Hawken Expert Bob Woodfill Details the Hawken Shop Hawken Muzzleloader Kit | Advanced Hawken Rifle

[@4570duplex]

I built one of these kits about two years ago. One of the most satisfying gun projects I have ever undertaken. I had already built kits from Thompson/Center, Lyman, Pedersoli, Investarms, and others over the course of some 40+ years in the hobby, so I considered myself at least a somewhat experienced hobby level builder. That, and I apprenticed as a tool and die maker, plus a jig builder, so I had developed some pretty high level skills with hand tools, used to working in tolerances well under .010", by hand. Yet when I opened the box to take a look at this kit, my heart sank and my jaw dropped. It was very obvious that I had my work cut out for me. Oh, the quality was certainly there, but it was obvious that this kit was going to take A LOT of work to complete. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Woodfill, and own everything he has ever written about these remarkable rifles. I have no doubt that he could build one of these in a day and a half. I could not. I invested a solid 80 hours in my build. Nothing just dropped in, everything had to be painstakingly inletted to fit. Even the barrel that he claims drops right in did not - it's a tapered octagon profile, from 1 1/8" at the breech to 1" at the muzzle, and the barrel channel in the stock is inletted straight. The hooked breech on the barrel did not fit into the mortise in the tang, it took many hours of filing and die spotting to make it fit. Notice the stock is not inletted for the escutcheon plates for the barrel wedges, one needs to first locate and then inlet those locations. And so forth. Every single part needed final inletting to make it fit. But, at the end of the day, that is what made this rifle so satisfying to build. The challenges it presented, the time it took to build, and knowing that not just anyone could do it really do make it what it is - something to be extremely proud of once you have completed it. Mine is certainly a "heirloom" rifle, one that hopefully will be passed down through many generations. Make no mistake, though, if you found a T/C, Investarms, Lyman, or other such kit to be challenging in the least, if you do not posses some serious skills with the necessary hand tools from inletting chisels to various mill files, you will not be able to build this rifle. There are people out there who can do it for you. It would be worth looking them up before getting in too far over your head and doing something irreversible. These rifles are just far, far too nice to risk messing one up if you don't have the necessary skills.

[@gerald5344]

Very informative comment -- thank you. I've put this kit on my future wish list, but was thinking it would definitely push against, and perhaps exceed, the outer limits of my current skills. I worry much about turning a $1600 kit into a $200 gun. Too, I know Jim Kibler has said his next offering after the Fowler will be a Hawken-style rifle with a percussion lock, and I'm unlikely to mess up a Kibler build.

[@winsum4465]

I bought this kit 2 years ago myself ... and it's still in the box. I opened it and inspected it as soon as I got it ... and I got scared ... immediately. So concerned, I sent Mr. Roberts an email with several photos asking, "Is this right? It looks bent." "The lock doesn't quite fit .", etc. lol He responded nicely, although I'd be surprised if he wasn't rolling his eyes reading my email. My First kit. I realized pretty quickly it's not quite the beginner kit. I'll finally be ready to tackle it this fall after Lyman and Kibler kits.

[@mennoburmeister1973]

Built the Investarm Gemmer Hawken last winter just the way Bob said one should. And it came out beautiful ,but now I feel the need to try again with this kit and create a more correct (and better quality ) rifle. Thanks for this great video !

[@shellmaker10]

Great video, great service to the community. Thank you both.

[@winsum4465]

Glad you posted this. There is almost nothing on youtube about The Hawken Shop kits.

[@quovadis5036]

Great video. THANKS! Takes me back to when I built one in the 70's, which I gave to my son.

[@Jo007kin]

Good video Sir....thanks for taking us thru it.

[@jaredabraham8435]

My kit is in the mail. I'm excited to get it and begin the process of putting it together. Thank you

[@thomassmestead9905]

I was over at The Hawken Shop last week. Known these folks for decades. Consider them good friends....

[@larryadams2184]

Thank you Bob God bless you my friend

[@peterweikel7123]

I have been looking for this for a long while and am more convinced that this (more than any other kit) is the way I want to go. It would also be interesting to see a complete build along series as so many other kits have

[@harryanderson6691]

Wow ! Amazing!

[@mrwdpkr5851]

Looks like a top notch kit .

[@MrOldclunker]

Until you get it and find it is a rudimentary chunk of wood that could have been made 10x better at the machining stage. Looks like a beaver chewed the stock out on a couple I have seen.

[@rocklickranch2804]

Thanks for this very informative video.

[@forrestsmith3786]

Great job, Bob!

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

My first trip to Alaska in 1967 my brother took me to a local gun smith in Cooper Landing with a Hawkin on the rack in case a moose walked by. Curly maple stock as I recall...

[@alaskatruoutdoors9238]

I live near Coper Landing. No gunsmith around here these days, though it's still good to have your rifle handy in case a moose walks by or a grizzly decides to push the front door in. I wish I had been here back when you saw the peninsula it but that was before my time.

[@gunyoda2356]

Wow I have to have one! Such amazing quality in this kit!

[@sorshiaemms5959]

What a beautiful rife would like to get on some day and is very original looking

[@gruntman323A]

I found back in the early 80's at an estate sale in the Minneapolis area a Hawken style that had a Milwaukee WI gunsmith stamp 1841. The gun is a percussion with a fish head hammer.

[@bigtrucklittlerv7969]

I Built my T/C Hawken over 30 years ago. This seems about the same difficulty aside from finishing the barrel. T/C barrel was blued and this copy of the original allows for proper browning of the steel. I can't beat my T/C for the price I payed like $180 in the late 80's.

[@henryrodgers1752]

Thank you very much for a fascinating and informative video!

