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Plains Rifle Takes its First Deer

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Joined
Aug 13, 2019
Messages
24
Reaction score
67
Location
South Carolina
20221007_091836.jpg

First deer taken on family land with shown rifle. I built the rifle in the pic from parts obtained on a budget build off of parts obtained off of Ebay. It is .50 cal and had 80 gr. FFFg pushing the ball. I would like to think the rifle has "Hawken" inspired features, but I am well aware that it misses the mark in authenticity. The rifle is a conglomerate of what I can best tell was intended to be a Sante Fe Hawken Walnut stock, (possibly a model for duplicator as ramrod hole was not drilled, and forestock rough shaped) a Navy Arms used barrel, and finishing parts from Track of the Wolf. Anyways, the barrel is rust blued and rubbed back to look somewhat used, the stock finished with a mixture of linseed and True Oil, and the lock..well the plate was made from a piece of iron from a barn on an 1800s farm, with the internals and hammer from a Davis lock. Hate to take a doe..but it made meat.
 

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Outstanding! The rifle looks terrific! You followed a time-honored tradition in using available parts to assemble a functional weapon. It works, and it looks really good. Probably most of us see a scroll trigger guard like that on a plains rifle and think "Hawken," but it was actually a popular style that was used by a number of builders. Genuine Hawken rifles were not all identical, in that a few unusual ones exist. Besides, you identified it as a "plains rifle," and not a Hawken.

I would be proud to carry and show that rifle anywhere!

As for the doe, there are no apologies needed. A healthy deer herd that has a population maintained within the carrying capacity of their habitat should have a near-equal mix of bucks and does. Too many people focus too much on killing bucks, which can upset the balance.

Great post, @Tizzy ! You built your own rifle and "made meat" with it. You'll have some first rate venison, a nice hide, and even the sinews and hooves can be used for old-time projects, whether from a buck or a doe. All good!

Notchy Bob
 
Great looking rifle and deer! You're probably closer to Hawken than you think. There was quite a bit of variability in what they did.
 
I saw ground venison at the local meat shop and the price was 7.49 a pound. So enjoy the harvest and the savings .Thanks for sharing your hunt.
 
I saw ground venison at the local meat shop and the price was 7.49 a pound. So enjoy the harvest and the savings .Thanks for sharing your hunt.
 
Congrats on a good doe.
Similarly to you, I put together a flintlock rifle from parts earlier this year.
I've gotten pretty good shooting it and hopefully I can take a deer with mine. Our muzzleloader season starts this coming Saturday.
 
View attachment 169142
First deer taken on family land with shown rifle. I built the rifle in the pic from parts obtained on a budget build off of parts obtained off of Ebay. It is .50 cal and had 80 gr. FFFg pushing the ball. I would like to think the rifle has "Hawken" inspired features, but I am well aware that it misses the mark in authenticity. The rifle is a conglomerate of what I can best tell was intended to be a Sante Fe Hawken Walnut stock, (possibly a model for duplicator as ramrod hole was not drilled, and forestock rough shaped) a Navy Arms used barrel, and finishing parts from Track of the Wolf. Anyways, the barrel is rust blued and rubbed back to look somewhat used, the stock finished with a mixture of linseed and True Oil, and the lock..well the plate was made from a piece of iron from a barn on an 1800s farm, with the internals and hammer from a Davis lock. Hate to take a doe..but it made meat.
thanks for sharing !!!! so cool your rifle build, job well done!!!🍻
 
Tl\izzy, you did very well. Ain't no flies on that rifle! I seem to remember a Sante Fe Hawken with a 15 1/2 inch trigger reach. Was yours that big?
 
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