure Island. :haha:

I thought it was 'Young Jim Arrkins'

Thanks alot Disney and the public school system who reinforced a short attention span that I have a hard time picking up and reading a book. At least they played the movie in history class.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Everyone says my TC does not look original so what not call it a Hockin? :rotf:

 

[wpjson]

An instance where spelling does matter. A dozen years ago I was employed as a councelor at a facility where we worked with juvinile sex offenders who had been convicted in court and sentenced by a judge. OK, not the pick of the litter. They were all released when they reached 18. One young man, filling out his resume, put down experience "stalking" shelves at a local grocery. May have been accurate, I dunno.

 

[nwtradegun]

until 1828 when Webster published his dictionary
words were spelled as they wanted. lewis spelled moccasin 27 different ways in his journals.

 

[Claude Mathis]

I've never seen so many rationalizations and excuses for poor grammar and misspelling than in this thread. No wonder kids are doing poorly in school today, if this is what they have at home. :wink: :haha:

 

[TLanoy]

They send you to CA if you don't behave. :blah:

Now that's funny right there! I don't care who ya are!! :rotf:

 

[mooman76]

These spellings appear in transciptions of original diaries, inventories, and memoirs of the period. So while it might rile the collecting community to hear their precious Hawken's name taken in vain, it is really a testimate to their influence and impact on both the frontier as well as the modern psyche.

Many families 'back in the day' and, truth be known, up to current times, cannot correctly spell their own family names, or many surnames. Note the common usage of strange first names, many obviously meant to be something else but turn out 'strange' because they are misspelled.
I subsitute taught for many years and it was not uncommon for some children to not know their own last name or their fathers first name.

People have been butchering my name all my life, both spelling and pronunciation. I don't let it bother me any more, I guess I just gave up trying to explain it over and over. In fact my family name was changed when my ancestors came here to America because they could not read or wright or even spell their own name so the town recorder spelled it the way he or she thought it should be.

 

[cable]

And I believe the Hawken spelling was the anglicized version of their original name Haugen , if I am remembering.

 

[Zonie]

As someone else mentioned, if Hawken vs Hawkin vs Halkin or Hackin is the big issue of the day, someone has life pretty darn good.

They should be glad texting hasn't entered the picture.
Wouldn't surprise me a bit if Hawken was spelled Hokn or Hakn on one of those contraptions.

As for proper spelling on the forum, I try to overlook it.

Some people can't spell.
Some people can't type and anyone using one of those touch pad keyboards is doing damn good to end up with any word looking even vaguely like it is supposed to.

IMO, we're here to share ideas and thoughts.

We are not writing a doctoral thesis or even a text book let alone a High School Term Paper where some English Teacher is going to give good marks for spelling, grammar punctuation and penmanship.

Now! Ah sur feeel beter getin that offen ma chist an ott in tha opin fur ye al ta C.
Solso gud ta B abil ta writ ma thuts on thiss valueable issu.

 

[necchi]

tr, dn't vn nd vls
mst flks cn stll rd whts wrttn

 

[Brian6396]

A rose by any other name is still a rose :v