Guest
Just purchased a Jim Bridger style Hawken made by Brent Selb at TOW. Anyone heard of him, or know his rifles? Looks beautiful and great workmanship. .54 cal Rice barrel. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Skychief
69 Cal.
Selb is building some of the finest contemporary Hawkens today. Rest assured that you have a sweet rifle on it's way!
He has a website. If I recall correctly it is hawkenrifles.com. He has some stunning rifles shown there.
Please share some pics and a critique of your new rifle when you can. I would love to have one of his "Squirrel Hawken" rifles.
Best regards, Skychief.
He has a website. If I recall correctly it is hawkenrifles.com. He has some stunning rifles shown there.
Please share some pics and a critique of your new rifle when you can. I would love to have one of his "Squirrel Hawken" rifles.
Best regards, Skychief.
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Guest
Thanks Skychief. I hope to have it in about two to three weeks. I will be more than happy to share pics and my thoughts of the rifle.
thanks for the reply.
thanks for the reply.
Skychief
69 Cal.
Custom Smokepole said:
:thumbsup:
I'm no Hawken expert, but I know enough to see the maker did his research. There are alot of so-called Hawken replicas out there that just don't have the correct architecture, but this rifle looks very "Hawken". Very rarely do you see the (correct) tapered lock panels, which allows for the rounded forearm and narrow wrist. Looks like excellent craftsmanship, both in overall form and fit of parts. And a Rice barrel to boot! I think you're going to be very satisfied with this rifle. :thumbsup: Bill
Guest
Thanks Snowdragon. I am really excited, and can not wait. Keep all posted.
Pete Gaimari
69 Cal.
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With all my research. This is the most accurate one I could find. I went with it.
http://www.donstith.com/kit_carson.html
http://www.donstith.com/kit_carson.html
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Smokepole I have a Bridger 54 built from a kit from TOTW an I like it lots. Very strong gun,an the Davis lock is smooth as deer guts on a door knob. Mine has a Jim Goodien barrel on it an the gun shoots better than I ever will. I think you will love yours cause except for the weight I can find nothing to complain about with them. An that is just a very small complaint. Good luck an get us some picks :thumbsup:
"And that is just a very small complaint."
Spend a day's hard hunting at 10,000 feet and you won't think it's such a "small" thing. Then give yourself another 20 years and that weight won't seem so "small" even on the range.
I've reached the point where even a T/C "hawken" seems like a lot of iron to pack up those hills on a high country elk hunt. Jim Bridger had a horse to carry both himself and his Hawken. :haha:
Spend a day's hard hunting at 10,000 feet and you won't think it's such a "small" thing. Then give yourself another 20 years and that weight won't seem so "small" even on the range.
I've reached the point where even a T/C "hawken" seems like a lot of iron to pack up those hills on a high country elk hunt. Jim Bridger had a horse to carry both himself and his Hawken. :haha:
Pete Gaimari
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Absolutely Joe. Mine will be for shoots/renedezvous.
I hunt with a 7 1/2lb gun.
I hunt with a 7 1/2lb gun.
Snakebite
45 Cal.
blackamg said:
I have a .54cal with 34" barrel made by Davy Boultinghouse who was a local rifle maker in Central Texas back in the 70s and 80s. It's a little heavy but I never really found it bad for carrying around Central and South Texas.
Pete Gaimari
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Well, it is a big deal for me. A 11-12lb gun at 11,000 ft at my age is a load. The original mountain men had horses.
Snakebite
45 Cal.
Yea I didn't want to go there.
And I'd be willing to bet they were a lot tougher too.
And I'd be willing to bet they were a lot tougher too.
Pete Gaimari
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Snakebite said:
Maybe, but i'm sure they weren't in the mountains when/if they made it to 68.
When I was a younger man, I thought I was tough too. But carrying an extra heavy rifle around all day, while humping up and down mountains can use all that toughness up by the second day of the hunt, even for a young pup. Makes you wish you could attach wheels and a drag rope to the gun. :rotf:
Personally, I think the Hawken rifle is the most beautiful firearm ever built in the history of the world. The Venus de Milo of guns. But, some of those originals and repros weigh in at 11 or 12 pounds. :shocked2: The difference between an 8 pound gun and an 11 pound gun can really add up and the end of the day. When I build a rifle specifically for hunting, lightness is a high priority. Even if the lack of weight adds a little more recoil when shooting, it doesn't concern me much. It boils down to carrying a tool around all day that is only used for a half a second, and the recoil isn't noticed when fired at a deer or elk.
Now, if one is accustomed to hunting from a tree stand or blind, the weight of the gun isn't an issue. Just a matter of picking it up once in a while. But if you find yourself climbing a mountain at 8,000 to 12,000 feet, with a heavy gun slumped over your shoulder, you're gonna end up hating yourself, and that damned gun, no matter how tough you think you are. :grin: Bill
Personally, I think the Hawken rifle is the most beautiful firearm ever built in the history of the world. The Venus de Milo of guns. But, some of those originals and repros weigh in at 11 or 12 pounds. :shocked2: The difference between an 8 pound gun and an 11 pound gun can really add up and the end of the day. When I build a rifle specifically for hunting, lightness is a high priority. Even if the lack of weight adds a little more recoil when shooting, it doesn't concern me much. It boils down to carrying a tool around all day that is only used for a half a second, and the recoil isn't noticed when fired at a deer or elk.
Now, if one is accustomed to hunting from a tree stand or blind, the weight of the gun isn't an issue. Just a matter of picking it up once in a while. But if you find yourself climbing a mountain at 8,000 to 12,000 feet, with a heavy gun slumped over your shoulder, you're gonna end up hating yourself, and that damned gun, no matter how tough you think you are. :grin: Bill
Pete Gaimari
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The gun gets even heavier when you pack the meat out.
poordevil said:
Jim Bridger was in his fifties when he carried that particular rifle which is a late era (1850's) Sam Hawken.
As to age 68 - Edward Robinson was 66 when he died in the Rockies - lost his hair in Kentucky and his life in Idaho. Etienne Provost was another old timer in his fifties as were Bill Williams and Kit Carson - all continued to live and work in the mountains in various capacites well into older age. True most mountaineers were younger, but there were in fact a fair number of older men as well.
