When was my T/C Hawken made?

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Billnpatti

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I recently acquired a .50 cal. flintlock T/C Hawken with the serial number 75077. Does anyone know when this gun may have been made? It's in outstanding shape and looks new like it just came out of the box but I know it is one of the earlier guns because it has the old style flintlock. Any guess as to its value?
 
Around 1970, the rifles started with a 4 digit serial number. You have a 5 digit number, so it is not out of the first few years. I'm only guessing, since no one knows exactly. The early flintlocks, had a case harden look, on the frizzen and cock. The later ones were black. I paid $300. for mine (a four digit rifle). It appeared unfired, and came with several accessories, new in the bag, including a tang sight and target front sight, plus a bag of flints. I've had it a few years now, and at that time, I tried to purchase a new lock and hammer, but TC insisted on replacing it at no cost, even after explaining, that the rifle was used. Someone claimed to have purchased serial number 88xx, in Jan. 1971. Looks like 5 digits probably started in 1972, or maybe late 1971.
 
From a recent thread on the same subject, I said:

Some have said TC serial number were all over the board and may be of no value determining age of one of their rifles. How valid that info is, I don't know. I have a barrel from 1970 with ser. # 20595. You said yours has been wall hanging since about 1970. I think you may have answered your own question.
 
Billnpatti said:
I recently acquired a .50 cal. flintlock T/C Hawken with the serial number 75077. Does anyone know when this gun may have been made? It's in outstanding shape and looks new like it just came out of the box but I know it is one of the earlier guns because it has the old style flintlock. Any guess as to its value?
Another monkey wrench in the works is you don't know if that's the original barrel so a S/N is really a crap shoot.
Sometime more accurate rough aging can be done by the stock architecture...quality figured wood was usually a 70's thing...the shape / LOP / cheek rest / the internal drillings of the lock mortise...all a certain way during the 70's, then changes began being made in the 80's.
 
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