New Pedersoli Hawken.

[Grenadier1758]

I guess that I will have to relate this particular story. One of the members of my muzzleloading rifle gun club is a maker of custom Hawken rifles. He has worked with Don Stith and has handled and owns several original Hawken and Gemmer rifles. In keeping with the tradition of the Hawken (and Gemmer) built rifles these are custom rifles and each one is easily recognized as a Hawken rifle while each is different.

As a maker who is proud of his rifles, at the NRA show that was held in St. Louis, he had his rifles on display. A lot of people were fascinated with the work and with the quality of construction. In particular one man was quite in awe of rifles on display. He made a special effort to compliment the builder that these rifles were indeed magnificent. In fact rifles of this quality could not be built in his factory. So when Pierangelo Pedersoli is in awe of a custom gun maker's product, I think I will take Pierangelo's word.

This is not to say that the Pedersoli Rocky Mountain rifle is not a good production representative of a Hawken rifle or is not accurate. The Pedersoli rifles are a high quality production firearm. The Pedersoli factory just can't take the time and put in the labor to make a rifle that is the equal in fit and finish of a fine custom builder and still have an affordable firearm.

 

[Alden]

If that ever happened then the Pedersoli's are obviously a... gracious family. Few if any finished gun or kit buyers can build a rifle with the fit and finish of the Pedersoli Hawkens (or any of their other guns) at any cost. We know custom gun-assemblers have to "sell" themselves too. But not sure what YOUR point was.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Um, no... It may be as authentic as THAT PARTICULAR GUN'S REPRODUCTION gets. How often do I have to repeat this for the self-appointed, holier-than-though, "I have a custom and want to prop-up-my-over-priced" Hawken experts?

There is no such THING as "the" Hawken rifle -- they were ALL custom!

My point is that the diatribe against people who have well made custom Hawken rifles is unjustified.

 

[Alden]

I think, Grenadier, the point you're glossing over is that this is what is unjustified...

Considering Don has the actual J&S Hawken in his possession from which the kit was reproduced, I'd say that's as authentic as one can get.

The constant harangue by custom Hawken buyers who seem to have remorse for paying more and, let's be honest, getting little if anything for it but stories to parrot to protect their investments has been the routine for many years here.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Looks like "as authentic" is the catch here, since even the Hawken boys didn'build them all to teh same specs. What someone can afford to spend on making it look like an original is totally up to them.

 

[Alden]

Wes, every Pedersoli Rocky Mountain and Missouri River Hawken looks like its original counterpart...

...except without the gold-plated price and coat of whitewash.

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

Beautiful rifles indeed! I have one myself and they DO shoot RB accurately in spite of the "fast" twist. :hatsoff: