I recently acquired a Thompson Center hawkens percussion rifle. It has a 5 digit serial number 619xx. The barrel does not say Hawkens on it just Thompson Center Arms .50 cal. Could anyone help with an approx. year this gun was made. Thanks.
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T/C Hawkens dob help
- Thread starter Jimbocva
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That's one of the most famous questions of all! :haha:
TC had a factory fire years ago and all the records were destroyed. I will say that you do have a low serial number on yours. The earlier ones had a higher comb, one screw nose cap instead of two, flush wedge key plates on the forearm, the stock was inleted for the lock bolt bushing.
The barrel was prewarning with only TC's address and Caliber. No warning lettering about using BP only! The earlier ones had a cleanout screw on the bolster. Also on the bottom flat of the barrel, you could find a stamp which could be a Maltese Cross, or a Heart,Star, capital M with a circle around it.
We have a Search feature which is located at the top of the forums page's. It's a great tool to utilize for research or for looking up something specific! You will find a lot of topics on the TC's there!
As for your original question, No one really knows and any other answer would be pure speculation!
Respectfully, Cowboy
TC had a factory fire years ago and all the records were destroyed. I will say that you do have a low serial number on yours. The earlier ones had a higher comb, one screw nose cap instead of two, flush wedge key plates on the forearm, the stock was inleted for the lock bolt bushing.
The barrel was prewarning with only TC's address and Caliber. No warning lettering about using BP only! The earlier ones had a cleanout screw on the bolster. Also on the bottom flat of the barrel, you could find a stamp which could be a Maltese Cross, or a Heart,Star, capital M with a circle around it.
We have a Search feature which is located at the top of the forums page's. It's a great tool to utilize for research or for looking up something specific! You will find a lot of topics on the TC's there!
As for your original question, No one really knows and any other answer would be pure speculation!
Respectfully, Cowboy
Thanks Cowboy. All your descriptions fit my Hawken except my stock does have a two screw cap but all other descriptions for stock are correct. I do not have any markings on underneath of barrel flat. I'm thinking late 70's early 80's. Would your guess be any earlier?
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I can't really tell you my friend! Anything I would say would only be pure speculation. They made them in the thousands.
Anything I would tell you would be guessing and not factual!
I will say that I personally own 4 TC Hawken rifle's. Two factory .50's, A .50 kit gun, and a factory .45. All the serial numbers and markings vary.
Unfortunately there was no computer's back in the day and for the 3 decades they were making them the basic design's also varied as well. Everything was on paper and the factory fire destroyed any real hope of pinpointing an exact year.
Respectfully, Cowboy
BTW: Use your search feature on this forum. There's so much information about the TC Hawken available here!
Anything I would tell you would be guessing and not factual!
I will say that I personally own 4 TC Hawken rifle's. Two factory .50's, A .50 kit gun, and a factory .45. All the serial numbers and markings vary.
Unfortunately there was no computer's back in the day and for the 3 decades they were making them the basic design's also varied as well. Everything was on paper and the factory fire destroyed any real hope of pinpointing an exact year.
Respectfully, Cowboy
BTW: Use your search feature on this forum. There's so much information about the TC Hawken available here!
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I don't understand why people are always concerned with the date of a T/C....
For me only two things matter....condition and performance.....
All else is a "pig in a poke"
For me only two things matter....condition and performance.....
All else is a "pig in a poke"
Bought mine in '81 srn 274xxx so yours would be earlier than that.
I'm really not sure when Thompson Center started making their Hawken but I think it was around 1970 or '71.
Shooters Bible Black Powder Guide by Major George Nonte has a copyright in 1969 and makes no mention of the TC Hawken.
BLACK POWDER GUN DIGEST has a copyright of 1972 and has a full blown article about the TC Hawken but it doesn't say when they were first made.
Using 1970 as a starting date and bpd303's date of 1981 that makes 11 years of production between the two dates.
Guessing the first production gun might have had a serial number of 1000, that makes for around 273000 in those 11 years or about 25,000 per year.
That would make your rifles S/N 619XX manufactured date around 2 1/2 years after the start of production or 1972-1973.
Yah, there's a lot of guessing going on with this but that's my best guess.
Shooters Bible Black Powder Guide by Major George Nonte has a copyright in 1969 and makes no mention of the TC Hawken.
BLACK POWDER GUN DIGEST has a copyright of 1972 and has a full blown article about the TC Hawken but it doesn't say when they were first made.
Using 1970 as a starting date and bpd303's date of 1981 that makes 11 years of production between the two dates.
Guessing the first production gun might have had a serial number of 1000, that makes for around 273000 in those 11 years or about 25,000 per year.
That would make your rifles S/N 619XX manufactured date around 2 1/2 years after the start of production or 1972-1973.
Yah, there's a lot of guessing going on with this but that's my best guess.
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Here is some more info. from an earlier topic about TC's
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/1583726/
Respectfully, Cowboy
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/1583726/
Respectfully, Cowboy
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don hepler
58 Cal.
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I have a four digit rifle, so pretty sure, what Zonie said, is a real good answer.
