Help Request. My CVA Rebuild

[Icemanxxxv]

Ler me start with some backgound on te project. I started with a nasty old CVA 50 Hawken that was stained black after being over sanded leaving all the metal proud of the wood, and a severely rusted barrel. I got a stock and a 54 cal. barrel from deer creek. I have stripped and scrapped the factory finish from the stock. Browned the barrel and under rib. Polished the brass and generally have the gun ready to stain and finish until I decided to assemble the gun prior to staining to see if there were any problems and one just popped up. The lock bolts are not quite long enough to thread into the lock. I have a few options Sand the opposite side of the stock from the lock down a 1/8th inch.
Inlet the washers into the stock (I think that would look silly).Get longer screws, or inlet different side plate washers. Suggestions?

 

[Phil Coffins]

I’d inlet a different side plate. Those washers that come with CVAs always look silly.

 

[hawkeye2]

+1 on inletting a side plate, those washers just reek of inexpensive import gun and a simple plate will add a lot to the looks. Longer lock bolts are an option too if needed. Tack of the Wolf may have them.

 

[bubba.50]

The CVAs in my experience all had brass bushings in the stock so you don’t really need the washers anyway.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

In your opinion would it look funny with two of these Plains Rifle style side plate washers?

 

[SDSmlf]

Why not just thin the stock a bit or order longer screws? 10 minutes with rasp or a $2 parts order (plus shipping). No matter what you do it will still be a CVA Hawken.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

Ouch.... True but OUCH

No matter what you do it will still be a CVA Hawken.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I don’t think the plains washers would look silly. With the suggestions above you have several options. Almost any will be fine. Another, check a local hardware for longer screws. It they are the shinny ones, a little cold blue gets rid of that in a jiffy.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

I've decided not to spend any more hard earned cash hanging earrings on this pig. Grabbed my rasp and went to town. 10 minutes of work and I'm back to wiskering the stock getting ready to stain the stock with LMF Walnut stain and finishing it with Permalyn. Like SDSmlf said its just a CVA.

 

[Eutycus]

Yeah, but I bet it's a good looking CVA.

 

[SDSmlf]

I've decided not to spend any more hard earned cash hanging earrings on this pig. Grabbed my rasp and went to town. 10 minutes of work and I'm back to wiskering the stock getting ready to stain the stock with LMF Walnut stain and finishing it with Permalyn. Like SDSmlf said its just a CVA.

No insult intended because it’s a CVA, just believe if it’s something that does what you want and looks good to you, you’re where you want to be. May not be worth any more to someone else, but so?

Myself and others have taken TC Hawkens and Renegades and upgraded them with long range barrels, fancy sights, better triggers, etc. The value of those aftermarket components are worth much more by themselves than the gun as a whole is worth unless you find the right person. Unfortunately, the best way to sell a gun like that is to reassemble with the OEM parts, sell it, then sell the aftermarket parts separately. The aftermarket barrel alone could be worth more than what the assembled gun could be sold for in some cases.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

SDSmlf No insult implied on my part. I was just funning you a bit with my reply to what you posted. I'm a realist the gun is what it is. I have been just goofing with it trying to get my nerve up and capital for the next project. I have the stock stained with LMF Walnut I diluted 50% with denatured alcohol. It is a bit more red than I thought it would be but I kind of like the way it looks. I'm going to start in with the Permalyn tomorrow.

 

[David Coulter]

I first and second build were CVA mountain rifles. The second I left as percussion as it didn’t belong to me. My first, I built and converted to a flinter with an L&R Manton lock. It’s just a CVA with a Spanish made barrel but it shoots great and has helped me kill a bunch of deer. It only failed to fire once when I needed it and then it fired on the second try. It didn’t ignite the pan. The second squeeze killed an 8 point on the last Friday of the late season last year.
Now I’m working on a PA Fowler again after a 13 year hiatus.

 

[sawyer04]

In your opinion would it look funny with two of these Plains Rifle style side plate washers?

You know what, it is a CVA Hawkin, nothing wrong with that. Being a CVA gives a person the opportunity to be creative and artistic. Study some pics and decide what to do. I bet the weapon could be dolled up without being gaudy. As far as the side plate washers it is what you think, maybe getting a sheet of brass and forming a lock plate like some of the old schools.
No one with any woodsman's decency will condemn the at work, Hey, it is what comes out of the barrel that counts. Saying that, I do respect and admire the perfectionist in their valuable expertise, but I consider this a fun gun as far as décor. 2c, that is all.