[@jeffreylunsford1867]

What a great video thank you 😃

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@norseman5041]

there are kits available, maybe not to this kind of details but Pedersoli, Thompson, Lyman all offer up kits for the Hawken.

[@PinchinPennies.]

I am proud to say that I live about 25 minutes away from Gregs shop in Washington! Awesome fellow!!

[@jaybird4610]

Great chunk of knowledge.

[@jasonarringotn2501]

This is very nice, I’m going have to buy one now 😀

[@AnonYmous-ii4tc]

Wow, great video. Thank you for sharing. This will be a great retirement project for me. I've only got about 20 years left! ;-) (Man, what ever happened to 25 & out? I've already got way more than my 25 in!)

[@bobhollenbeck9768]

What a nice & useful video. Thank you Bob & Ethan! Is there going to be another printing of Bob's book in the near future?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Yes! There will be. I have a video detailing the update coming this week.

[@mrwdpkr5851]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading Thank goodness ! I've been looking for a copy .

[@DusaEx]

Many thanks for this video very helpful for good decision.

[@cameron515093]

Very cool

[@garyhammond2213]

I noticed the rear of the lock is proud.

[@rtcoleman3626]

I love shoulder-mounted cannons😁

[@mattedwards4533]

Interesting video!

[@ronbyers9912]

I have built a Traditions rifle and a Kibler Woodsrunner. They are pretty straightforward. I love the Woodsrunner. I am looking for a third to build and I keep coming back to this video. What equipment do you need that isn't needed for a basic Tradition's rifle or a Kibler kit.

[@galenhisler396]

That was awesome, thank you 🤠

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Thanks for watching!

[@randywollin5732]

My experience with a kit was my 45 cal. Percussion Kentucky rifle. All of the fittings such as trigger guard butt plate and nose cap came as knocked out of the mold, so I had some work to do, but that was what I wanted. I didnt want to just bolt it together. Dont like to brag, bit it turned out as well as anything Ive ever seen. I know that sounds like Im predjudiced but its true and Ive still got the gun to show off. Its a fun shooter but I never really sighted it in that well. I just use the point of aim method and still hit what I want.

[@dwilliams6642]

Welp....there goes my Christmas bonus 😂

[@gerald5344]

Another kit for my wish list, thanks! Any word on whether there will be another printing of Bob's book, or if it will be released as an e-book in the future? I missed it the first time around, and I've looked but haven't yet seen any second-hand copies offered by book dealers.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Yes! There will be. I have a video detailing the update coming this week.

[@gerald5344]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading Yay!

[@randiegadberry5448]

Great information! Do they make a kit for lefties?

[@germansahidbeltranardila2985]

Huuuuyyyyyyyyyyyy huuuufffffffffffff que bien 👌👍 de lujo hermosas escopetas

[@556suppressor]

How much of the original Hawken machinery still exists ?

[@robertlittle7407]

cool man cool

[@nealshimojima7496]

What about the pach box? Can we get one for it?

[@maddog45auto66]

Where do I order one of these kids at Bob.

[@MrOldclunker]

I'd like to see the difference in stock wood grades. The site is not very will put together to illustrate the stock seelctions available.

[@dmm3124]

Traditions sells Hawkens kits.

[@paulporter6978]

Beginner question how or should I say is the best way to cut in the slots for the barrel wedges?

[@MrOldclunker]

This is a real pain that could have been done when the stock was being cut to begin with. Very poor design on a kit rifle. One screw up here and you will never be a repeat customer. It would not have taken 5 minutes in their jig to prevent a major mistake by a customer. Just another way to cut corners and tell you it improves your build. LOL

[@minigpracing3068]

That kit is very different from the Traditions "Hawken", and different in good ways.

[@JamesKerr-ku5sx]

What tools does a person need to assemble the Hawken? Also, what is the skill level one needs to assemble the Hawken?

[@tr6r71]

As a left-handed shooter is there a left-handed model, or is it just as safe and comfortable to shoot the right-handed model?

[@daviddeas6486]

My question also, is it made in left handed?

[@MrOldclunker]

I've never shot anything other than a right handed rifle. It's not dangerous and not at all different. I detest the cheek piece on the right handed rifles and generally take them off. They amount to nothing as far as I can tell on any shooter.

[@BEARCLAW1825]

do you have to darken the steel yourself? All of the components and barrel look chrome

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Yes you have to darken it. Check out my series on it

[@BEARCLAW1825]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading​​⁠ are the instructions to brown the steel included with the kit

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

@@BEARCLAW1825 no, it’s up to you, but my videos walk through the process

[@sheepsfoot2]

Hows that for a coincidence, my surname is Hawken ( as far as i know no relation , we are from Australia decended from Cornwall also my ex - brotheri-inlaw name is Greg Roberts . 😅

[@garyhammond2213]

Why not just build a completed rifle?

[@MrOldclunker]

They wouldn't want the aggravation that they are selling you! LOL.

[@patrickjoseph5028]

I’ve researched Hawken rifles since the early 1970s…. My interest is early versions Jacob guns…only one known surviving with his scripted signature….these guns are more southern mountain in stock style…the Montana Historical Society gun and the Peterson Hawken have a very Jacob style to them….these early guns lack the 2 tang bolts and long trigger bar and the fancy perfected late hooked breech but do have a “conquistador” hook breech….1850s Sam style Hawkens are great but I’m partial to the early Jacob style guns….Jacob was old school styling utilizing modern technology.

[@larryadams2184]

One question what is the best solder to use for putting the pipes on is it silver solder we're just regular pipe solder

[@charlescomly1]

You might like to ask that question on the muzzleloaders forum, there are many builders on there who could answer that question.

[@MrOldclunker]

It's not so much the solder you use but how you prep the surfaces prior to soldering. Silver solder is harder but a bad preparation will render the joint useless all the same.