Refinishing a TC Hawken

[tshrcav8r]

Looks good. I like the wings next to the wedge plates. I would be interested in seeing your progress when you start the wire inlay.

I bought the brass fore end cap. Not much progess this week. I got some free tickets to the state high school championshipt basketball games, so I haven't been getting home until after 11:00. I did start stripping the stock of the remaining finish, so I hope to start the final stock shaping and sanding. I was also thinking about adding some lenght to the comb of the buttplate, but haven't decided if it's worth the effort.

Good to see you making some progress, tim

 

[tshrcav8r]

Got a little more done. I got the stock stripped, sanded and a couple of coats of finish applied, I used black paint to fill the wood grain. I just used thinned Tru-Oil, no stain. I applied it like I would if I was using Permalyn sealer, but it on, wait and wiped off. While waiting on the finish, I got the gap on the underrib fixed by soldering a piece of steel to the end and filed it to shape. I darkened the brass and but it together to see what it looks like. I still have to go back and do the final finish on the metal parts, but I want to go and shoot it next weekend. I need to decide if I am going to strip the blue and brown the steel parts.

Here are the latest pictures.

 

[jsn]

id brown them or use bare metal.... mho

 

[ryzman]

i really like the dark finish. so much better than it was... really good job!

 

[RhinoDave]

Due to a few problems with life, I had to put my project on hold for awhile and now I am able to get it started again so I picking back up where I left off. Just wanted to post a couple of pictures of the project so far and to revive the thread now that I'm working on the rifle again. I've ordered a new trigger guard that I posted earlier and with a little luck, I should be able to make it work. I do have the TOTW catalog so I was able to do a little sizing comparison. Any comments and suggestions would be most helpful. I've also ordered the parts to convert the tang screw to a through bolt. Here's a couple of pictures of the things I've done so far.
Star inlay under lock bolt.

Star inlay and homemade toeplate.

 

[RhinoDave]

Another quick update. I managed to get the new triggerguard mounted. It still needs polishing and final fitting but I like it better than the orginal guard.

 

[BrownBear]

I really like where you're headed with this. Good tasteful work, and I'm looking forward to the final product. Bet you are too!

 

[RhinoDave]

Added another small star in front of the trigger guard to match the one in back.

 

[RhinoDave]

After practicing on another rifle first, I finally got around to doing the wire eagle on the cheek piece. At the rate I'm going, I might get this done by summer. :snore:
Getting started.

Close up

Both the practice rifle and the Hawken

 

[RhinoDave]

Couple more things done.
Another brass wire eagle.

Added wire wings instead of solid ones.

Still got a ways to go yet.

 

[Vaino]

Pictured below is a "kit" TC Hawken that originally was uncomfortable to shoot...mainly because of the "bulgy" cheekpiece and high comb. So both were altered and it became my elk rifle and has shot 3. Presently it's the "loaner" rifle for first time elk hunters in our camp....Fred

 

[RhinoDave]

Thanks for sharing that picture Fred. I really like the way you slimmed down the wrist and reshaped the cheek piece. I still have a lot of wood to remove from my Hawken. What type of finish is on your rifle? I like the darker finish but I don't want mine so dark it hides the grain.

 

[Vaino]

This stock had no figure...straight grained. Used a walnut/mahogany stain and Wahkon Bay Trucoat for the finish....wanted a dull look. It's surprizing how much "excess" wood can be removed and it then becomes a much slimmer, better looking rifle and very comfortable to shoot even w/ my big elk loads.....Fred

 

[RhinoDave]

Well it's finally finished. It took a lot longer that I thought it would. Finish is one application of a water based Mahogony stain and eight coats of tru oil with the last one left as high gloss. The barrel has six coats of LMF cold browning.Not sure if I like the high gloss so it may get changed but it needs to get taken to the range before that happens. Any comments pro or con would be appreciated.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I like the eagle inlays. Are those from a pattern?

 

[ebiggs1]

Leave it as is, it's perfect! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[Paul R]

Please, more info on the eagle inlays. Your pictures don't do that area justice. Other then that, nice work.
Paul

 

[tshrcav8r]

Looks good, glad to see that finished it. tim

 

[MSW]

RhinoDave, there is a very serious problem with this rifle.

It is in the wrong gun case. (That is to say, a gun case other than my own). :rotf:

seriously- great work- you should be justifiably proud!

 

[RhinoDave]

Thanks all for the kind words. The eagles are patterned from a book called "Treasury of American Design. There were several different figures of Eagles in various flight postures to choose from in it.
The wire work is pretty standard flat wire I purchased from Dixie gunworks over thirty years ago and never used until now.
Some closer pictures of the wire inlays.