Heres the problem as i was told.. I have a .56 sb so that was a screwed up hawken barrel therefore the serials for that set of barrels may have been ommited for those year hawkens and put to the renegade.. Mine is pre warning but no mark on the barrel which everyone says should be there so i just gave up.. I even tried to find the last year of the no warning or last year of the .56 sb.. It will drive you mad.. I narrow it down and then something dont add up.. 
Well it must be my week for older T/C Hawkens Cal 50. I was lucky enough to pick up another one as the first one (serial#619XX) was such a great shooter but this one is an early four digit serial number of 22xx. This one is in terrific shape as well and is also not a kit gun. The stock is even prettier than the five digit serial number. It has the higher comb, one screw nose cap, flush wedge key plates, stock is inleted for the lock bolt bushing, case colored trigger guard, tang is only two screw not three and the two screws are also case colored. The barrel is pre-warning with a clean out screw. There is a Maltese cross on the flat underneath the barrel. So I'm assuming the barrel is a Douglas.
For those with four digit serial number T/C Hawkens, do yours have the ramrod retaining spring as mine does not. Also, my Patchbox door has a light engraved cursive monogram that appears to look like JSE. It looks almost like it was done at the factory and was original and not done afterwards. Has anyone seen a similar? I am assuming this is from the first year of production 1970/71. Thanks for the help again. :grin:
For those with four digit serial number T/C Hawkens, do yours have the ramrod retaining spring as mine does not. Also, my Patchbox door has a light engraved cursive monogram that appears to look like JSE. It looks almost like it was done at the factory and was original and not done afterwards. Has anyone seen a similar? I am assuming this is from the first year of production 1970/71. Thanks for the help again. :grin:
bubba.50
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sounds like you do indeed have a first year Hawken. no ramrod spring on mine either. the tang only has two screws 'cause like the chicken & the egg, the sight wasn't available 'til after the gun was made. the engraved patchbox would be the initials of a previous owner. accordin' to Warren Center the first barrels until they started makin' their own were Douglas but, the opinions of the keyboard experts vary on this point.
enjoy yer gun & have a good'en, bubba.
enjoy yer gun & have a good'en, bubba.
dragnetbill
36 Cal.
Last year I bought a flintlock .45; serial #12xx.
same features that you are describing except no engraving on the patch box and the trigger guard is brass. Maltese cross on the barrel.
same features that you are describing except no engraving on the patch box and the trigger guard is brass. Maltese cross on the barrel.
I recently purchased a T/C 50 that is almost identical to yours. Serial number 11xx, one screw nose cap, brass trigger guard and Maltese cross. It was sold as a "parts gun" with trigger and lock issues and light rust on the barrel; all the blueing was gone. A little cleaning, adjusting and oil fixed the trigger and lock issues. The bore shows surface rust but no obvious pitting. For $80 I could not pass on it. Hope to fire it within the week. It is the second from the top.
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Is the very bottom one a Trade Rifle .50 made by Sharon barrel Company?
Respectfully, Cowboy ðŸ¤
Respectfully, Cowboy ðŸ¤
Now that is a great find for $80! In the last week from two different gun shops, I payed $245 for my first year T/C Hawkens and in very good / excellent condition. Don't think more than 50 balls ever were shot out of it based on the condition. It just sat around for 46 years. I payed $335 for my 5 digit serial number T/C Hawkens that is almost as nice. I think I did well. The 5 digit is a great shooter. Haven't tried the other yet. Not sure I will, may keep it in its condition as a collector. :hmm:
dragnetbill
36 Cal.
My story is similar; found her at the first table inside of a gun show; the dealer called her a "wall hanger"; I didn't try to change his mind. She had moderate rust along the length of the barrel and some minor stock dings; when I dropped a bobber light and found the rifling to be factory fresh with no signs that she had ever been fired I was happy to part with my $70. Cleaned up the barrel and finished with LMF browning. Cleaned up the stock and finished with an oil rub.
Have only had her to the range once and she did not spark consistently, but she is my first FL and probably senses my ignorance. For now she is serving as a "wall hanger."
Intended to attach a photo, but don't see how; I'll post and then go to school on the how too.
Have only had her to the range once and she did not spark consistently, but she is my first FL and probably senses my ignorance. For now she is serving as a "wall hanger."
Intended to attach a photo, but don't see how; I'll post and then go to school on the how too.
You are correct. Bottom one is a Sharon Trade Rifle. Bought at a gun show in Atlanta for $250. The Sharon name is difficult to read; taking a photo makes it easier to read. The one above that is a kit sold by Sears and made by Miroku in Japan. A friend purchased it as in the late '60's and never built it. He gave it to me last year; it was my first ML. Top one is a Traditions 50 caliber also purchased in poor shape but have gotten in working. Also have a T/C 45 Hawken. ML don't seem to be very popular around Atlanta gun shows. Luckily we have an excellent LGS, Deer Creek, that specializes in ML. They have been very helpful. I hope to keep learning about ML and especially like resurrecting neglected ones.
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