Hawken's Question

[musketman]

In responce to the S. Hawken thread by Liver Eatin' Johnson, I have a question for you...

If you (LEJ or any of us) owned the S. Hawken rifle in this picture,

would you shoot it (just once) to say you shot an original Hawken's?

Yes, No, Maybe?

After cleaning and cleaning, I think I would fire one reduced (extra-mild) load through it, after a few dozen caps or so...

 

:what: :says: :agree: to :relax: but to shoot an original Hawken's :huh: R U :: :bull: I'd have to see it first :hmm:

 

IF the gun was in shootable conditon, yes, just as Kempart did. Incidently, the deep grooved, 48" twist S.Hawken they shot, did exceptionally well with patched RB and up to a double charger weight of powder. 85gr. seems to ring a bell for the rifle's, charger, so they shot up to 170gr? I wouldn't do that, but a heathy charge like 100gr.to 120gr. 2F would suffice.
; The barrel would have to shine, though. It's just too easy for there to be a worm-hole in welded iron/steel.

 

[Darkhorse]

If it was sound, safe to shoot, and still accurate. Not only would I shoot it once, I'd also hunt with it. Those things were made to shoot, not to hang on a wall. There would be plenty of time for wall hanging between hunting seasons.

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Yes I would. Shoot and hunt. Looks like it still has an elk or three left in it!

Met a gent that owns 2 Colt revolving rifles. I was looking at one and wondered out loud about how they shot. He replied that the one I had in my hand shot 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards. The other one shot better except for one of the chambers in the cylinder. I must have looked a bit shocked!

He looked me dead in the eye and said that shooting them didn't hurt them. Cleaning them was good for them. neglect destroyed them! As a collector he was more worried about the "never been fired" guns then he ever has worried about a well taken care of gun!

 

I still regularly shoot and hunt with two double rifles, one made in the mid-1880's and the other in the late 1870's so heck yes I'd shoot it, hunt with it too. Never hunted with a $100,000.00 rifle before! ( I hve no idea the value of such a rifle).

Vic

 

[Ohio Joe]

Once the rifle has been deemed safe, I would not hesitate to shoot it... A person could learn so much through an opportunity like that...

I would only use real black powder, none of the fake stuff... I would also slowly bring it up to it's full load capabilities.

After learning and experiencing what I could with the rifle, I would copy it in every detail,,, make one,,, store the original,,, and be a happy man!!! :thumbsup:

 

[robinghewitt]

I've shot an original S Hawken, if I'd known they were that precious I'd have taken better care of it while scrambling up the mountain

 

[coalburner]

i'ld let my brother shoot it first , if it was safe then i would :blah:

 

[Zonie]

Nope. Wouldn't shoot it.
Too many things besides the barrel blowing up that could be broken or damaged from the recoil (even if it was a light load).

If it was a Military gun where thousands were made and it wasn't rare, I would shoot it. I shoot my 1879 Rolling Block and my 1884 Trapdoor all of the time, but these are not what I would call rare guns.

The original Hawkens are few and far between and a person can't just go out and buy parts for them.

Besides, there are more than enough modern replicas (I'm talking Custom, not factory) out there, so there is no need to shoot an original.
:m2c: