Thompson Center Hawken Kit Guns

[OldMaineWoodsman]

Did all T/C Hawken kit guns have a K prefix in the serial number? I know that the early kits had unfinished barrels, and later barrels in the kits were blued. Did the blued barrels also have the K prefix?

A former colleague brought one over for me to look over before he fired it. It appears to be a factory finished rifle. It has factory bluing with a six-digit serial number with no prefix.

The stock also appears to be factory finished, as it looks a lot like factory rifles I have seen. However, there appears to be a K or maybe another letter in the stock just ahead of the tang, that is stamped in. Further down the channel is a black capital M marked on it. The lock and brass components are nicely fit, every screw is perfect, and the cheek rest is not washed out like you see on many kit guns.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I suspect the k in stock is an assembly or lot marking. I built a kit in the 70s with a k5xxx serial number. The barrel was in the white. I don’t have access to the gun now but don’t remember any k on the stock. My guess is his gun was factory finished.

 

[waarp8nt]

I have a T/C Hawken kit new in the box. Just went to take a look, the stock is marked with a K in the barrel channel and under the lock plate. The barrel is unfinished in the white and the serial number starts with a KJ.

I have seen Renegades marked the a K under the lock as well, but not all.

Seen the "M" mark too, but not sure what it means unless possibly an inspectors mark.

Might take a look under the lock plate to see if it's marked there too.

 

[bubba.50]

Not all of the factory finished kit gun barrels had the ‘K’ by the serial number but the ‘K’ in the barrel channel and as waarp8nt says, in the lock inlet do signify kit gun. The ‘M’ is just one of many inspector marks they used over the years.

And, if done by someone who knows what they’re doing a kit gun stock can look as good as or even better than a factory finished gun.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

I have a T/C Hawken kit new in the box. Just went to take a look, the stock is marked with a K in the barrel channel and under the lock plate. The barrel is unfinished in the white and the serial number starts with a KJ.

I have seen Renegades marked the a K under the lock as well, but not all.

Seen the "M" mark too, but not sure what it means unless possibly an inspectors mark.

Might take a look under the lock plate to see if it's marked there too.

Thanks. I forgot to look under the lock plate. There is a stamped K there.