Info on Hastings Hawken

[burris]

A friend recently acquired what appears to be a quality reproduction Plains type rifle. The top of the barrel is stamped S. HAWKEN ST. LOUIS and HASTINS .54 CAL. All the metal is browned. The percussion lock and trigger look similar to the L&R Hawken lock and trigger. The trigger operates like a double set, single phase. It has a nice curly maple half stock. The barrel is tapered with a silver front sight and an interesting rear sight that looks like a plain half buckhorn blade on a dove tail base; however, it has some very small hex head screws and appears to be adjustable. It has a candy striped ramrod. We haven’t been able to find much info on the rifle; so, I suggested asking about it on the forum.

 

[azmntman]

hotoSmile:

 

[brawny man]

It may be a rifle that Cabela's sold in limited quantities. Here is some info.

This is a High quality Hawken percussion rifle mfg by Hastings, Clay Center KS, as an exclusive for Cabela's. 250 mfg in the mid 1990's with a retail price of $1299. 54 cal. 35" tapered octagon Badger barrel measuring 1" at breech & 7/8" at muzzle. Adjustable dovetailed rear sight & German silver blade front sight. Double set triggers. Iron trigger guard & butt plate. Browned finish. Curly maple stock with pewter nose cap. Hickory ramrod. Wt 8 lbs 13 oz.

 

[Kansas Jake]

It may be a rifle that Cabela's sold in limited quantities. Here is some info.

This is a High quality Hawken percussion rifle mfg by Hastings, Clay Center KS, as an exclusive for Cabela's. 250 mfg in the mid 1990's with a retail price of $1299. 54 cal. 35" tapered octagon Badger barrel measuring 1" at breech & 7/8" at muzzle. Adjustable dovetailed rear sight & German silver blade front sight. Double set triggers. Iron trigger guard & butt plate. Browned finish. Curly maple stock with pewter nose cap. Hickory ramrod. Wt 8 lbs 13 oz.

Clay Center is just up the road from me about 25 miles and I didn't know of or had ever heard of Hastings. I learn something every day. I'd like to know more about the manufacturer.

 

[brawny man]

Jake

I searched a bit but found no additional info about Hastings. I do remember years ago seeing the Hastings Hawken in the Cabela's catalog, drooled a bit and then kept a firm grip on my billfold. Maybe someone else will chime in with some more info.

 

[Nativearizonan]

I did some searching. It looks like Hastings was known for replacement shotgun barrels and chokes, and they were at Clay Center. They must have made a foray into the muzzleloader business at a bad time.

The old Hastings Co in Clay City, Kansas has closed. Verney-Carron, the manufacturer of the barrels sold under the brand name "Hastings" has purchased the Hastings name and trademark "Paradox".

http://www.allans-armory.com/aaresult.php?PageId=87

They evidently went under or sold out a few years ago. Now the brand is owned by someone else, and their address is in Hanover, PA:
http://www.hastingsbarrels.com

 

[Kansas Jake]

Thanks guys for the information. I'll try to ask some of the old timers like me at the gun range if they are familiar with Hastings when they were located in Clay Center.

 

[burris]

Thanks for the information. The rifle’s barrel dimensions, stock and hardware are exactly as you described. The double set trigger is two phase (we initially thought it was single phase). The lock sear arm pivot screw was very tight; we slightly loosened it and the front trigger will now release the lock sear without using the set trigger. I am slightly familiar with Hastings shotgun barrels, but I am not familiar with Badger barrels. We didn’t see anything on the barrel (when it was removed) to indicate it was made by Badger. If Hastings made these rifles, maybe they didn’t want anyone to know they used Badger barrels. The trigger and lock look very much like L & R’s current “Hawken” models but were not stamped as such. The rifle’s barrel, stock, tang, lock and trigger are all stamped with a number less than 250; that would seem to correlate with that many being made. Again, thanks for the info.