Hawken Builder Question

[Hylander]

Does anyone here recognize this name.
W.R. Henderson JR.,
Spelling could be wrong.
Reason:
My shop took a .54 Cal. percussion Hawken rifle in. it is a beautiful build.
36", 7 groove barrel with flat bottom rifling, Full length bedded.
I did not pull the lock or triggers.
Build date and maker is electro penciled on the bottom of the barrel.
Date is 1979, but the name of the builder is not easy to make out.

 

[jimairwin]

Does anyone here recognize this name.
W.R. Henderson JR.,
Spelling could be wrong.
Reason:
My shop took a .54 Cal. percussion Hawken rifle in. it is a beautiful build.
36", 7 groove barrel with flat bottom rifling, Full length bedded.
I did not pull the lock or triggers.
Build date and maker is electro penciled on the bottom of the barrel.
Date is 1979, but the name of the builder is not easy to make out.

I don't know the name above, though.I would dearly love to see pictures of gun and signature. I built my first Hawken (using the Cherry Corners kit of parts with Douglas barrel in walnut stock) in 1974. That was copied from Kit Carson's Hawken. Cherry Corners sold to Ithaca, thence to Navy Arms, thence to Uberti. Great Western was in there somewhere.

I held mine beside an original that had just been recut by Hall Sharon of Sharon Rifle Barrel for its owner, Andy Fautheree. Still have both those guns. It's won me quite a few matches and holds the 130 yard Hawken match record in the Western States annual rendezvous. I later built one after the Jim Bridger Hawken using the kit of parts from The Hawken Shoppe, including Bill Large tapered octagon barrel (as on the originals). I've since held and sold a few originals. They all have a unique beauty all their own! The best there is are built from Hawken Shoppe kits. Authentic all the way!

 

[vintovka]

The Henderson name seems to ring a bell from my days with the Fort Sutter Muzzle loaders in early 80s . Andy was a member and some of his work was up there with even Boutet. He showed us his current work at club meetings and may have seen the item in question back then. He was doing custom guns and Henderson may be who he made it for. As for Hall he was about the best in buis and learned a lot from him