I stole a Hawken Rifle

[colonelhogan44]

for 60 bucks!

It even came with:

1lb American Pioneer "FFG"
1 box of 100 Hornady .490 round balls
100 Remington #11 caps
100 ball patches
a brand new bag of cleaning patches
1 powder measure adjustable from 10-150 grains
1 tube bore butter

Made by interarms in 1976, it seems to be in good shape.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5632.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5633.jpg

:drinks:

[smoked turkey]

Thanks for your written confession. If you'll give me explicit directions I'll send the proper authorities over to confiscate the items...er I mean gather the evidence. I might pursuade them to let you go with a warning while I check the items out!

[mongo]

Very nice, I guess we all know what you will be shooting this weekend..LOL

[colonelhogan44]

The one problem that It does have (other than the self inflicted problem that I've since resolved of getting a patch and jag and piece of ramrod stuck in the barrel [smilie=1: ) Is that the roll pin that holds the front sight together has sheared. it's right about .04 inches from my caliper measurements.

[Plinkster]

That's a theft my ethics are square with, great deal. I need to find something like that to get my feet wet with the holy black.

[OverMax]

Now that you admitted to stealing it. To redeem yourself you'll be required to shoot it allot and often. Hey colonelhogan44 congrats on your recent purchase Sir. "Nice look'en rifle!!"

[Shooter]

At that price, I would hope it's not "Hot".

[dragonrider]

I'm not into black powder but that sounds like a bargain to me.

[EMC45]

Amazing!

[colonelhogan44]

At that price, I would hope it's not "Hot".

I would hope not too. I got it from a guy who was just married, and the wife was helping him "clean" out his bachelor pad. I hope she's hot.

I've gotten a lot of deals from people where the wife was forcing the sale.

[frontier gander]

good deal but that stock is 90% sapwood from the look of it. Those italian guns have a bad reputation coming from the factory like that.

[colonelhogan44]

Oh, well. I don't really care. If it shoots well, I'll be happy.

[Hogdaddy]

Nice gun with set trigger and all ; )
H/D

[colonelhogan44]

I got the stock all cleaned up, lightly sanded and stained last night.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5648.jpg

Now to finish with Minwax antique oil, and clean up the brass and it should be a looker!

[10 ga]

Good deal on all except the "American Pioneer" powder. Just as well chuck that stuff away. It is notoriously hard to ignite and if it's old it may be caked. Get some real "Holy Black" and you will be better off for it. 10 ga

[izzyjoe]

sounds like you did very good, now to work out the bug's and make some smoke!

[docone31]

That rifle is going to look sweet!
I use Boiled Linseed Oil with Danish dryer. I oil it, oil it, oil it. Each year I do it again.
Make sure you do the inside also Oil gets in there, powder residue, etc.
She will look good!
Now, go to the Hawken Shop and get the Hawken conversion iron furniture kit! I did one and it made a serious difference.
You did good on that one.

[colonelhogan44]

Good deal on all except the "American Pioneer" powder. Just as well chuck that stuff away. It is notoriously hard to ignite and if it's old it may be caked. Get some real "Holy Black" and you will be better off for it. 10 ga

Well, it's brand new, so I'm going to try it. I've heard velocity will have +/- 100 fps swings, but hey, it was free, so I might as well use it.

I got the first coat of minwax antique oil finish on tonight, and it's looking good!
:drinks:

[OverMax]

I hope your going to post a pix of that stock when it's finish is done & dried. Curious to see how nice it looks compared to its original factory job.

[Hanshi]

Hmmm...:groner: I've been wondering where my old Hawken could have been placed. Now I know it was stolen![smilie=b:

[colonelhogan44]

I hope your going to post a pix of that stock when it's finish is done & dried. Curious to see how nice it looks compared to its original factory job.

Of course. The second coat was applied early this morning, and is drying as we speak. I'm guessing it'll be 3-5 more coats, so 3-5 more days before pictures.

[colonelhogan44]

I got the three initial coats on, and the fourth is now drying. two or three more coats as sealers, and then for the final coat an buffing. Then pictures. It's looking incredible so far.

I'm following the directions found here (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=240961).

I also got the rear sight fixed. Now I just have to finish the stock, polish the brass and take it for the first shooting expedition!

[colonelhogan44]

I buffed the 4th coat off down to the wood with steel wool. It which was tons of work, which is making me wonder if I want to do it again several times, or if I just want to call it good. It's looking beautiful, though, and 80% of the grain is completely filled.

The surface is already really hard/tough. I'm impressed so far.

[colonelhogan44]

I got the brass all polished up!

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5657.jpg

[Maven]

"I buffed the 4th coat off down to the wood with steel wool."

Nice work, col.hogan! You may want to try white ScotchBrite pads, which are the equivalent of 0000 steel wool since the latter's debris isn't entirely removed from the wood and can rust and become discolored. Your local big box home center may not carry those, but you can search online for them (Amazon?).

[colonelhogan44]

It's finished!

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5672.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5675.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5677.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5678.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5681.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss301/colonelhogan44/100_5682.jpg

I'm happy with the way it turned out! I could probably sell it for way more than $60 if I wanted to now. :drinks:

[OverMax]

colonelhogan44. Excellent Job Sir!!

[Plinkster]

Looks great!