Golden Age Arms Hawken kit

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After putting together several Lyman, Investarms kits I had several catalogs and really liked the kits offered by GAA, I dont even think they are in business anymore, but I still have their catalog. Being a Hawken fan already, I ordered one of their kits. These were a much more labor intensive kit than the others I had slapped together, much more. .54 cal with Green Mountain barrel, 1-66 twist IIRC.

I cannot brag about my inletting but its passable and the rifle always fires and behaves properly and still looks pretty good after many years, mostly hanging on the wall, had a lot of dust to wipe off!

Shortly after completion wife, daughter and I went camping up in the mountains near Mt Ranier, down on the Bumping River and I nailed this target up on a tree and had some fun shooting it. Some years later I wrote up the build in Gun World magazine when I was a semi regular contributor there when Jan Libourel was still editor.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Nicely done!!

Golden age has been out of business for years. I had the opportunity to visit the shop once. It was amazing! Sure have been a lot of shops go by the wayside since I got started 25 years ago.

 

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They did have a lot of nice kits and parts, books etc. Too bad they didnt last.

 

[2Moons]

Been to their shop several times. Was close to me in Delaware Ohio.

 

[R Ellis]

That is very nice wood for a kit gun

 

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That is very nice wood for a kit gun

IIRC you could pick your grade of wood, I opted for a better grade.

 

[Notchy Bob]

That is a righteous Hawken, my friend.

I remember Golden Age Arms from their ads in Muzzle Blasts magazine as early as the 1960’s. They were a major supporter of the NMLRA and their ad was generally a two-page spread. I was not much involved with muzzleloading from the late seventies until into the nineties, and I don’t know when they went out of business. I think kit guns in those days required a lot more of the builders than now, and you did a fabulous job on that rifle. The fit and finish are really good, and the overall coloration of wood and metal has aged to a beautiful patina. It looks to be a shooter, too!

I like everything about that rifle. Thanks for showing it!

Notchy Bob

 

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That is a righteous Hawken, my friend.

I remember Golden Age Arms from their ads in Muzzle Blasts magazine as early as the 1960’s. They were a major supporter of the NMLRA and their ad was generally a two-page spread. I was not much involved with muzzleloading from the late seventies until into the nineties, and I don’t know when they went out of business. I think kit guns in those days required a lot more of the builders than now, and you did a fabulous job on that rifle. The fit and finish are really good, and the overall coloration of wood and metal has aged to a beautiful patina. It looks to be a shooter, too!

I like everything about that rifle. Thanks for showing it!

Notchy Bob

I thank you for your kind words, much appreciated.