Rebuild or build of a Hawken

[mowolf]

Hi,

Just finishing my Traditions KY/Leman Rifle, faux tiger strip and blakened brass, so I call it a leman representive (once i get a Leman patch box installed. Anyway, already thinking of my nest build . What I want to do is find a scrappy TC Hawken or just the furniture and get the TOW TC replacement stock in maple fullstock, a green mountain 1-66 (70) barrel. Question anyone know where I can pick up the lock and furniture (cheap)?

Waya :hmm:

 

Lets get this straight, you are going to use a replacement stock, a replacement lock and replacement furnature with a replacement barrel?

In the end you will have what?

A replacement for a TC Hawkin that is worth about the same amount as a used TC Hawkin?

What are you thinking???

This is backward logic!!!

One usually uses factory guns due to the inability to build or lack of money to purchase a custom built gun!

Why not use the same amount of $$$ and when you chose your parts put together a one off copy of a real Hawkin/Leman/Derringer/Wheeler plains rifle instead of the half breed replica that TC produces?

You do not go to this much trouble and expense in order to get the gun you WISH the factory had produced!!

:imo:

 

[Packdog]

Mowolf,
I agree with Ghost. Go to Track of the Wolf's site and price out a Leman or Hawkin then add up what you are spending for the replacement parts. One will be double what the other is worth when you are finished. :results:

There are certain things you will have to do building the TOW kit that you would not have to do using all the replacement parts. Dovetails, drilling and tapping and probably more wood removal but.... If that worries you or you don't have the tools/shop then at least look at someone's "In the White" kit. TVM, Tip Curtis or maybe one of the builders on this site would put something together for you. :imo:

 

[mowolf]

OK, OK I figured that would get some outcries. Actually I have priced out the various options and it would be somewhat cheaper to convert an old TC to full stock than buy an in the white kit from just about anyone. Besides, I like the TC. :crackup:

 

[Packdog]

Mowolf,
Roundball that post on this board is the best source of TC anything that I know of. If I had a TC question I would ask him before calling TC. haha If he's not a field rep for them he should be.

Good Luck with the project.

Packdog

 

[crockett]

I'll add a few thoughts, let's consider a Hawken but the same can be said of the Leman. The replacement parts you suggest are usually not PC, they are made to make the TC LOOK more PC. The trigger guards mount on wood instead of a trigger plate, the tang is usually short, the breech isn't right. Why spend almost as much and still be left with something less than PC? Most of the kits also have longer barrels. If you spend more you must realize you are getting more. If on the other hand you just want a shooter and to increase your skill in building guns- then that is another matter. Good luck.

 

[rich pierce]

Build what you want, what you like today. Five years from now you'll want something different, but if you get 5 years of enjoying it, you're ahead of the game, right?

Most folks head down the "authentic" road sooner or later, but it isn't the only road and not a "better" road. Just a different road. Have a good time with what you do.
rp

 

[mowolf]

That is about what I figured, since I am not into re-enactment at this time, I just like reworking pieces of crap into good looking pieces of C and then shooting them and hunting with them. If I had one of the beautiful works of art that I see on here I would probably be afraid to use it for fear of screwing it up

 

[Zonie]

If you have access to some gun shows, go TC hunting! I've seen a lot of them with the locks, triggers, furniture in good condition but the barrels look gawd awful.
They usually want something around $200 for them, but if you point out that the barrel is ruined and beyond hope you can probably get it for $140-$150.
As long as your not into PC you'll have a practical shooter. If it is stocked with a full stock, it won't look like any other gun around, and it shouldn't be too hard to put together.

While we're saving money, if you buy the cheapest grade of Maple you can justify it to yourself by remembering that the Plains guns were almost never made out of highly figured wood.
Of course later on you'll kick youself in the butt for not getting the fancy grade. (I would suggest #3).

 

[bob1961]

Of course later on you'll kick youself in the butt for not getting the fancy grade. (I would suggest #3).

mowolf....i went with a #4 from pecatonica river....but if i thought bout it i would have gone with a full stock they make fer the T/C............bob

 

[khwils]

MOWOLF, The Hawken Shoppe carries a replacement hardware set in iron for the TC Hawken. I think L&R carries a replacement lock also. I almost bought the hardware set for mine a few years ago. But then realized like the rest here that if I bought a Pecatonica stock, bought the replacement hardware, a lock from L&R, and a GM drop-in barrel that I would have one really nice and expensive TC! I'd also have enough leftover parts for another gun Kurt/IL

 

[SAJones]

I've rebuilt two TCs w/ miscellaneous parts I've accumulated over the years. One was based on a TC flint barrel & TC lock I bought for a few bucks many moons ago. Bought a Lyman stock from TOTW, new TG & buttplate. Came out nice, & gave it to my daughter. She loves it & can outshoot the old man with it.

The other was a salvage project. Got a complete TC minus barrel for about $40 from a friend who sold it for a friend. Evidentally the friend's friend tried to build a kit gun & fouled it up. Had a damaged TC barrel, so sawed the front 8" off, reworked the stock (still had a lot of extra wood left on it), & all-in-all it came out as a good short rifle, fun to shoot.

That's two shootable rifles I made for about half the cost of parts for any of my Lancaster style longrifles.

If all you want is a good shootable rifle, go for it. Maybe you can luck into good used parts.