Makes no sense buying parts to rebuild a low quality T.C.There are much better muzzle loaders in kit form out there
T/C Hawken is/was low quality?
How so?
The factory finished (percussion) .54 caliber T/C Hawken I have is
not a low quality gun.
Fit of wood to metal is excellent. There are no gaps of fillers, anywhere.
The lock has excellent colors, and works perfectly.
The bluing on all steel parts is even, all the brass is polished to the same high luster.
It has never failed to or had a hang-fire when I've shot it. And yes, it does have the original coil spring lock on it.
The previous owner(s) never "upgraded" (note quotes) to a V-Spring lock.
So long as it works, I have no intention of "upgrading" (note quotes) the lock, either. Why "fix" what isn't broken?
I'll admit the T/C Hawken and Renegade are not an historically accurate depiction of any gun.
So what? I am not doing living history events. I don't care about historical accuracy or if it is "period correct".
I cannot afford historically accurate, and especially not "period correct" since what was used or worn in say the "Colonial Period" is not necessarily "Period Correct" for any portion of the Fur Trade Era/Period.
As a matter of fact, back in the Colonial and Fur Trade eras,
most folk didn't reach my age
alive, so
I am not, and cannot be "historically Accurate" or "Period Correct", seeing as how I am still looking
down at the grass, and not
up at the grass.
Yes, there are high quality component kits of historically accurate and "period correct" rifles on the market.
The
finished quality of the gun will, of course vary according to the skills of whoever assembled the kit. Particularly if any final fitting of components to the stock is involved, or (heavens forbid) they have to inlet the lock and/or barrel themselves.
FYI, those kits also cost 3 or 4 times more than a used T/C Hawken or Renegade in excellent to like new never shot condition. Not everyone has $1200 plus laying around, or to spare that they an spend on a muzzleloader, be it kit or finished.
"BUT ... BUT ... The can save up for one!..." (end quote)
True. They could ... possibly ...
might be able to. It would depend on their financial situation; How much remains after paying the rent/mortgage and all the bills, buying food, clothes, fuel for the car(s) and so on.
I
possibly could. However, it would
not be very practical or realistic for me to do so.
After paying my rent I have all of $100 left for the
month.
I haven't had a car since 1995 (by choice) to feed or maintain (or to buy insurance and registration for), so that helps some. (I ride a bicycle or adult trike. There is no public transportation here.)
I live at an assisted living facility, so my utilities and food is included in the rent, which helps a lot.
How many years do you think it would take me to save up for one of those kits? (Keep in mind inflation will raise the kit price enough that I will probably have to save up for a minimum of an additional 4 or 5 months for every year that I'm saving.)
I could save up enough for a kit that sells for $1250 today,
If I could set aside $50 (half my income after paying rent every month), it would take me about 6 years to save up what that kit sells for
today. (plus sales tax and shipping, of course)
Who knows what it will cost in 5 or 6
years?
Double or even triple today's price would not surprise me in the least.
Realistically, inflation would always keep it out of reach.
Even if by some miracle inflation didn't keep it out of reach, and I came up with the funds in just 5 or 6 years ... Do I have 5 or 6 years left? If I do have 5 or 6 years left, do I have enough years left to assemble and enjoy using the kit before I get planted? (In the latter instance, probably not.)
