Johnathan Browning Hawken

[ozark57]

I have owned a Johnathan Browning .54 Hawken rifle for about 20 years. I really don't know much about it's history other than it was made in Brownings custom shop in Utah.It is an excellent shooter.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Do you have any photographs? I didn't know that Browning made any Hawken rifles. I'm sure their custom shop could do it, but I've never seen one.

 

[redwing]

They were not custom guns as for as I know. They were a production gun that was made at Morgan, Ut. and SLC. They were Ok guns early on. They did not sell well and were sorta thrown together in the last days. In the end they were sold off at bargin prices. I have one that I bought for $75.00 from a fellow down in Morgan. The barrels were bored very large in some guns. I have seen .50s that took .500 balls with an .018 patch to shoot. A fellow in Wyoming bought most of the left over parts at scrap metal prices. They are now selling well, why I don't know?

 

[redwing]

I think they were made about 1978 to maybe 1981 not sure. They were sort of a Hawken with a single set trigger and a double wedged barrel. They were made in a couple of Special order styles for Morman Historical events. They were later made as plain shooting rifles. Browning made this rifle to compete with the Green River Rifle that was also made in Utah about the same time. The Browning was never close to the Green River rifle. It was at the time an out right failure. The years have gone by and is now a collectors item. You can do a web search and find them. :hmm:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

That's the Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle then? Not a Hawken? That does make more sense, but the ones I've seen and fired were pretty nice rifles and unique in style--supposed to be a copy of a rifle that Browning built during the percussion era.

 

[redwing]

If you have ever seen an orginal Browning Perc. its not even close. The orginal Brownings were very inexpensive rifles made for Morman pioneers.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I've only seen one original Browning rifle and that was a simple half-stock percussion of late style. It was a long time ago, but I do recall that it didn't look very much like the Mountain Rifle of modern times, that's for sure.

 

[Claude Mathis]

 

[catman]

Look pretty mountainy too me..

 

[David Ratusnik]

Hello folks, first post.

I've recently acquired a Jonathon Browning Mountain Rifle. Reason- I'm a Browning collector and 3 weeks ago found a NIB specimen. Mine is the
50 cal with brass furniture. I will shoot it for
the first time this weekend. I've enjoyed learning
about black powder guns over the past month- they are as different from bench shooting rimfire/centerfire as from shooting clays with 12g.

Let me relate what I know about these relatively rare factory rifles. First, they were produced from 1977 to the early 80's. Mine was built in 1980. They came in 45,50,and 54 cal. Some had brass furniture while others in each caliber came in brown furniture (as per the end of my original
box). While some folks say 1,000 were made I suspect that number is abit low. Between 200-300 came in a delux wooden box with a powder horn and strap with their production number written on the powder horn. Also, some came in a cenntenial package which included a HiPower, shotgun etc.
The quality of walnut wood seems to vary a little with those Jonathons in the cenntenial package having more deluxe wood as compared to those individually sold and boxed.

This last month I've noticed prices ranging from $1,000 (Cabellas in Wisconsin) down to $650 (job distress sales). I really like my Jonathan. DAVID

 

[Vaino]

Some years back I bought a "closeout" .50 cal. BMR from Mid-South but really wanted a .54 cal. which was unavailable. I didn't like this rifle for elk hunting because of the lousy balance, poor fit and sights and excessive weight and thought it way too heavy for a .50 cal. Gave it to my son and he didn't like it either. Finally sold it for what I paid....$250....Fred

 

[David Ratusnik]

Fred- I have no point of reference to compare a Jonathon to in black powder mountain style rifles. If it is relatively heavy that would be news to me. I believe they weigh in at 9lbs 8 ounces. That said, I do believe the Jonathon is well built- as are virtually all Browning firearms. People complain that shooting a Browning 12g shotgun is like shooting a 2'x 4'.
Build tough, heavy and for a lifetime.

I might add- on the port side of the barrel it reads "Browning Arms... Made in U.S.A." I like
that. Thanks for the input.

David

 

[ozark57]

I have one in .54 with the browned steel furniture. I have owned it for over 20 years and I just got back into BP shooting a few months ago. I am glad I kept it. It is good shooting, high quality gun. like you say it IS a Browning and is built like one. I'm glad your going to shoot yours instead of just look at it. I'm betting you can get 3" or less groups at 100 yards with PRB's with no trouble. Maybe better if you work at it. Enjoy! :thumbsup:

 

[David Ratusnik]

Ozark-- Yes, this Saturday a.m. it is blast off.
I shoot all my Brownings-no safe queens here.

I have a pound of Triple 7, CCI #11 caps, Hornady
.49 balls plus the other necessary stuff for an initial shooting. My 15 year old daughter has even drawn up some large animal pic targets for me.

By the way, these Jonathons are commemoratives - to honor Browning beginning in 1878-1978- 100 years. Jonathon was John Moses Brownings father and a fine Mormon gunsmith who came West and taught his boys gunsmithing and design.

If it were not for the 100 year anniversary of Browning Firearms, I doubt Browning would have made this black powder mountain rifle.

It was too expensive for its' time and a financial
business bust. I'd rather own it than and equivalent sum of gold. That should get a reaction.

Good luck. David

 

[ozark57]

Hope to here from you after Saturdays first shoot.
By the way welcome! I have enjoyed this forum for the month or so that I have been on. I've learned alot too. Call it "continuing education in primative ballistics"

 

[Mulebrain]

I always post this, when I see a new thread about this rifle. I had one in .54, and it was well built!

 

[David Ratusnik]

MuleBrain- A real neat post, I guess a Browning ad focusing on the 54 cal Jonathon Browning. Since it is 54 cal, did the ad come from a hunting magazine? Where did you find the ad? Thanks.

I note the twist rate on the 54 cal was 1 66. Would it follow that the twist on a 50 cal would also be 1 66?? This means that it is set up to handle round balls. Yes, No, something in between?? Sorry, I read but still new to twists and the optimal load for various twists. David

 

[David Ratusnik]

Ozark- I might add, and as part of our "continuing education" program that Jonathon Browning (father of the famous founder of Browning Arms- J.M.B.)grew up early in Tennessee. Later he moved to Illinois. An interesting fact was his various contacts and conversations with Abraham Lincoln. I've seen it written (2ndary sourcing) that Jonathon was Brigham Youngs gunsmith as the Mormons traveled West to set up
shop in Utah. I stand corrected on any factual errors in the above. David

 

[luieb45]

If you have ever seen an orginal Browning Perc. its not even close. The orginal Brownings were very inexpensive rifles made for Morman pioneers.

I live in the a town 10 miles south of Nauvoo where Jonathan Browning had his shop. They have it open for tours just like all the other buildings in the old part of town. Nauvoo was where the mormons settled in the early 1840s. It's a pretty cool shop though seeing that that is where Browning arms got its start.

 

[David Ratusnik]

Just googled... Nauvoo Utah Browning Shop... yep, for the historians on Muzzleloading Forum- it's all here. Jonathon, the shop, town it goes on and
on........ Enough history, I'm going shooting tomorrow. David