Hatfield 50 Percussion

[belld416]

I recently picked this rifle up. It’s a 50 caliber Hatfield. I have a Pedersoli 45 Frontier that is very similar. I love the way it feels and shoots. I have shot it around 30 or 40 times.

I have found a few websites about these guns. Best I can tell it was made around 88 or 89. It appears that Pedersoli made these barrels on some of these guns.

I would appreciate any information on these rifles that you guys have.

Thanks!

 

[Zonie]

If your Hatfield barrel says it was made in Italy, to find out when your gun was proof tested look for the little square or rectangular box next to the proof marks.
It will have some letters in it that represent the year the barrel was tested.

Follow this link to find out what year the letters represent.

http://www.powderhombre.com/mbpproofmarks.pdf
I doubt that the barrel was made in Spain but if it was, this link might give you an idea of when the barrel was proof tested.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/modern-replica-dating-by-proof-marks.49482/

 

[bigted]

Rite handsome!!!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

...to find out when your gun was proof tested look for the little square or rectangular box next to the proof marks.

It shows "AT" in the photos, which is 1988.
Hatfield contracted with Pedersoli to produce the Frontier with certain specs, including putting "Hatfield" on the barrel.

Yours might be a "kit" or perhaps it's not the deluxe version. The most expensive version I saw in 1990, and it had a blued barrel that had been machine polished, and the edges of the flats on the octagon barrel were rounded because of the polishing . Yours is much prettier with the edges on the flats still well defined.

LD

 

[hanshi]

That's a very nice looking rifle!

 

[Critter Getter]

My early Hatfield’s have a 1/66” twist.........does anyone know if these Pedersoli barrels are the same twist or are they the 1/48” like the Frontier rifle?? Btw........congrats on your Hatfield! Nice looking!! Greg

 

[Semisane]

Did you notice that section on the bottom barrel flat right at the breech (just to the right of the proof marks in your picture) where the finish is removed. That's where the Hatfield company had the Pedersoli name removed.

Here's a picture of the bottom barrel flat of my Hatfield .45 flintlock.

Here's the gun.

 

[belld416]

My early Hatfield’s have a 1/66” twist.........does anyone know if these Pedersoli barrels are the same twist or are they the 1/48” like the Frontier rifle?? Btw........congrats on your Hatfield! Nice looking!! Greg

Best I could tell, this barrel is a 1/48” twist. I tested with a tight patch and I got about 3/4 of a turn in 39”. So I’m guessing that’s pretty close to a 1/48”.

 

[Cowboy]

I own a .50 Hatfield in flintlock. Twist is 1:70 my friend. Here is a link on the Hatfield with a little bit of history on them.

Respectfully, Cowboy

https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol3no1/articles/mbo31-2.shtml

 

[bluemule66]

Hello! Does anyone know if there is a record of the number of rifles that Ted Hatfield himself made? I have a Kentucky that I bought a few years ago. my serial number is less than 20. The wood is way more plain than pictured above and has a more satin finish.

 

[cositrike]

Hello! Does anyone know if there is a record of the number of rifles that Ted Hatfield himself made? I have a Kentucky that I bought a few years ago. my serial number is less than 20. The wood is way more plain than pictured above and has a more satin finish.

Can’t help you with how many, but mine is a semi custom, with premium wood and steel furniture 50 cal flinter no 408

 

[Semisane]

My Hatfield .50 caplock is #385, and is 1:48 twist.

 

[belld416]

I own a .50 Hatfield in flintlock. Twist is 1:70 my friend. Here is a link on the Hatfield with a little bit of history on them. Respectfully, Cowboy https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol3no1/articles/mbo31-2.shtml

I own a .50 Hatfield in flintlock. Twist is 1:70 my friend. Here is a link on the Hatfield with a little bit of history on them.

Respectfully, Cowboy

https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol3no1/articles/mbo31-2.shtml

Thanks for the link on the Hatfield. Do you know how long these rifles were produced and were all of the the barrels Green Mountain? I have a Pedersoli Frontier that feels much like this Hatfield but doesn't have the "hefty" feeling of the Hatfield. My Hatfield barrel has proof stamps underneath but something has been ground off behind the serial number. The manufacture perhaps? I've read where the barrels were imported from Pedersoli and the Pedersoli name were ground off by Hatfield when the rifles were built? But I am for certain that my Hatfield barrel weighs more than my Pedersoli barrel.

Nevertheless, this rifle is a very accurate shooter. I fine tuned my sights yesterday and walked my woods course. One ragged hole patterns are possible at 50 yds if I do my part. This was off sand bags of course.

Thanks