Hawken History Classic

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Jake & Sam Hawken.
Like the ‘Creedmoor 150’, the NMLRA just announced in the September issue of Muzzle Blast - another series of rifle matches as well as Living History as part of the event.
Pulled this from their website, under ‘News’.
Their official Facebook page has it as well.
Hawken is True Americana!

Spent some time with Bob Woodfill at Friendship in September. He had a table promoting the upcoming (2021) NMLRA Hawken History Classic.
He also had a list of all the Hawken rifles he’s duplicated and written about in Muzzle Blast magazine over the years. He said he’s made about 75 in his years.
What I found interesting:
He had a booth at Friendship in 1959 (while in High School) beside Art Ressel who started the Hawken Shop around 1960- they remain good friends even today.
In the 60’s, a Dr. Leonard from ND passed and his widow would not part with his Hawken collection as the Dr. wished. Bill Rutger stepped in and paid her for the collection - then sending them to Tom K. Dawson (Bob’s good friend) for Tom to inspect, repair, etc.. Tom & Bob photograph all the rifles - inwhich he’s used today to duplicate the rifles along with his notes for each one for the articles. During this time Mr. Baird spent much time with them...Bob called him a writer - not a historian or gunmaker. He thinks Mr. Hanson’s book is most accurate. After Tom was done with the rifles- Bill Ruger dispersed the collection as the Dr. wished.
Bob is looking forward to St.Louis in 2021 as is many owners of original Hawken rifles - he said they are starting to come out of the woodwork.
I had a great visit with him.
Here’s a photo from Friendship.

Looking forward to participating in this event. Can you elaborate a little bit more about the events?

Fleener

I appreciate seeing bench copies but there’s magic in originals for me.

rich pierce said:

I appreciate seeing bench copies but there’s magic in originals for me.

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Well, you’ll probably like the Hawken History Classic. You’ll even get a chance to shot an original Hawken owned by the Hawken Shop.

fleener said:

Looking forward to participating in this event. Can you elaborate a little bit more about the events?
Fleener

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.Living history, shooting matches, seminars and displays of original Hawken rifles.
Who knows what else will occur over the next 2 years..

I also heard possibly a new book on Hawken...

All sounds terrific! Hope Bob Browner is included. He’s a STL builder/restorer of Hawken rifles.

52Bore said:

During this time Mr. Baird spent much time with them...Bob called him a writer - not a historian or gunmaker. He thinks Mr. Hanson’s book is most accurate.
Here’s a photo from Friendship.
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I have to agree. John was not a gunmaker, very few are or even a gun repairer/parts assembler and I think he missed some chances in his "Hawken Rifles.." But I think it was mostly through ignorance since there was really very little history of the Hawkens compiled at the time. But he liked the rifles and wrote a book. As more rifles have come out of the woodwork since the 1960s and more people have dug into things more has been learned. By the same token in reading Hanson I get a sour grapes impression at times. But nobody is perfect. Nor will we ever know the real story of the rifles or their makers at this late date. In John Baird's defense he did shoot and hunt with replica Hawken Rifles, both percussion and flint. Not everyone who expounds on the subject has. This increases the knowledge and gives insights that just looking at them or reading a history does not.

I don't think you will ever see a real Manton stamped "laminated steel". These things were about as cheap as they could make them and they were not proved as severely as English barrels were according to Greener. I don't even consider them safe to shoot.

rich pierce said:

All sounds terrific! Hope Bob Browner is included. He’s a STL builder/restorer of Hawken rifles.

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He’s in the group..