Toe plate on a Hawken??

[madcratebuilder]

Would a toe plate be out of place on a Hawken rifle?
I picked up a used TC .50 Hawken and I'm refinishing the stock. At the very bottom of the butt plate I have a small gap that is bugging the manure out of my. I think I can use a filler, then a toe plate to make it disappear.
I'm not trying to make it 100% historically correct, but close would be nice. I'll tell you this BP rifle is enjoyable to work on after building a pair of M1A's this winter. Any advise from those you have been their, done that?

 

[Herb]

The original Hawken (St. Louis 1840-50's) rifles had toe plates. See Track of the Wolf.com for toe plates. Your rifle can use one.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I put a toe plate on my TC Hawken. It was easy and I think it adds something to the rifle. :thumbsup:

 

[Goldhunter]

Yes they did, and it can't hurt. The toe plate does a good job of protecting that area. I added one to my TC to help protect it. Looks good too.

 

[roundball]

I always thought the toe-plate on TC's Seneca was terrific and disappointed they didn't carry that concept forward to the Hawken model.

I bought a used .54cal Hawken stock with some pretty figure to refinish, and there used to be a sling stud 2-3" in from the toe. It had been removed and the hole filled with some kind of plastic wood filler...dried a light blonde color and of course won't take stain...stands out like a neon sign.

Sounds like after I refinish it I could add a 3" brass toe plate and cover it right up...just have to find a piece of brass strap close to the right thickness, length and width.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Roundball: Dixie, and Brownells are two sources of blass plate. Knife making suppliers also carry it in various thicknesses. Sometimes you can find it locally at scrap yards.

Measure the thickness of the escutcheons, and use that as your guide for determining toe plate thickness.

You might have to inlet it a little to get the end to fit flush with the toe of the buttplate, but if you have ever fit a new hinge to a door, the chisel work is no more difficult. Good luck. I am sure such a Toe Plate will help show off the grain of that wood stock.

 

[Goldhunter]

I think I used some 1/8" brass stock from Track, IIRC.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Maybe, but I would think that 1/16" thick brass would be more than thick enough for a toe plate.

 

[windwalker_au]

I always thought the toe-plate on TC's Seneca was terrific and disappointed they didn't carry that concept forward to the Hawken model.

I bought a used .54cal Hawken stock with some pretty figure to refinish, and there used to be a sling stud 2-3" in from the toe. It had been removed and the hole filled with some kind of plastic wood filler...dried a light blonde color and of course won't take stain...stands out like a neon sign.

Sounds like after I refinish it I could add a 3" brass toe plate and cover it right up...just have to find a piece of brass strap close to the right thickness, length and width.

here ya go roundball $2.95 from track of the wolf
bernie :thumbsup:

 

[Goldhunter]

I typed that wrong. I meant 1/16" :haha:

 

[madcratebuilder]

Thanks for all the info guys. I have a small parts order coming from TOW.
The stock is looking good, still have one little ding to steam out.
It appears that the original owner used Elmer's to bed the tang, got that cleaned out and well re-bed with JB. The breech plug and barrel channel appears to be a very good fit, so I'm leaving that alone.
I have a desire to personalize the sideplate. Was this done much on period rifles? I'm thinking a period correct coin, drilled and countersunk and then inlet. Comments?
Thanks again for the input.
Steve

 

[roundball]

I always thought the toe-plate on TC's Seneca was terrific and disappointed they didn't carry that concept forward to the Hawken model.

I bought a used .54cal Hawken stock with some pretty figure to refinish, and there used to be a sling stud 2-3" in from the toe. It had been removed and the hole filled with some kind of plastic wood filler...dried a light blonde color and of course won't take stain...stands out like a neon sign.

Sounds like after I refinish it I could add a 3" brass toe plate and cover it right up...just have to find a piece of brass strap close to the right thickness, length and width.

here ya go roundball $2.95 from track of the wolf
bernie :thumbsup:

Thanks...I'll follow up with TOW :hatsoff: