Well, delivery took a bit longer than expected but arrival finally occurred. I'm 2 days into this project, as promised here are my initial thoughts and status.
First, this is as you have heard, a very high-quality deal. Greg notified me of shipping via UPS, delivery date here in MT is more of a suggestion, but it arrived on Monday evening.
Great packaging, foam liner, and the ubiquitous bubble wrap. Individual plastic bags for all small parts, both working and final assembly screws, necessary drills and taps. Lock, tang and set trigger assembly wrapped in the bubble wrap. The ramrod is shipped in the Rice barrel, protected by foam rings. There is an excellent, and quite large Hawken drawing showing locations and cross sections at different points along the rifle/stock assembly.
Also included is a short piece of barrel to place in the barrel channel if this area needs to be clamped in a vise, and a short section of ramrod to assist in fitting the thimble at the ram rod hole.
Completed work includes both front and rear sight, front sight and 2 underlug dovetails are cut, under barrel rib is installed as is the breech plug, the stock is partially inlet, and the ramrod hole is drilled (this is not an assembly only kit).
The castings are excellent and will require very little work before browning.
Current status is Butt and Toe Plate installed and the barrel sitting in the stock. It took more time to open the package and admire the contents that it did to fit the barrel to the stock, less than 1/2 hour with a wood block and 180 grit sandpaper.
I called Greg with a concern concerning the Toe Plate, he most graciously explained the situation, I inlet the piece about 1/16' deeper and problem solved.
I'll update my progress, successes and failures (mid process design changes) as they occur.
I am extremely pleased with the kit for a couple of reasons, the high quality notwithstanding. I have it in hand, no backorder and should a question or problem arise there is a gentleman available by phone or email.
Frosty
First, this is as you have heard, a very high-quality deal. Greg notified me of shipping via UPS, delivery date here in MT is more of a suggestion, but it arrived on Monday evening.
Great packaging, foam liner, and the ubiquitous bubble wrap. Individual plastic bags for all small parts, both working and final assembly screws, necessary drills and taps. Lock, tang and set trigger assembly wrapped in the bubble wrap. The ramrod is shipped in the Rice barrel, protected by foam rings. There is an excellent, and quite large Hawken drawing showing locations and cross sections at different points along the rifle/stock assembly.
Also included is a short piece of barrel to place in the barrel channel if this area needs to be clamped in a vise, and a short section of ramrod to assist in fitting the thimble at the ram rod hole.
Completed work includes both front and rear sight, front sight and 2 underlug dovetails are cut, under barrel rib is installed as is the breech plug, the stock is partially inlet, and the ramrod hole is drilled (this is not an assembly only kit).
The castings are excellent and will require very little work before browning.
Current status is Butt and Toe Plate installed and the barrel sitting in the stock. It took more time to open the package and admire the contents that it did to fit the barrel to the stock, less than 1/2 hour with a wood block and 180 grit sandpaper.
I called Greg with a concern concerning the Toe Plate, he most graciously explained the situation, I inlet the piece about 1/16' deeper and problem solved.
I'll update my progress, successes and failures (mid process design changes) as they occur.
I am extremely pleased with the kit for a couple of reasons, the high quality notwithstanding. I have it in hand, no backorder and should a question or problem arise there is a gentleman available by phone or email.
Frosty