Help with Hawken Identification.

[TheDividQ]

Greetings all, recently I acquired a .54 Hawken from a local gun club I'm a member of. I'm loving the piece and she shoots beautifully, but im having difficulty properly identifying who may have built the rifle as well as where and when. It is not an Italian reproduction I'd don't believe, but i dont believe its an original either. I know copies of the originals have been made by named craftsmen who did very good jobs making copies as close to the original as possible. However there are no markings on the rifle at all apart from "S. Hawken St. Louis" being stamped on the top of the barrel, and this is done in uneven, individual character stamps which is not correct to the originals from what I know. If anyone has any ideas, clues, pointers that would help me identify this rifle id be very greatful. I have included some pictures and can take/upload more if need be.

 

[Phil Coffins]

You do appear to have a well built modern rifle. Many people have built Hawken rifles for decades, talking to the fellow that sold it to you would be a first step. Many people don’t sign their work so tracking it down isn’t as important as having a finely built gun. If there aren’t markings under the barrel I wouldn’t expect to find out

 

[TheDividQ]

You do appear to have a well built modern rifle. Many people have built Hawken rifles for decades, talking to the fellow that sold it to you would be a first step. Many people don’t sign their work so tracking it down isn’t as important as having a finely built gun. If there aren’t markings under the barrel I wouldn’t expect to find out

The gun club I bought it from buys and sells all sorts of firearms for its members and is set up as a kind of used gun store inside a collectibles and antiques store. I didn't buy it directly from a member but from the club itself. I may be able to ask who sold the rifle to the club and get in contact with the pervious owner though.

 

[BoomStick]

It could be one from a few different kits or shops in the 70s to 90s. Looks to have a hooked breech, so there may be a barrel maker on the underside. My hunch would be a Sharon gun, from the entry pipe and pewter nose cap.

 

[BoomStick]

For some reference on Sharon rifles:
https://grrw.org/sharon-rifle-barrel-co/

 

[TheDividQ]

It could be one from a few different kits or shops in the 70s to 90s. Looks to have a hooked breech, so there may be a barrel maker on the underside. My hunch would be a Sharon gun, from the entry pipe and pewter nose cap.

It is indeed a hooked breech but there are no markings on the underside of the barrel hidden by the stock (I'll post pictures of that area after I'm home from work). From my research I am guessing a 70s to 90s time frame as well. Was Sharon a builder? I'm not familiar with the name.

 

[BoomStick]

It is indeed a hooked breech but there are no markings on the underside of the barrel hidden by the stock (I'll post pictures of that area after I'm home from work). From my research I am guessing a 70s to 90s time frame as well. Was Sharon a builder? I'm not familiar with the name.

I hope the link above gives some background on the company and it's guns. Some discussion of the Sharon hawken there may give some clues of things to look for on yours.

 

[TheDividQ]

For some reference on Sharon rifles:
https://grrw.org/sharon-rifle-barrel-co/

Wow! What a cool read! Thanks for that link. It does seem i might have one of those kits. Going to look at the breech plug snail, lower entry pipe, and heel/toe difference on the butt stock when I get home. Everything in that article seems to match what I have but I'll double check to be sure and update with pictures. Much appreciated!