Sante Fe Hawken Kit

[doug smith]

Back in 1982 I bought a Sante Fe Hawken kit in .54 cal. ser. # 0002 from a dealer in Houston Tx. It was made by Allen F.A. Mfg. Co. in Sante Fe N.M. It had a nice walnut half stock, double set triggers, two wedge keys, and all of the furniture was steel. Silver front sight, buckhorn rear. I did a hand rubbed oil finish on the stock, and browned the barrel and trim. It turned out great and I was very proud of it. My only complaint was it was long and heavy. I'm 6 ft. and 200 lbs. and it was a bear to hold steady off hand. It also had an odd bore. It took .510 or .520 round balls instead of the more common .530 balls of most .54 cal. rifles. I hunted with and shot that rifle for 20 years, and then she left home on a trade for a old Winchester lever gun. I was wondering if any of you fellows might have also had one of these? I don't know how many were made or how long they were offered. Heck one of you guys might have my old ser. # 0002. She was plain and brown except for a brass hunters moon inlay in the cheek piece. Keep an eye out for her she was a fine rifle.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Many of the fine ladies of our past often cross our minds, and we wonder where they are, and what are they doing now.
Your Sante Fe is among them!
Perhaps held in great regard, by a gentle hand and loving soul.
Fred

 

[doug smith]

Nov. 4 my wife and I celebrated our 35 wedding anniversary, she seems to be the only thing I've hung on to all these years. Many great guns come and gone. I'm sure many here can relate.

 

[azmntman]

Congrats :thumbsup: , not many around these days can say that. I hitting 28 in July. Oddly she still dont see the need for more black powder guns? Few months back she even suggested an AR-15 may be a better buy :youcrazy: ? I still dont have one though, too many other things in mind, a NSW soon as the girls back on the web page. Might consider a high res .jpg tho?

 

[Vaino]

When the Santa Fe first came out and was advertised on TOW, wondered if they were made in the US due to the odd bore size. I think the bore size is actually metric. Either just the bbl was foreign made and assembled or the Allen Mfg Co. was just an importer of the complete rifle. Do you know the answer?

The Santa Fe rifle was a quality, nice looking MLer but never bought one because of the odd bore size.....Fred

 

[Cowboy]

Fred, When they first came out the barrels were made by Aldo Uberti&Co. of Italy and made for Western Arms Co. They were .53 Caliber barrels and not true .54 Caliber. TOW has sold alot of them. Saw about 15 of them on their archives. I think that the barrels were eventually made in the U.S. on the latter guns and they were true .54 Caliber barrels. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

 

[BJC]

Do you not remember who you traded it with and go find them.

Also you and cowboy have the same profile picture. It may get confusing if one of you don't change it as I go by picture more than I do name.

 

[Cowboy]

I do not think it is necessary for elija craig or myself to change our shared Avatar. I am honored that the gentleman from the great state of Missouri and I have the same in common. Respectfully, cowboys1062. :hatsoff:

 

[BJC]

Great state of Missouri? Have you ever been to Missouri? They don't even use numbers for their state made roads.

I was in Springfield the other day. My son asked why all the green traffic lights had arrows. I replied because you have to show them which way to go or they would set here all day.

 

[azmntman]

hehehe :rotf:

 

[Cowboy]

Yes I have been to Missouri plenty of times. It is as good as any state we have in our great nation. Missouri has turned out some of the most famous and greatest muzzleloader builders in our country's history. It's no secret I am a Plains Rifle fan. Always have been and always will! Grew up in Wyoming, live in Illinois, and now fighting for Missouri! :grin: Respectfully, cowboys1062 :hatsoff:

 

[doug smith]

In Missouri we were taught to read the words in the book, and not just look at the pretty pictures. :wink:

 

[Cowboy]

:rotf: :thumbsup:

 

[BJC]

In Missouri we were taught to read the words in the book, and not just look at the pretty pictures. :wink:

I wait for the movie to come out. :blah:

 

[Trot]

I have one of the Santa Fe Hawkens, I haven't shot it in several years. I am sure it was a kit gun, the workmanship is not the greatest, I have been planning on refinishing it, but it is one of those one of these days things.

 

[doug smith]

Trot, is yours marked Allen F.A. or Western F.A.? I believe they were marketed under the two different trade marks but basically the same rifles. I've heard of a lot more finished rifles than kits also.

 

[Khufu]

Allen Firearms had an outlet in one of the Albuquerque Malls in the early 80s. I purchased a '61 navy with detachable stock from them.
they were not manufacturers, just resellers, like Cimarron. my '61 in addtion to being marked Allen Firearms was also marked A. Uberti, it is likely they both aquired their Sante Fe Hawkens from the same source.

 

[will5a1]

Mt. Meek (forum name) has, as far as I know, posted the most extensive and accurate info regarding these rifles. If you are interested I can email you scans (PM me your email address) of the original paperwork that came with the rifles, a review out of The Buckskin Report and some copies of original ads. I have two, one a Jedidiah Smith, the other is marked Western Arms, both have .530 bores. Some owners prefer .520 balls, other .526. I see them on occasion on the auction sites, there are not a lot of them out there.

 

[Trot]

It is buried deep in the safe, but I am pretty sure mine is a Western.

 

[will5a1]

Phil's (Mt. Meek) most excellent page on the Uberti Santa Fe, I could not find it last night:
http://grrw.org/uberti-santa-fe-hawken/