whats this old Hawkens works

[p246]

A Widow called to ask me if I'd be interested in buying her deceased husbands wall hanger. She described it and I told her it was older than what I collect. She asked for help identifying it and setting a value. Glad to so went for a look. Its an Old Hawkens 50 Cal or bigger. Bore is dark but has deep rifling. No bluing left but stock is fine, no patch box. Double set trigger works. Ramrod not original, broke anyway. Pictures to follow, can you smoke pole shooters confirm its a Hawkens. Give me an opinion on what she should ask as I have no idea on price.

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[JBinIll]

I think you have a mid-west half stock rifle unless it is clearly marked otherwise.It is a little bit crude and slender compared to a real Hawken manufactured rifle.

How long is the barrel?Caliber?

[p246]

Barrel is 45 inches long. Total length at longest point is 61 1/4 inches. Guessing with calipers I estimate the bore to be 50 to 54 calibers. It appears to be counter bored around 1/4 inch. There is some scroll engraving on the hammer and lock plate but its so faint I can't get it to show up.

[p246]

That would explain the lack of a patch box. Not sure all Hawkens had them but the few I've seen did.

[p246]

It has very basic buckhorn sights if that helps. No adjustment.

[JBinIll]

There are just a whole lot of things missing or wrong common to Hawken half stock percussion rifles.Drum and nipple instead of a snail breech,escutcheon on the lock screw,cheekpiece is wrong,stock is rather slender for a Hawken,awfully long barrel.Biggest thing is it doesn't say Hawken St.Louis on the barrel.The fore end cap looks awfully crude.In a way I'd almost suspect this might have been a full stock percussion rifle at an earlier date with that long of a barrel.

[JBinIll]

The lock panel on the screw side is awfully crude compared to a Hawken.I'd guess it was the product of some country smith.