Unknown muzzleloader

[Hein]

Hi everyone

I thought id post this as I need info on a muzzleloder I acquired.
The rifle is a Hawken in 45 calibre. It has an octogon barrel. Further stamped on the barrel is "made in Italy" about an inch further back are the letters "AA" and even further back the letters "PN"
Also stamped is what looks like a side by side shotgun from the business end and underneath that looks like the letters "MAVI" it is very faint so I could be mistaken. The patch box is typically Hawken style and the trigger gaurd and tang is one piece and looks identical to the Lyman trade rifle and it is in brass. The lock and hammer is blued steel. It also has a double set trigger. The rifle seems to be about 20 years young.
I really hope that someone would be able to give me some info.

 

Good to hear from you again.
I have no idea what your rifle is but if you show it to Rolly G. I'll bet he has a book on it.

 

[Zonie]

Hein: The PN may have a little circle with a star in it next to it. Even if it doesn't it stands for the Italian BlackPowder Proof test.
Sorry but I can't help you with the other markings.

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

I have the same rifle, all it has on it is made in italy, use blackpowder only ,and a few proof marks including "mavi" ,,not even caliber,, does yours have a pretty fancy patchbox on it? not the typical oval one but one more like on a kentucky mines got a real low serial# but all in all a real well made rifle. Have you found out anything about yours since last posting?????? :thumbsup:

 

[musketman]

Further stamped on the barrel is "made in Italy" about an inch further back are the letters "AA" and even further back the letters "PN"
Also stamped is what looks like a side by side shotgun from the business end and underneath that looks like the letters "MAVI" it is very faint so I could be mistaken.

Two upper case letters in a box is the code for the year the weapon was proofed...

"Star over a shield" is the proof house coat of arms and the "star over PN" are the actual Italian black powder proof marks.

AA means it was made in 1975...

Proof Date Codes

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

Musketman, thank you by looking at what you sent, I could tell that mine was made in 1973, but does the "mavi" proof mark tell the manufacturer, also this one has 12 lands and 12 grooves, what do you think? Is that good or bad?

 

[musketman]

but does the "mavi" proof mark tell the manufacturer, also this one has 12 lands and 12 grooves, what do you think? Is that good or bad?

Mavi could be the manufacturer or a location, perhaps Mavi, Italy, not sure yet...

The only reference on 12 lands and 12 grooves I have is from the Ned Robert's book: The Muzzle Loading Cap Lock Rifle...

But that doesn't mean the 12 lands and 12 grooves rifling you have is exactly this way...

Are the lands and grooves the same size?

 

THAT Italian Muzzlelaoder with 12 lands and grooves just means it has rifling like in a modern Marlin rifle - button-rifled microgrooving - not good, but bad for a muzzleloader, but- SALVATION is NEAR AT HAND - you can re-barrel it with a 15/16" replacement barrel from[url] TRACKOFTHEWOLF.COM[/url]. web page and end up having a proper round ball twist barrel that will give you exceptional accuracy.

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

as for musketman the lands and grooves are same size ,AS for daryll thanks I've got a track of the wolf catalog,also Dixie and Jedidiah starr, I'll probaly just do some experimenting with it ,thank you.

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

Quick update I think I may have solved my mystery as well as Hein's ,,,I was looking through some old black powder books (1977 ,2nd edition of the blackpowder gun digest,) and in the back they had rifles and pistols sorted by manufs. of that time along with photos and descriptions and prices, anyway looking through 'em and there's a picture of my rifle ,said it was a Lyman plains rifle and that it was an import from Italy by Lyman as of 1977 it went for $225.00