Stocked in curly maple, this classic percussion halfstock Hawken rifle is trimmed with traditional Hawken iron furniture. The 35" straight octagon barrel and iron trim are rust browned and display some wear from firing, handling, and cleaning. A fixed patent breech and two wedge keys retain the barrel. This rifle is signed by L.P. Hanna on the top flat of the barrel. This rifle has developed some drying cracks on the stock as it has aged. The small handling marks and wear on the finish give it a used but well maintained appearance. Trigger reach is 13-1/2" to fit a 5'10" or taller shooter. This half-stock plains rifle weighs 9.8 pounds, and balances at the ramrod entry pipe.
The .50 caliber straight octagon barrel is 35" from the muzzle to the breech. The barrel is a sturdy 1" octagon across the flats. The octagon corners of the barrel are crisp and square with some light wear from handling and use. Finished a lovely chocolate brown, the tone of the brown finish is a nice compliment to the curly maple stock. The .50 caliber bore is not perfect and does have scattered pitting in the grooves, with most of it near the muzzle end of the bore. The pitting does not tear a patch, but it can be felt as a slight resistance. The step adjustable rear sigh is a Hawken style. The front sight is a silver blade in a steel dovetail base. The face of the sight has been painted green for visibility. The barrel is signed L.P. Hanna on the top flat.
The curly maple stock is stained to a brown with a hint of a green undertone and was likely stained with chromium trioxide during the 1970's. . The stock is nicely shaped with a slender profile and metal to wood fit is excellent, which has led to some cracks as it has aged due to the very tight fit. The buttstock has a classic Hawken crescent buttplate to engage the shooter's shoulder. The stock has developed cracks at the corner of the comb as the stock has pulled against the buttplate over the decades. The forend has oval escutcheon plates for the very slender wedge keys. Both keys are snug and will require a drift to remove them from the stock. Return them to the same position, same orientation. The long iron tang of the patent breech strengthens the wrist. The stock has a small chip at the end of the tang that appears to have been repaired long ago. This rifle does not have a hooked breech. The traditional iron toeplate protects the toe, ending a beaver-tail finial, a common theme on the Hawken rifle. The long trigger bar, anchored to the long tang with two tang bolts, supports and reinforces the wrist. A hard fall will probably not break this rifle, while you are hunting the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, many days by horseback and keel-boat from Sam Hawken's gun shop in Saint Louis. The forearm of the stock is fitted with a pewter muzzle cap. A iron ramrod entry pipe is fitted behind the muzzle cap. The snugly fitted hickory ramrod is fitted with a brass tip at the front end with a cleaning jag fitted. The lock panels are very trim with the upper edge defined by the side and quarter flat of the barrel. The single lock bolt, and tear drop escutcheon around it, are classic features of a half-stock Hawken plains rifle of the early era. The stock has a crack extending from the breech down into the sideplate and beyond that follows a grain boundary. The beaver-tail cheek piece adds comfort for a right hand shooter, while aiming this 19th century plains rifle.
The percussion lock by Bob Roller is signed and dated on the inside. Polished inside, the well tempered parts include a strong mainspring, stirrup link, and a fly detent to allow set triggers. The plate has a hand engraved line border and a few decorative scrolls. Double lever double set triggers by Bob Roller are properly tuned to fire set or unset, for target match shooting, or cold weather hunting with gloved fingers. You may cock the lock before or after setting the triggers.
Signed by the maker this Plains rifle dates from the 1970 period, and is nicely shaped with excellent metal to wood fit. It was assembled from best quality parts available in that period and has some scattered handling marks from decades of use of handling, firing, and cleaning. The stock has some drying cracks that have developed as it has aged. The bore is shootable, but is not perfect. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
