Kinda late to the necro-thread, but....
Sometime in the late '70s I picked up a built Sharon Hawken kit. I think it was in .58 caliber. Previously I had bought a new T/C Hawken rifle. No complaints on the T/C....it was a great shooter and got me started in black powder. I also pulled the trigger on a Sharps Civil War rifle that took the nitrated paper cartridges. Beautiful, understated gun. Only problem was there were no nitrated papers or any info on how to load/shoot that gun. No problem 'they' said, load it from the muzzle and use Pyrodex. LOL....the bullet limped out of the barrel followed by a trail of 'molasses'. Sold the rifle, and always regretted it.
I was born & raised in St.Louis County. I probably drove by 'The Hawken Shop' growing up a few hundred times. I wasn't into black powder then and in my late 20's I finally went in to have a looksee. I'll NEVER forget that day! How many of you ever got to hold almost a dozen real Hawkens rifles? I'm not going to forget that in my lifetime! I had borrowed a new two-seater Mercedes to go there and the guys inside saw/mentioned the car and fell all over themselves to show me everything they had. Can't imagine the reception I would have gotten if I had rolled in there in old clothes and a pickup.
Anyway, I never followed through on anything with them. Later, I ordered a custom Sharps in .50-120 from that outfit in Montana. Just about the time they called me and said my gun was ready, I was in the middle of a horrible divorce. The gun went to someone else....who knows.
I know the 'The Hawken Shop' was bought and moved to CA as was mentioned. I don't know anything about the owners, their reputation, or their gun kits presently.
That Sharon I had was pure magic. I never even filed the front sight down....I just pointed it at anything around 100 yards & under and it hit exactly where I aimed. Other people tried and couldn't do it with the same gun. Call it synergy or whatever.....I call it a magic combination of gun and owner. Most everyone has had a rifle or handgun like that where you couldn't miss. It wound up in a pawnshop in northern Idaho.
I'm getting too old to wait years for another rifle to be made....I'd like to try again. I guess I'd hunt for another Sharon or try 'The Hawken Shop' CA.
Kevin