No new builds

[reddogge]

I promised my wife no new rifle builds, ever. I have 5 rifles and one smoothbore I built in the safe now so she has a point. But I have an Ithaca Hawken I built from their kit in 1978 that I've never been pleased with and am thinking of doing a re-build on it. She never said anything about re-builds. It is walnut stocked, German silver escutcheons, pewter nose cap, .50. I prefer plain maple for Hawkens anyway so a new maple plank would be in order and I could shorten the pull which is too long and the lock moldings aren't right. Replace with iron escutcheons and nose cap probably from The Hawken Shop. Maybe rebore and rerifle to .54. It would be a fun project for me and wouldn't break the bank. Be like having a new rifle. The cheaper version would be to reshape the lock moldings and maybe shorten the pull and leave the caliber alone. Decisions, decisions.

 

[64Springer]

Make sure your wife lets you wear her pants during the re-build.

Winter is coming on and it may get cold in your shop.

PS: That's a nice piece of walnut. My vote would be to work with it. Good luck.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Re-bore to 54-58 cal, and re-work the walnut.

 

[springfield art]

I promised my wife no new rifle builds, ever. I have 5 rifles and one smoothbore I built in the safe now so she has a point. But I have an Ithaca Hawken I built from their kit in 1978 that I've never been pleased with and am thinking of doing a re-build on it. She never said anything about re-builds. It is walnut stocked, German silver escutcheons, pewter nose cap, .50. I prefer plain maple for Hawkens anyway so a new maple plank would be in order and I could shorten the pull which is too long and the lock moldings aren't right. Replace with iron escutcheons and nose cap probably from The Hawken Shop. Maybe rebore and rerifle to .54. It would be a fun project for me and wouldn't break the bank. Be like having a new rifle. The cheaper version would be to reshape the lock moldings and maybe shorten the pull and leave the caliber alone. Decisions, decisions.




View attachment 269425

Look fine to me! Why tamper with a nice thing? It's beautiful!

 

[reddogge]

The other thought is I can order a new blank, buttplate, escutcheons, and nose cap, make a new toe plate, and restock it but keep the old stock intact. Might be a fun project.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Easy answer. No new rifle builds? Build fowlers and pistols!

How about a full sized Napoleon 12 Pounder?

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Keep it and rework the lock panels. Shorten the pull to fit you. Then buy the parts to build something you've been wanting to build for years. That makes it an old build, not a new one.

 

[reddogge]

Keep it and rework the lock panels. Shorten the pull to fit you. Then buy the parts to build something you've been wanting to build for years. That makes it an old build, not a new one.

Yes, I'm kind of leaning in that direction. I may leave the pull alone since it would affect the height of the stock at the buttplate and may look funny. The new build probably will never happen. Too old and I shoot mainly flintlocks these days. I do love the look of a plain maple stocked Hawken though.

 

[yellowhammer]

...reshape the lock moldings and maybe shorten the pull and leave the caliber alone.

My vote.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Shortening the pull a half inch or even an inch won't look funny. The important thing is that the stock fits.

 

[azmntman]

treading on thin ice as I see it. Careful now....

 

[Pete G]

Only five rifles? A man needs at least a dozen

 

[reddogge]

Only five rifles? A man needs at least a dozen

That's muzzleloading rifles. There are others.

 

[azmntman]

Ya but he MEANT muzzleloaders lol. I had over 30 at one time.

 

[reddogge]

Ya but he MEANT muzzleloaders lol. I had over 30 at one time.

Holy Manure word!

 

[acavdragoon]

Only five rifles? A man needs at least a dozen

Or more!!

 

[Master Blaster]

 

[deerstalkert]

That's muzzleloading rifles. There are others.

that's a start. others don't count here. when one has 5 of each bore size you are approaching enuf!

 

[reddogge]

If I can solve the tang problem, by putting a new tang into the maple stock so it accepts the patent hooked breech of the barrel I may just go and do a new stock. It would allow me to have two complete stocks for it and switch them by removing the wedges. Rough cost-$180 with a few parts I'll have to make.

 

[Rawhide67]

I'm lucky, the little woman never says anything about any guns, muzzleloading or otherwise. Leaves me to my own devices. Bills are paid and we are comfortable, so I don't bother her if she wants something, and she doesn't bother me if I do.

Never understood why women feel the need to limit stuff like that. Try telling her she doesn't need that new pair of shoes, or another purse, or she doesn't need to catch that sale at her favorite store. See how well that goes over .