Hawken kit

[MissouriFree]

Any one had any experience putting one of the Hawken kits together ? and do you know of a Rocky Mountain kit anywhere ?

[fancifowl]

I never put one together but took one in on trade once. The guy said it wasn't a big deal, he did a lot of handiwork on it and I shot it a few times; it was a pretty good gun. Dont know a thing about rocky Mt kits?

[gunsmoke]

Never heard of Rocky Mountain Kits.

Way back in the late 70s I built three Plains rifles from Dixie GunWorks Parts. A Plains Rifle is like a Hawken but with a 34" fast twist barrel for bullets as opposed to patched ball and a full stock with shotgun butt.

Back then Dixie had Cold Hammer Forged ML barrels that had bores unbeliveably straight and mirror smooth. First I buit a .50 then a .54 and finally a .58.

I haven't shot the .50 or .54 in years but have used the .58 extensively it is a great shooter with the Lyman 570 gr Round Nose Hollow Base and the LEE target Wadcutter.

[MissouriFree]

thnaks much. the " rocky Mtn" term awas just a name I heard used for the 36 inch barrel.

here is the one i'am lookin at. but it goin take a lot of saving up or a lottery ticket.


http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/partDetail.aspx?catId=13&subId=80&styleId=310&partNum=JIM-BRIDGER-HAWKEN-RIFLE-PARTS-LIST

[hunter63]

I'm afraid that there isn't any good/cheap kits around much any more.

Back in the 80's seemed like everyone was looking to build a Kit, so as to take advantage of special muzzle-loader deer seasons.

Built a couple of CVA rifles, pistols and ever a Navy Colt revolver.
So for a while you could find a half done/screwed up Kit at garage, rummage, estate sales, cheap!

No so for a long time, in my experiance.
Good luck in your quest, but if I find a .50 Hawken Flinter I'll be buying it my self.
Save up your pennies.

Still lots of cheap in-lines around....................

[dksac2]

The kits sold by "Track of the Wolf" are the highest quality kits on the market today, way better than CVA. Building a kit takes time and patience. You will need files, sandpaper, browning solution, wood scrapers etc. If you don't have the correct tools, you will have to spend more money to get them. I'm building an 1860 Colt revolver for my wife now. The metal requires a lot of draw filing, the wood grips need to be fit, it has a round barrel that needs polishing, the trigger guard needed a lot of work as it came as a sand cast piece. It can be a great pass time, but you will need to put quite a few hours in, especially if this is your first kit. If your not willing to get the correct tools and put the time in, buy built rifle, not a kit.
If you have some basic skills and take your time, you can turn out a very nice rifle. You might want to buy a book or two on building muzzlelaoders before buying the kit. They will not only show you what it takes to build a nice rifle, but how to do it and what should be done first, second etc.

Best Regards, John K