This .50 caliber Thompson Center Hawken percussion rifle is ready to shoot. This rifle was is a early production rifle with the higher comb and flush mounted wedge key escutcheon plate. The rifle is stocked in American black walnut, with brass furniture, and 28" barrel. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. This rifle has swivel mounts added to it. Weight is 8.9 pounds, and with a trigger reach of 14-1/4 inches, the rifle is perfectly setup for today's taller than average man size shooter.
The barrel is .50 caliber, 15/16" octagon, 28" length. The barrel finish is dark blue with a few small marks from use. The front sight is Thompson Center's steel bead sight. The rear sight is click adjustable for elevation, and screw adjustable for windage. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. We recommend our .490" round ball, .015" lubricated shooting patch, over a charge of 70 grains of FFg black powder.
The rifle is stocked in black walnut with a small amount of figure in the comb. This rifle has the higher comb found on earlier production rifles. The brass furniture has some patina from long storage. This rifle has the early tang with factory drilled and tapped hole for a tang or peep sight, which was dropped from later models. The forend cap has two mounting screws, which was the first change T/C made to the design. The ramrod on this rifle appears to be one of the resin impregnated versions T/C offered for a period of time. 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 key past the underlug, and the barrel can be lifted from the barrel channel for ease of cleaning. Remove the 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 a oily patch. Dry and oil the exterior then reassemble the rifle.
The color case hardened percussion lock is factory engraved. The lock plate color case hardening is still bright in excellent condition. The breech is fitted with a 1/4-28 stainless steel nipple. Double lever double set triggers are well adjusted, to fire set or unset. When the rear trigger is set (latched), the front trigger has a hair-trigger release, perhaps 2 or 3 ounces. The adjustment screw between the triggers allows even finer or coarser adjustment, as desired. Or, turn the screw fully inboard, to disable the set trigger feature, when hunting in very cold weather.
Attractively priced, this Thompson Center Hawken Rifle is in used condition with a bright bore. This American made rifle is a good value. We invite trades, and we buy T/C guns. If you have a used Thompson Center Seneca, Hawken, Cherokee, Renegade, Patriot Pistol, New Englander, or other muzzle loading side hammer rifle, please consider our service when you are ready to sell. Our customers like these well made American guns, for their reliable service, durable reputation, accuracy, and good value.
