Hawken Pistols

[F.G. Ford]

Hi,
I am looking for source material on Hawken pistols.
I am building a Lyman .50 cal. Lyman pistol.
I would like some reference information and pictures.
Could any of you fine fellows help me out.
Old Ford

 

[LaBonte]

Jake and Sam actually made few pistols based on the records, but there a some including this pair of excellent horse pistols (they may have been used for dueling but are not typical duelers at all - but it's a good sales pitch...) http://www.icollector.com/The-only...of-St-Louis-MS-66-caliber-percussion_i9858922

On the other hand the Bros Hawken sold lots of imported trade pistols - post 1830 most were half-stocks but full-stocks were not unknown even into the 1850s, percussion was common by then but flinters were not unknown, and with small, regular side locks or back action locks (think large size Deringer). Fittings were typically either iron or brass. The half-stocks are also very close in style to the post 1800 hlaf stock English and Anerican dueling pistols.
On imports the stocks were most commonly of Euro Walnut, American made often maple with some black walnut.
Gary Hendershott's catalog of western guns includes several fur trade era pistols nostly flinter with full stocks - they can be seen here http://issuu.com/dreamedia/docs/catalog_141_issuu

 

[crockett]

Some of the Wilson books: Steel Canvas is one, has photos.

 

[Bear Rider]

IIRC, The Hawken Rifle, It's Place In History by Hanson has information on some pistols.

I bought this pistol manufactured by Bondini in the 1980's. Other than the target sights added by the previous owner, it's a pretty good match for the pistol in Hanson's Sketchbook:

 

[F.G. Ford]

Very nice!
Probably the best I have seen
Thank you!
Fred

 

[Bear Rider]

A few more things about the Hawken replica. As you may have observed, it has a single set trigger. Less obvious is the fact that all the brass fittings were originally silver-plated.

I don't know if the captive ramrod on the hawken if functional, as I've never used it except to test for an empty gun. I suspect that it would smart some to drive home a ball given the small diameter of the "handle".

I built a Lyman "hawken" kit in .54 caliber. The grip portion of the stock is wrong, the "pull" being much longer -- so long that I have trouble getting my finger in the correct position on the trigger.

The lyman shoots very well -- so long as you keep it clean. It's the pickiest of all my handguns insofar as cleanliness vs accuracy. Clean it between shots, and it will put all the rounds inside the 8 ring at 50 yards. Fail to clean it, and the shots may wander clear off the paper.