Stocked in curly maple, this classic percussion halfstock Hawken rifle is trimmed with traditional Hawken iron furniture. The 33" straight octagon barrel and iron trim are rust browned, to an attractive smooth chocolate brown finish. A classic Hawken hooked breech and two wedge keys retain the barrel, allowing instant take-down, for easy cleaning. This rifle was assembled by contemporary builder D. Priddy, and is signed on the top flat of the barrel. We have shown several pieces of his work over the years, and we are always pleased to offer hand made guns of this quality. Trigger reach is 13-1/2" to fit an average size shooter. This half-stock plains rifle weighs 10.2 pounds, and balances just behind the ramrod entry pipe.

The .54 caliber 1" straight octagon barrel is 33" from the muzzle to the breech plug. The bore is cut rifled with eight narrow lands and wider grooves with a slow twist for shooting patched round balls. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The octagon corners are filed crisp and the smooth chocolate brown finish is even throughout. A brass blade front sight set in an iron base is dovetailed behind the muzzle. A full buckhorn rear sight is dovetailed 12" ahead of the breech. Shooters with "older" eyes or corrective lenses will generally benefit from the extra distance. The top flat is signed D. Priddy just behind the rear sight.

The curly maple stock is stained to an medium brown with golden undertones to best display the figure. The buttstock has a classic Hawken crescent buttplate to engage the shooter's shoulder. The stock is nicely shaped with a slender profile and the inletting is excellent on this rifle. The chocolate brown finish of the octagon barrel, lock, and iron furniture shows light wear in the commonly handled areas. The stock has a few minor handling marks from field use. The long iron tang of the hooked breech strengthens the wrist. The forend is fitted with oval escutcheon plates for the wedge keys. All of the mounting screws are neatly aligned with the barrel. The wedge keys are captured to the stock to prevent loss. The hooked breech allows the barrel to be easily dismounted for cleaning without risk of wetting the stock with water containing black powder residue. To dismount the barrel, put the lock on half cock, withdraw the ramrod, drift the keys past the underlugs, and the barrel can be lifted from the barrel channel for ease of cleaning. Remove the 1/4-28 nipple and place the breech end of the barrel in a bucket of soapy water. Run a wet patch down and up the bore, the pumping action will flush all the fouling from the barrel. Once the bore is clean, run a dry patch down the bore to pick up any moisture followed by an oily patch. Dry and oil the exterior then reassemble the rifle.

The traditional iron toeplate protects the toe, ending a beaver-tail finial, a common theme on the Hawken rifle. The long trigger bar, anchored to the long tang with two tang bolts, supports and reinforces the wrist. A hard fall will probably not break this rifle, while you are hunting the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, many days by horseback and keel-boat from Sam Hawken's gun shop in Saint Louis. A nickel silver deer track inlay decorates the stock directly in front of the long trigger plate. The forearm of the stock is fitted with a traditional pewter muzzle cap. An iron ramrod entry pipe is fitted behind the muzzle cap. The snugly fitted hickory ramrod is fitted with a brass tip at the front end, threaded 8-32 for your cleaning jag. The single lock bolt, and tear drop escutcheon around it, are classic features of a half-stock Hawken plains rifle of the early era. The beaver-tail cheek piece adds comfort for a right hand shooter, while aiming this 19th century plains rifle.

Notice the early percussion lock, and hooked breech plug, with snail bolster. Made by the famous Griffith Tool Company, the lock has the correct early style geometry, ideal for this early halfstock percussion rifle. Polished inside, the well tempered parts include a strong mainspring, stirrup link, and a fly detent to allow set triggers. Look carefully and you will note the rounded inside corner at the front of the lock, similar to the lock plate shape of earlier flint locks. Later percussion rifles were made with locks with a square inside corner at front. Double lever double set triggers by R.E. Davis are properly tuned to fire set or unset, for target match shooting, or cold weather hunting with gloved fingers. You may cock the lock before or after setting the triggers. The 1/4-28 nipple will accept No. 11 percussion caps.

If you seek an attractive example of an early Hawken half-stock rifle, made exclusively from best American parts, signed by the maker, this example is worthy of your consideration. The bore is clean and ready to shoot. The inletting is excellent on this rifle and the new owner will be proud to show all of his friends at the range! Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.