If you were given a TC Hawken barrel, what would you do with it?

I've got stuff to shoot, this is more of a project for me. I have my TOW cart loaded with my picks, still undecided on the lock. I bet the TC lock looks a lot different browned, it's definitely more food for thought. I was thinking using a long trigger plate and extending the stock TC tang.

Thanks for all the replies

I was kicking around converting this to flint, I think Eric cured me of that...

Dirigo said:

I was kicking around converting this to flint, I think Eric cured me of that...

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T/C flintlock lock doesn't require that much work to inlet in a T/C percussion stock. Usually only have to deepen the mortise around one screw in the lock, at least that has been my experience on the couple I've completed. Not at all like the train wreck Eric had to deal with on the L&R lock. To purchase a T/C flintlock lock would likely be costly, prices on T/C flintlocks have really shot up over the last few years.

I have worked on a number of TCs and found that they vary a bit in the way they were put together at the factory as far as fit and finish goes.

I bought two flintlock rifles new in the box, both had the touch hole in the rear corner of the pan. I have seen them with the touch hole perfectly centered in the pan so they vary.

I'm far from rich, but I can afford to occasionally "waste" a little money. So, if this were my project I'd go with a Pecatonica stock, an RPL lock, Deerslayer triggers, and the steel replacement T/C metal from the Hawken Shop. Do the work well and you'd have a really nice rifle. I wouldn't try using a long Hawken trigger plate and lengthening the tang or doing other things that take the project into the full custom range. I believe then you'd have truly gotten into real money wasting range.

Crow-Feather said:

Sell it

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Amen.

Cpt Flint said:

Amen.

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Bend it in a U shape weld a chain in the center hang it in a tree and use it to announce supper. Or as capt flint said sell it.

I would have said or at least thought' Gangees ' but thats impractical .& since the giver meant well ,rather unkind . If I shew a predudice towards such barrels its only my snobbish predudice against such guns But the price is right so go for it

I just looked on EBAY. Sell it! People pay way to much IMHO. Use the money to get a better barrel, Green Mountian. The TC barrels shoot fine, The GM's shoot better, The GM will not have a bunch of silly writing on it. The TC barrel is shorter than HC.

If you want to make a rifle get a parts set and make a rifle.

I assembled my TC Hawken from a kit and and although the wood to metal fit isn't the best, it has been on many deer and elk hunts and has done the job well. If I was given a complete TC bbl ass'y, I'd buy a blank and make a rifle seeing I already have one to use as a model.

The TC bbl is shallow grooved and button rifled and the result is easy loading and excellent accuracy w/ both heavy conicals and PRB. ...w/ which I have shot both deer and elk. As an aside.....don't know why Rice and other bbl makers produce bbls w/ .016 deep grooves. Very hard to seal the grooves to lessen blowby.

As I said in another post, the factory stock is a "cheek slapper" but I rectified that. Have had no problems w/ my TC Hawken.

"As I said in another post, the factory stock is a "cheek slapper" but I rectified that. Have had no problems w/ my TC Hawken."

They are not "cheek slapper" to everyone, folks are made all different. Stocks with a lot of drop do not fit me at all, TC fits just fine.

"As an aside.....don't know why Rice and other bbl makers produce bbls w/ .016 deep grooves. Very hard to seal the grooves to lessen blowby."

100% agreed. I got one with RB rifling in 45 caliber. It was not accurate enough to be interesting. I got a GM and put the deep rifled RB in the scrap steel bin. They are made because there is demand. Some think the deep rifling looks cool at the muzzle. IF you are not interest in best accuracy it does not matter. They have been made to shoot reasonably well, the examples I have seen are larger caliber. I speculate that larger balls slug up better.

Dirigo said:

Are TC locks ok,

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TC locks are OK but will always look like they are TC locks. From the project you describe, you can build yerself a servicable and accurate rifle and relatively low cost. It may not be a beauty or historically accurate but it can be a great shooter.

I ended up with a PR maple stock, the rest of the stuff I got from TOW, including an LPR lock. I usually start a project like this with the intent of seeing how cheap I can get, and ultimately end up getting what I really want. Past experience has shown that I never remember how much something costs when I look at it several years later with a critical eye. If it comes out great and doesn't shoot well, I can always buy a better barrel, the barrel I have has very little stamping on it and it's not very deep, I should be able to peen it over a bit and draw file it out without taking a lot of material. Thanks for all the great input so far.

Crow-Feather said:

Sell it

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Sell it…use the money towards the high dollar build.

Shop around for a used TC a a low price and in a different caliber. Then you will have versatility. TC locks work and last.