Opportunity to purchase a .54 TC hawken

[Fizzlepop]

I stumbled onto a possible opportunity today to purchase a .54 TC hawken for 150 bucks. Only kicker is that it has been in this guy's unconditioned barn for maybe 10 years, and he's not sure if its been loaded or not. Would this even be remotely worth it if the metal, ie barrel hammer etc... is unsalvageable?

Thanks for the help.

Brian

 

[Wes/Tex]

You'll never know till you see it. Just because it's in the barn doesn't mean it's been trashed.

 

[necchi]

Triggers and Locks are seldom "unsalvageable" and individual components for the lock are available.
It's the condition of the bore that drives the price.
And barrels are available too.
Your getting close to a reasonable price for a used TC with a bad bore @ 100-150.

tip: Check to see if it's loaded by using the ramrod, just slide it down till it stops, mark the top of the barrel with your thumb on the rod then hold the rod outside the barrel,

You can go to a local sporting goods or bait shop and get a small lighted bobber "light" for $3-4,,
these little things can be turned on with a twist and dropped down a bore to see bore condition.
I like the green color.
This can be used to barter the cost, if the owner see's the bad bore like you do there's haggle room.

 

[Carl Fowler III]

Triggers and Locks are seldom "unsalvageable" and individual components for the lock are available.
It's the condition of the bore that drives the price.
And barrels are available too.
Your getting close to a reasonable price for a used TC with a bad bore @ 100-150.

tip: Check to see if it's loaded by using the ramrod, just slide it down till it stops, mark the top of the barrel with your thumb on the rod then hold the rod outside the barrel,

You can go to a local sporting goods or bait shop and get a small lighted bobber "light" for $3-4,,
these little things can be turned on with a twist and dropped down a bore to see bore condition.
I like the green color.
This can be used to barter the cost, if the owner see's the bad bore like you do there's haggle room.

Haggle...Haggle...Haggle....never pay the asking price on anything ye buy especially a used gun! :v

 

[MSW]

to quote my first supervising attorney, "It depends..." if you can talk him into a reasonable price, by all means go for it - if the bore is trashed out, you can have it re- bored and still come out ahead of the game ...

I've always had good luck with T/C rifles.

put it to your shoulder and if it feels good, dicker like a Persian rug merchant!

good luck, and make good smoke!

 

[cynthialee]

even if the barrel is not salvable if the wood is still good and the furniture all there it is worth the price

 

[Fizzlepop]

I was kinda figuring for 100-150 I could not really come out on the bad end. I guess he was having some trouble with misfires, and got sick of it and stuck it in the corner of the barn.(more of a smokeless kind a guy) He said it may still be loaded. He has no use for it. Claims he'll never use it. Sounds like I should offer 50 just to get it off his hands...LOL

I think I'm gonna look at it on Saturday.

Brian

 

[mooman76]

I'd offer $50. If he never plans on shooting it again he should probably take it.

 

[George T.]

You do really need to see it first. It might be in pretty good shape if it has not been exposed to moisture. If the exterior is trashed with pits and such I would pass since the odds are that the barrel probably is as well. By the time you got it all cleaned out and the barrel freshened you will have more tied up in it than you can find a good one for.

I bought a 54 TC Hawken for $200 last year in near mint condition. In our area traditional muzzle loaders don't sell very well currently.

Good Luck! Geo. T.

 

[mooman76]

Might be surprised on the inside of the barrel if it was cleaned and oiled first. My father in law found a shotgun in a farmers field. The outside was so rusty you couldn't read the engraving until I cleaned the rust off but the inside was almost perfect. I'm figuring the smoothness of the metal kept the rust down.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I know someone that will double your money if you get it for 50. :thumbsup: