Posted 3 years ago
hotairfan
(385 items)
I built these two muzzle loading rifles in the 1990's. Both of them won matched competition shoots and the upper rifle (the Hawken) also brought down a deer for me.
I built both of them because they were the style that I greatly admired . The lower of the two is a "Peter Gottner" Pennsylvania style flintlock with a roman nose stock and a tiger stripped maple stock. The grade of which is P-Plus-Plus. This interprets to a maple curl from the tip of the muzzle to the end of the putt plate with only 1/4 inch between curls. It is 45 in caliber with a gain twist (a gain twist is a twist that starts out with mild revolutions and, just before the muzzle, the twist rapidly increases. This improves the accuracy. but limits the rifle to patched round ball ammunition).
The upper muzzle loader rifle is a Sam Hawken Mountain Man's rifle (like seen in the movie "Jeramiah Johnson). It is a cap lock gun (as were most of the Hawken rifles) and in the 50 caliber. It's stock is also of P-Plus-Plus grade curly maple
The Hawken brothers built their guns in St. Louis, which was the hub of the trek to the west and destination of the Mt. Men fur trade.
I was fortunate enough to copy the dimensions from an original Sam Hawken Rifle, so every detail, diameter, and material is as the original, even down to the pewter fore end cap. Not wanting to have it be confused as an original Hawken, I made the lock and inserted a cut out buffalo from a nickel into the plate. I am left handed, so, both rifles are left handed versions.
The last photo is a drawing of Sam Hawken and his famous mountain rifle, with a grizzly bear in the background.
My wife's cousin is also a fan of the Hawken. He is a commercial artist in N. Carolina and he sent me this ink drawing because I made and sent him a bird head powder horn.
By the powers vested in me as a life long collector of antique firearms, I hereby grand you full and unlimited bragging rights. Didn't know Yankees were this capable! Lol. Looks like great inlaying and relief.
thanks bb2, I kind of thought that you would like this post.
Well, I'm impressed ! I've built a few rifles in my time and know the amount of luv put into it. Whipping the wood down the 1st time with a wet cloth and understanding the beauty you can make out of it is a hypnotic moment. Others wouldn't understand. Only a true artisan would. Did you use broken glass for shaving ?
I did in the areas that I could. Curly maple in the P++ grade is very unforgiving and the surface of the wood is has micro valleys and hills. Shaving sometimes rips out micro chunks of the curl and leaves you with a surface that looks like you ran it through a planer. This flaw can only be seen after you start rubbing in the oil finish.
I admire any gun maker who, knowing the degree of difficulty of using this grade of rock maple, because he knows what he is letting himself in for. He will still use this P++ grade maple because of it's beauty and strength.
This PA flintlock was exceptionally problematic because it has a swamped bbl., so the hexagon channel was tapered somewhat smaller towards the muzzle until you reached 6" from the end than the bbl. swamped outward.
With the Hawken, I was unbelievably surprised when my Brother-in-law told me that his boss had an original Sam Hawken. He allowed me to bring the Hawken home and extensively take stock measurements. The few Hawken rifles that survived the ravages of time are usually in a museum. This guy kept his in the closet.
Yeah, sanding the alternating densities of wood can be a B. Did you get your blanks and parts from my cousin Turner Kirkland ?
No, from Dixon's in Kempton, PA