T\C Hawken re-do project

[davet]

I've decided to re-do and maybe upgrade my T\C Hawken. It's 40 years old now and has been hunted hard 'n well in that time period. I've killed many doe, and one 8 point buck with it. So, I'll post updates as I progress.

Now, I replaced the original T\C barrel about ten years ago with a Green MT drop in. Best thing in the world for far better accuracy and I can load up to ten shots in a row without having to swab the BP residue.

So, I've started to re-shape the cheek piece on the stock....and I've inletted a "real" Hawken style trigger plate. I'm only doing the trigger plate as I bought it ten years ago with the intent of building a Hawken rifle....only to change my mind and ended up building a Leman style. But here's what I've done so far. The trigger plate has a gap as the original plate was wider.....but I can fix that!! 

[bushmaster]

Can't wait to see the finished product. Cool thread Dave.

[Loggy]

Nice Dave!! I've only owned one G.M. barrel & it was a tack driver!! 

Great way to preserve those precious memories that are a part of those ole smokers!! My first flintlock was a new T/C PA Hunter bought for $300 in 1997 which I took my very first smoker deer with.  Looking back sure wish I would of keep it!

[davet]

None of this is done.....all still in the shaping portion of the re-do.

[davet]

A little further along. If you compare this pic below to the others that I posted, you can see where I've reshaped the side panels to resemble an original Hawken rifle. In addition, I've contoured the top of the wood where it meets the tang. The T\C tang's are no square to the front, and they put in a small taper (see arrow) on the top of their hook-breech tangs. So, I tried to blend in the wood to "meet" that. Should look good when the barrel\tang is refinished and the stock finished as well.

[fleroo]

3 words. You're very ambitious.

[acorn20]

Jan 22, 2021 14:58:45 GMT -5 fleroo said:

3 words. You're very ambitious.

Not to nit pic, but grammatically speaking, that's four words!

[fleroo]

Depends on how one views a contraction I reckon.

[Loggy]

Looking good Dave!! Your reshaping/contouring should blend in nicely when refinishing is done. Wood grain looks nice. What do you plan for finishing?

[timberdoodle]

Just how far are your contractions apart?

[davet]

Jan 22, 2021 16:57:31 GMT -5 Loggy said:

Looking good Dave!! Your reshaping/contouring should blend in nicely when refinishing is done. Wood grain looks nice. What do you plan for finishing?

I've been researching a lot about wood finishing and brass finishing to make the outcome much different than when I started. The plan is to have it look similar to this pic of a re-done T\C. I plan on making the barrel\lock\trigger a dark patina look as well. I've researched the "how too" of striping the wood like in this pic. I've never done the striping before, so it should be interesting.

[davet]

I've done just a little more work to the stock. I will be unable to do anything for about 4 weeks because my sacroiliac joint on the left is getting fused tomorrow. No weight on left side fo 4 weeks. I plan on tying a lot of flies.

Anyway....here's the progress for now. I've also began fashioning a toe plate as T\C's didn't come with 'em.

[dennyf]

Lookin' good so far, Dave. Only thing I've done to my decades old T/C Hawken kit rifle in 45, was change the frizzen some years ago. Never liked the brass trim parts, sooner have browned "iron". But my brass is about as dark as it can get, close enough.

Old goat, now retired that had a small shop in my area, wanted $60 to install a new Lyman frizzen. Wouldn't sell me one, so I ordered one from Midway and installed it myself. Took about 15 minutes with my Dremel to make it fit and most of that time was taking it apart, finding the right grinding disc in my Dremel widgets collection and putting it together again.

Those familiar with older T/C flinters, know their crappy rep for surface hardened frizzens that do not stand the test of time. Bought a four pack of RMC 3/4" flints years ago, still have three left. And the ol' girl goes pffft-boom every time now. Next thing I have to do, is find a new local source for powder, since the old goat closed up. Wanta find some Swiss, as I've been using Dupont, then GOEX for the past thirty years or so. Everyone tells me Swiss is much cleaner.

[davet]

I'm also not a fan of brass. I like iron!!

I purchased some "Super Gun Blue" (Birchwood Casey) and from everything I've read you apply it to brass....hit it with a propane torch and it will turn really old looking a dull very fast. (Kinda like Dutch...)

That's the plan.....I don't want any shiny brass.

I upgraded my T\C lock to what is known as the "new hammer style", and I've also replaced the frizzen with a Lyman. Not a hard job but those frizzen screws can "weld" in there from BP corrosion. My lock works just fine as long as the flint is good. I see no reason to spend $180 for an L&R upgrade when all that will do is give me a millisecond faster lock time.

[dennyf]

I always use the set trigger, so it's "fast" enough for me?

I've never touched the brass on my Hawken and like the way it looks now, far better than it did 25 years ago.

[Loggy]

Dave....best wishes for a successful sacroiliac joint fusion procedure. Hope you're ready to hit the dance floor in a few short weeks!!

[Sr.Chief]

Will you stain it when you get done or just put Tru-Oil on it?

[acorn20]

I believe he intends to stain it first and then do a faux curl on it before finishing it with Tru-Oil, Alkanet or tung oil. He's trying to replicate the finish on the Hawken in the previous picture with the bag, powder horn and snowshoes.

[davet]

Welp....the last few days I've been feeling pretty spunky since my surgery on the 28th. I've spent a few hours (like 2 per day) working on my T\C re-do.

Here's what I've got in progress....(as nothing is really done)

I've inlayed the T\C wedge plates on the forearm. Also inlayed the brass washer for the lock bolt. Been working on polishing up the "new" trigger guard and working on a toe plate. With what I plan on doing to the brass, and the hopefully darker patina I will do to the steel parts will blend in the brass and the steel. I'll find out once I reach the point of finish applications.

[davet]

Jan 27, 2021 22:42:17 GMT -5 acorn20 said:

I believe he intends to stain it first and then do a faux curl on it before finishing it with Tru-Oil, Alkanet or tung oil. He's trying to replicate the finish on the Hawken in the previous picture with the bag, powder horn and snowshoes.

The more I've read about "burn striping" I've decided to not do that. To many variables for the stock to look like I want it to.

[acorn20]

Yea Dave, I'm not familiar enough with the faux striping to know how they actually do it. I don't know if it's from burning or scorching the surface or using a darker stain or paint and rubbing it back before applying the final finish. Someone on ALR site could probably point you in the right direction.

[davet]

I got the trigger plate in....plus I drilled and tapped it to connect the trigger guard. Lot's of measuring, and re-measuring as you only get one shot!

[bushmaster]

Looks great Dave!

[davet]

Is it steel.....or brass?? I used a Brass tarnish solution to patina the steel.....and also to tarnish the brass. Some minor cleanup will be required, but this will pretty much be the look of the furniture when I get it back together.

[Dutch]

Feb 27, 2021 14:53:41 GMT -5 davet said:

I got the trigger plate in....plus I drilled and tapped it to connect the trigger guard. Lot's of measuring, and re-measuring as you only get one shot!

Gun looks great, but those shoes? Really? Almost as bad as Buzz and his socks and sandals! 😂