Opinions on the best Hawken history and general info book.

[waarp8nt]

I'm looking for a book on the history of the Hawken rifle. I would like to hear opinions from fellow forum members, preferably those who have read the books they are recommending.

[rfd]

"history of the hawken" - a google search will bring up a plethora of free online content ...

https://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+the+hawken+rifle

add in wb selb - http://www.hawkenrifles.com/

[waarp8nt]

I've done some online reading and maybe what I seek doesn't exist or I'm not looking I the right places.

I'm curious if a half stock flintlock hawken ever existed. My understanding is only about 10% of the originals exist and none are in that configuration, unless of course I have been lead astray.

I would like to build a have stock flintlock in .58 caliber. It would likely be from a kit of some sort or mostly bought parts. Just curious if there is any historical accuracy to that configuration.

[mooman76]

You might try here.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/index.php?fbb_session_id/2e0590b439fb6c4159870b2ea6d23ce7d0abcea4590914702d 208a0a804287c9/fbb_uid/27826/

These boys really know their stuff.

[rfd]

there is no record of the hawkens building a half stock flint 'mountain' rifle (hawken). very few of any hawkens have survived. they were a very small shop and did gunsmith work besides producing rifles. i think the likelihood of a "transition" flintlock hawken from full to half stock (with hooked breech and barrel wedges) is extremely likely. plus, the hawkens did custom work and repairs. either way, i could care less and my tom watson flintlock hawken is in the early build stages. :)

from the wb selb site ...

"Half stock flinter. There is no historical evidence that the Hawken brothers built any halfstock flint rifles, but, considering only about 10% of their rifles have survived, who can really say? One thing is for certain: to ship a rifle to Canada without a great deal of paperwork, it has to be a flinter. The Canadian owner of this rifle is a flint collector who wanted a halfstock Hawken style rifle with a flint ignition system - here it is. "

http://www.hawkenrifles.com/rifles/41294/IMG_2153.jpg

http://www.hawkenrifles.com/rifles/41294/IMG_2155.jpg

[John Boy]

Search under Hawken "plains rifle" or "Rocky Mountain Rifles,". This is what the Hawken brothers called their half stocks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawken_rifle

[waarp8nt]

from the wb selb site ...

"Half stock flinter. There is no historical evidence that the Hawken brothers built any halfstock flint rifles, but, considering only about 10% of their rifles have survived, who can really say? One thing is for certain: to ship a rifle to Canada without a great deal of paperwork, it has to be a flinter. The Canadian owner of this rifle is a flint collector who wanted a halfstock Hawken style rifle with a flint ignition system - here it is. "

http://www.hawkenrifles.com/rifles/41294/IMG_2153.jpg

http://www.hawkenrifles.com/rifles/41294/IMG_2155.jpg

^^^Exactly some of the stuff I have been reading from the Internet.

It would be awesome to see the repair books, sales books and/or any record books to the Hawken shop. Much like the rifles I doubt many if any documents exist.

[bubba.50]

well, if they didn't make 1/2 stock flinters but did make some in full stock, modify yer plan a bit & build a full stock.

[rfd]

as little hawken bros. info there is, there's so much we don't know. so what. really, if it matters that much to be 'period correct', then do it. i think otherwise, pc and hc matters less than having a hawken-style flinter. :)

[waksupi]

John Baird did a couple books on Hawkens about 40 years ago.

[M-Tecs]

John Baird did a couple books on Hawkens about 40 years ago.

I have both. They are very good.