A few weeks ago I spotted a pair of Hawken rifles on an auction site called Rock Island Auction in IL. The text described them as having been built by a G. Taylor some time in the 1970's. The images showed them being complete and working. So, I placed a bid for the pair. I won! Yesterday they arrived on my door step and I had a box opening party with a couple of friends. Am sharing my pleasure . . . . .
They came well packaged and protected with bubble wrap and it took us a few to find the right way to unwrap. But here they are. One is a 50 caliber percussion and the flintlock is in 58 caliber. They clearly haven't had any care in the last 40 odd years and have some corrosion on most of the metal surfaces. I'm going to do some cleaning and maintenance on the locks (they fail half-cock). The furniture is all iron - no brass decoration. The wood is walnut and has an almost black appearance. I can't tell if that is 40 yrears of patina or original finish? There is some surface pitting on the barrels but having set in someones collection for these years that doesnt surprise me. I haven't looked in the barrels yet. Impossible to know but I'd not be surprised if they are unfired. Oh, yeah, they are also heavy!
They came well packaged and protected with bubble wrap and it took us a few to find the right way to unwrap. But here they are. One is a 50 caliber percussion and the flintlock is in 58 caliber. They clearly haven't had any care in the last 40 odd years and have some corrosion on most of the metal surfaces. I'm going to do some cleaning and maintenance on the locks (they fail half-cock). The furniture is all iron - no brass decoration. The wood is walnut and has an almost black appearance. I can't tell if that is 40 yrears of patina or original finish? There is some surface pitting on the barrels but having set in someones collection for these years that doesnt surprise me. I haven't looked in the barrels yet. Impossible to know but I'd not be surprised if they are unfired. Oh, yeah, they are also heavy!
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