J&S Style Hawken Kit

[don hepler]

The only rifle that I have worked with, as far as finishing, was a Tip Curtis rifle in the white. So, I would like to find a kit where most of the inletting work is done. I know Don Stith kits a copy of the real Hawken, but I'm not sure at what stage it is, as far as being completed. Does anyone make a Hawken in the white, or very close to completed. I guess what I'm looking for is a kit at the level of a TC Kit, but very close to a copy of a real J&S Hawken. Does Tip Curtis, do a Hawken?

 

[Scota4570]

Call Don Stith and ask.

 

[galamb]

If you are looking for a "bolt it together and finish it" kit like you would get from Lyman or T/C, AND you would a very close representation of a Hawken (as built by the brothers - so more than just the name tacked on), you may want to see if Pedersoli offers either of the Hawken's in kit form.

They (the factory models) are "very close", closer than anything else on the market with "hawken" in the name. Their product is top shelf for "factory" stuff.

Don's kits are "builders" kits - while they are well inlet etc, they are far from the level of finish you get with a kit from Lyman, T/C (in the past) or the kits offered by Pedersoli - all of which are pretty much "put part A into slot B" and then finish sand, stain and shoot.

Don's kits DO NOT include the lock, and he makes a allowance for a few different choices there (that you source elsewhere) - because of that, the lock inlet is "minimal" at best to allow for the installation of a Goulcher, Warranted or Hawken style lock (from Davis or L&R - all with "slightly different" plates/guts).

 

[Vaino]

I've built Don's S. Hawken and if you've never built a parts set {not a factory, sand, finish and aasemble kit}, Don's J & S Hawken parts set isn't what your first build should be.

I'd contact Don and ask him about the possibility of buying an "in the white" from him...he might have a competent gunbuilder{s} that he uses. Don't know if he personally would do that work.

I found his S. Hawken parts set to be quality and Don's advice which I req'd one time, to be very helpful.

Give him a call.......Fred

 

[don hepler]

I know, I should have called Don, to start with. I shoot with him at our club. I sort of figured his kit, might be over my head. I was just checking to see what others options are out there. I would like to have something like the Tip Curtis kits, which are in the white, and not exactly kits at all. I could probably work with Don, and do most of it myself. I am a machinist, by trade, and have done a lot of gun smithing work. I talked with some very accomplished builders, and they say the Hawken with it's tapered barrel, can be a difficult build. Also, the alignment of lock, snail, and hammer, can be challenging.

 

[Pete G]

If you are looking for an in the white kit over a finished gun in order to save money, you would probably be better off just buying a finished gun. By the time you buy what is needed to finish it you will have eaten into a large part of the savings any how.

 

[don hepler]

I think you are right. I might be better off, selling a couple of my guns, and using that to have a rifle built. At the time I finished the in the white rifle, I had $1200. in it. I had it appraised at $1700. I saved $500. and it is one of my favorites, because I had a hand in it. But unless I could get a Hawken in the white at a couple hundred more, it probably wouldn't be worth it. A nice custom Hawken is between $2200. and $2700. depending on wood, tapered barrel, patch box and etc.

 

[Vaino]

If you go the "new route", Don's parts are HC and of the first quality. Perhaps Herb would be willing to build your rifle from Don's parts......or select a known builder of Hawken rifles, but there aren't that many knowledgeable Hawken builders w/ Herb being the excepyion, so using Don's HC Hawken parts are therefore all important. Selb is another Hawken specialist that could do the job.

Contact Don Stith and discuss this w/ him....Fred

 

[don hepler]

I have a builder, he is retired, but I helped him sell several rifles. I won't mention his name, due to him being retired. He has built two Hawken rifles that I have handled, and has blue printed real Hawken rifles. If I go that route, I'm sure he would do it, for me. He builds from his own wood, and does not do pre-inletted stocks. I passed on one of his rifles, and it was the nicest Hawkens, that I have ever seen. It had a W.M.Large tapered barrel, and the nicest piece of wood that I have ever seen. Some Doctor in Montana bought it.

 

[Longone]

I know that you mentioned S. Hawken but have you looked at Tracks kits? They do offer some smith services and seem to be pretty reasonable.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/615/1

If you have your heart set on a kit from D. Stith and don't feel 100% confident about building it there is only one thing to do.

Best of luck and show us some pics when you get it, I LOVE Hawkens myself and wish I had a full safe of them.

 

[frogwalking]

I was going to suggest a kit from TOW. I sometimes think we worry too much about being historically exact. I doubt one person who sees most of our rifles will know what is historically correct in 10 years. My mentor told me, when asked how to do something on a rifle, " why boys, do it any way you want too. There ain't no two of 'em alike no how." I think that is a little extreme for us today, but it does contain a germ of truth.

 

[Vaino]

On most of my builds I try to not deviate so that it becomes a generic LR or a hodgepodge LR w/ disparate parts...but w/ Hawkens there is a similarity between guns. Even w/ minor differences, there's a "look" of a certain rifle that can be recognized as being a Hawken.

Why not do it HC....seeing many hrs will be put into the build?.....Fred