Hawken Rifles, What's All The Hoopla?!

[Mark E. Prickett]

I'm currently sitting at the NMRLA state championship and hawkin and renagade type rifles are allowed.

 

[TDM]

I'm currently sitting at the NMRLA state championship and hawkin and renagade type rifles are allowed.

That's great to know! Thanks. Makes me want to get my old Renegade out, hasn't been shot in a while.

 

[Dispatch]

For someone independent (an expert), to help in buying the right one, is there anyone well known that is recommended?

 

[TDM]

For someone independent (an expert), to help in buying the right one, is there anyone well known that is recommended? View attachment 161736

A real genuine Hawken?

 

[BlackRock52]

Have never owned an original, but shot one at a rondy, that a philanthropist allowed me to for some reason.
Probably to stop me from staring.
Recently got a Hawken Shop kit. I do like my Chamber's flinters, but they are not light either.
The real Hawken I shot, just seemed to fit me. I am short with thick chest, wide shoulders, short arms. Maybe I am similar in size to the guy the rifle was built for. Recoil was not punishing. But just my opinion.
I have some contemporary Hawken-esque rifles that are fun to shoot, but nothing like the real one.
But I like them all.
Possibly some of the Hawken appeal to us modern guys, is that they provided a lead in aesthetic to the cartridge arms.
Half stock and all that.
Just guessing.

Not to mention it was featured in a Redford movie....that always rings the popularity bell

 

[Dispatch]

A real genuine Hawken?

No, on the best made repro's.

 

[HighUintas]

No, on the best made repro's.

Large scale commerical is probably pedersoli.

Lyman great plains is ok.

If you can find a don stitch kit set and have someone build it or build it yourself, that'd be the way to go.

If you can find a grrw commemorative Hawken for sale .. that would be A ok too

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Large scale commerical is probably pedersoli.

Lyman great plains is ok.

If you can find a don stitch kit set and have someone build it or build it yourself, that'd be the way to go.

If you can find a grrw commemorative Hawken for sale .. that would be A ok too

I have two Lyman GPR's a Capper and A Flinter I'm building now. They are fine rifles. If i do my part, the flinter will be every bit as nice as my capper!!

 

[waksupi]

I personally have never had a great love for Hawkens. I've owned a few through trades over the years, and I think I only shot one of them before passing them on.
The first deer I ever shot in Montana years ago, was with an original full stock Hawken, that had been converted to caplock. I also shot an original half stock that a member of the historical society owned. A Hawken built to original specs is a heavy old pig, best suited to horseback use.
They came into the fur trade at a pretty late date, and as has been mentioned, there are other rifles that were more common. The newer bastardized so-called Hawkens should have been called something else, as they have little resemblance to the original name sake.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I personally have never had a great love for Hawkens. I've owned a few through trades over the years, and I think I only shot one of them before passing them on.
The first deer I ever shot in Montana years ago, was with an original full stock Hawken, that had been converted to caplock. I also shot an original half stock that a member of the historical society owned. A Hawken built to original specs is a heavy old pig, best suited to horseback use.
They came into the fur trade at a pretty late date, and as has been mentioned, there are other rifles that were more common. The newer bastardized so-called Hawkens should have been called something else, as they have little resemblance to the original name sake.

There are a few Hawkens produced that are much closer to originals. None of the TC,TVA, Traditions ones are based on real Hawken's, IMHO

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

There are a few Hawkens produced that are much closer to originals. None of the TC,TVA, Traditions ones are based on real Hawken's, IMHO

I would love to see some side by side comparisons, Google just shows mostly new types.

 

[Cubreac]

There are a few Hawkens produced that are much closer to originals. None of the TC,TVA, Traditions ones are based on real Hawken's, IMHO

A lot of experts say this. Can you describe the differences? Did T/C etc improve on the design concept?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

A lot of experts say this. Can you describe the differences? Did T/C etc improve on the design concept?

T/C definitely did NOT improve on the concept. Their rifle in no way resembles a true Hawken rifle. The easiest way to see the differences is to Google Hawken rifles. There will be photos of originals, authentic reproductions and many, many photos of T/C's so-called "Hawkens". Or, you can go to GunBroker.com and search the black powder section. Again, you'll easily spot the differences including the price difference between authentic repros and the wannabees.

 

[gunsmithgreg]

The HawkenShop has the real deal continuing from the 1820's
Www.thehawkenshop.com

 

[nhmoose]

Hawken is Hollywood Hype IMHO

 

[Rock Home Isle]

These are the guns that I enjoy…half stock rifles look nice, I’ve used them for most of my life, shooting black powder. But my real joy is a solidly built, full-stock Early Plains Rifle…Percussion would be ok; however, flintlock would be the Cat’s Meow.

Everything I have pictured below is going to be a 9lbs to 10lbs rifle, possibly more. I much prefer a hunting rifle in the 6 1/2 lbs to 7 1/2 lbs range. That would entail a full stock rifle in .54 calibre, 30“ to 36”, 15/16ths strait barrel…that would be the ideal big game hunting rifle.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I would love to see some side by side comparisons, Google just shows mostly new types.

Browning made a really good one and the Lyman GPR is close. Since Hawken's were hand made there are no 2 that are exactly alike.

 

[DuncNZ]

Browning made a really good one and the Lyman GPR is close. Since Hawken's were hand made there are no 2 that are exactly alike.

The Browning is not a Hawken Copy , It is intended to be a copy of the first rifle J M Browning made . Browning has only made replicas of rifles designed by Browning and not other designers or manufacturers .

 

[Dispatch]

Well, if a Hawken is what it is, what would be considered to be the ultimate hunting rifle of this same class?

 

[TDM]

Well, if a Hawken is what it is, what would be considered to be the ultimate hunting rifle of this same class? View attachment 161947

There is no such animal. Each individual is drawn to their favorite of form and function. It depends on what time period your most fond of, what size game your after, and most importantly, how big your wallet is.