[SLB]

I have an old TC hawken I put together from a kit in the late 70's. Bought the kit from JC Penny mailorder straight to an APO. I finished it at Ft Hood. Almost cost a marriage when I browned the barrel in the kitchen using the range to heat it. Wow, talk about stink!

Love that little gun though - a .50 that shoots as sweet as you can ask.

My son-in-law has an in line Knight - he likes it, but I am a little more purist in thought about black powder.

[wardaddy]

I'm purist too...at least in my heart. Last season down at camp in Mississippi on Bayou Pierre near Port Gibson, I saw several large bucks meander out in the open at dusk. I simply could not get a good fix with iron sights(even though i had a decent fix with my binoculars) nor could i judge their spread for camp regs. I let them go not having a certain shot. Everytime, I then went back to the rendevous on the trail and waited another 20 minutes or so for the optically enhanced hunters to come out of the woods. I've given in. That's not to say I wouldn't use my traditional guns in the morning or after I've gotten a wall worthy buck and am strictly hunting for meat.

[Squantos]

Agree, I did the same thing with mine except I did the rust brown , bury it , water it thang in the back yard. Still shoots fine and is one of the most accurate front stuffers I own.

Stay Safe !

[in the Arena]

SLB : That's a hoot. In high school I browned the barrel of a CVA Kentucky rifle on my mom's kitchen table. I used a propane torch though. I still have it but have never hunted with it.

wardaddy : I'd never discourage anyone from purchcasing another firearm...but have you thought about fiber optic sights on your sidehammer ? I've never used them...just a thought.

[Freedom4US]

I have a T/C Hawken kit model meself. They always provide a nice walnut blank versus the two-by-four style stockage that a lot of companies provide. And a precision barrel. That thing shoots really accurate -- I embarrassed the hell out of a guy with a scoped cartridge rifle at a range one day. He didn't say much, heh. But then I'm a crack shot.

I cheated a bit, I started a few strokes on the flats of the barrel with a flat file and decided the heck with that, and took the whole mess to a bumper and plating shop, they polished the barrell to a mirror shine, it took the browning nice. I polished the brass furniture myself. Looks good and shoots straight.

The new inline stuff meets the letter of the law, but not the spirit in my mind. Hell, they oughtta make it flint-lock only if they really want a muzzleloader season.