@UXCZ, Jake and Sam were trained by their father as well as several other brothers as gunsmiths. At sometime early in their careers, they worked at Harper's Ferry. Jake left to open a gun shop in New Madrid, MO. In 1819 Jake formed a partnership with (John) Lakenan in St. Louis, MO and operated out of a small cabin. About the same time, Sam started moving west, settling for a time in Xenia, OH. There is one flint lock rifle by Sam that was made in Xenia. By 1822, Sam had moved to St. Louis and had his own shop. Lakenan left the partnership with Jake and in 1825, Jake and Sam entered the partnership that became the Hawken Shop.
While the Hawken rifle set a standard for quality and reliability, few trappers could afford the $26 Hawken rifle while rifles of similar caliber (but not quality) could be purchased from the Henry, Leman, Deringer, Tyron and other volume manufacturers for about $9 or less.
More information can be found with a search on Lakenan by "Grenadier1758.
While the Hawken rifle set a standard for quality and reliability, few trappers could afford the $26 Hawken rifle while rifles of similar caliber (but not quality) could be purchased from the Henry, Leman, Deringer, Tyron and other volume manufacturers for about $9 or less.
More information can be found with a search on Lakenan by "Grenadier1758.
