T/C Hawken - To Build or Not To Build

One I put together years ago (1980), came with steel Philip screws to use during finishing, and brass slotted screws to be used when finished. Have actually replaced these brass screws on a number TCs with steel slotted screws.

When finished it the value may be as little as 1/2 to 1/3 of its current value as an kit. Sadly i know this from recent experience. With time discontinued kits will be (if not already) a high priced collectors item on their own.

Late 90's I walked into Collector's Firearms in Houston. Behind the counter was an assembled TC Hawken kit. It must have been a present to a kid. The barrel was coated with a brown polyurethane. The hammer did not touch the nipple. It had not been sanded. It was missing the ramrod and a a screw or two but that was it. Price was $35 plus tax. Singed my butt getting the wallet out so fast to pay for it before they could change their mind. It had a nice piece of wood and ended up my younger son's first muzzleloader.

The case is building for someone to invest in this kit...not to mention a beautiful rifle. Thanks for considering.

Much to the chagrin of some, believe the value here is in the untouched kit. Maybe $500-$600 (or more?) to the right buyer. Assembled? Don’t see many TC Hawken assembled kits selling for $400, let alone $500-$600. Personally, don’t see the value, but I am not a TC collector. I would sell the unassembled kit as is for the max I could get, then invest the proceeds into a shooter muzzleloader. Just my opinion.

SDSmlf said:

Much to the chagrin of some, believe the value here is in the untouched kit. Maybe $500-$600 (or more?) to the right buyer. Assembled? Don’t see many TC Hawken assembled kits selling for $400, let alone $500-$600. Personally, don’t see the value, but I am not a TC collector. I would sell the unassembled kit as is for the max I could get, then invest the proceeds into a shooter muzzleloader. Just my opinion.

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Smart advice. Last investarms hawken kit we had from estate brought $550 well over a year ago.

Thank you for the confirmation on my decision to sell the kit. Hopefully, the right person will see it and step forward.

Thanks again for the sound advice....appreciated.

Final note: The price of parts alone have greatly impacted the hobby adding to the value of un assembled kits of quality. Politcal turmoil and what appears to be run away Inflation isn't helping either.

A tale of two guns. Kit gun, top, Factory built gun, below. The kit gun was built by someone else, and I acquired it when no one else wanted it. Note the ferrules for the ramrod were not installed, and the front sight is backwards. Both shoot about the same, though, even with the backwards front sight!

I found a picture of the box my kit came in, it spent a lot of time in a damp basement.

The other pictures are of stuff I changed on the stock ,cheekpiece and lock panels. I added a toe plate as well.

wseidel said:

The walnut stock is this kit is excellent. When I selected the one I built 41 years ago, I went through a number of boxes to get the perfect stock. This one is every bit as good as that one - straight grained, beautiful color, no imperfections.

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Your story brought back a memory from 44 yrs ago when my college roommate and I bought T/C Hawken kits in Spring for the upcoming fall muzzle loader elk season in WA. I went through a half a dozen kits at the store in Spokane to select the best stock available. We produced some nice work on both kits for a couple of early 20-somethings. We had no luck that Fall but I harvested a couple of Blacktail does off Afognak Island north of Kodiak in the early 80's. My roommate has since passed away but he left his Hawken to my son. Seeing the rifle again after so long I was flooded with all those memories of time spent on their construction and finish, and the hunts thereafter. Thanks.

What a wonderful memory to have of your college roommate. And to think how he gifted his rifle to your son...priceless. Life is all about relationships and when we're fortunate to have close one's, they are a true treasure. Regarding my rifle, I built it immediately after I graduated from college. Like you I put painstaking love into it's build - complete with browning the barrel and using Danish Oil on the stock. I've been fortunate to take a whitetail doe early on so it has been properly christened. Thanks for sharing.

HotelBravo and Eric - Thanks for sharing your TC rifles and memories. I can see the positive memories for each of us and our rifles runs DEEP.

I think that's a smart move selling it. I love mine, a pawn shop find that started out the exact copy of yours. But since you've already got one, get something different.

Any additional leads on where I might post this kit for sale? Seems like winter is the ideal time to build a rifle. Thank you for any assistance you might provide.

Put it on gunbroker you may be amazed

Thank you, Vintovka.

vintovka said:

Put it on gunbroker you may be amazed

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And you may find yourself relisting and relisting and relisting......

bubba.50 said:

And you may find yourself relisting and relisting and relisting......

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Some stuff yes, but we have had amazing results with the tons of ML stuff in my buddies huge estate. If it doesn't need an FFL it sells fast and high with multiple bids. The number of offers asking us to end the auction early and sell it at a great price kinda supports the issue. If you want to see any current trends go to the advanced search and check "completed sales". Also had good luck with .01 starts. Scary but mostly great returns.

I bought a TC Hawken kit build. It is superior to any factory build I have seen. Believe me, I was pleasantly surprised. Still have it. Polecat