Posted on 02/17/2017 5:09:58 AM PST by w1n1
When Jacob Hawken first began making his "mountain" rifles, he incorporated features into each gun that were well thought of based on his experience. Hawken wanted his rifles to be the very best available and, therefore, desired by the most people. His strategy worked, because these days, they are the rifles we remember the most from the early to mid-1800s.
Dan Phariss, a highly regarded gunsmith and black powder historian, may have said it best: “The Hawken, the fully evolved mountain rifle, be it full or half-stock, was the final evolution of the American muzzleloading hunting rifle.”
In my opinion, no other muzzleloading rifle ever surpassed the classic percussion Hawken rifle.
MOUNTAIN MEN NEEDED A RIFLE that was dependable, one that could last a whole year or more in the wilderness. Generally, it had to function without the possibility of major repairs and need for replacement parts, although trapping brigades sometimes had blacksmiths or gunsmiths traveling with them. But with Hawken, that strength and dependability was built right into their rifles. Read the rest of the Hawken rifle story here.
The Hawken Rifle .... “the .45-70 of muzzleloaders”!!
Jeremiah Johnson: Y’ever get lonesome?
Bear Claw Chris Lapp: Fer what?
Jeremiah Johnson: Woman?
Bear Claw Chris Lapp: Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman’s heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads. I lodge-poled her at Deadwood Creek, and traded her for a HAWKEN gun. But don’t get me wrong; I loves the womens, I surely do. But I swear, a woman’s breast is the hardest rock that the Almighty ever made on this earth, and I can find no sign on it.
Can’t forget Hatchet Jack!
I have a couple front stuffers somewhat patterned after the Hawken. Calibers .54 & .58. Fired the .58 yesterday.
Front loading, genuine black powder, caps or flint, is the only way to go.
The Uberti Colt Walker is a nice toy too.
Never cared for this new fangled inline crap.
I noticed the rifle pictured has a double set trigger. This I like, with finger on the hair trigger, just think about firing and BOOM!!, she goes off. IMO, it makes the gun more accurate, as it goes off before one has the chance to flinch while anticipating the hard recoil.
“She never did get used to him.” LOL!
Dear spank,
“Your words of iron are true.”
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