The $500 Rifle I Bought For $75

Thompson Center - HAWKEN RIFLE.
While watching the HERD of LEMMINGS stampede to pay through the nose for AR's, AK's and hording 22 cal for DOOMSDAY..... I went shopping for a black powder rifle.

[@MyNewAmazingLife]

I did a black powder kit as a kid, my first gun. As awesome as that was, it doesn't come close to the satisfaction of taking a wore out piece of history and transforming it into your own prized possession. Thank you for sharing that with us and including you shooting it. The background music couldn't have been any better, very nice job!

[@10Kview]

Nice bit of skill and hard work to restore this beautiful rifle. Thank you for capturing your effort on video and explaining the whole process in detail. Keep on sharing :D

[@frhans1166]

my father and i built two tc hawkins rifles from kit back in @ 1980. loved the experience. he made the flint lock and i did the percussion. still have and use them. try a blend of 50/50 tung oil and linseed oil with a little lemon oil mixed in. have used that for years. did an awesome job on a beautiful rifle. good luck this season and God bless you and yours.

[@mcdsdaddy]

Hey YP, That's a great restoration!!! What a beautiful gun!! That's the same reason I bought a black powder two years ago, you get more time in the woods. I also use mine for the regular season just for kicks. God Bless!! Good hunting!!

[@Virginiawoodsman]

Very nice video Yankee. Thanks, as always, for your time and effort. I like the barrel natural like that. I've been thinking about building a 32 cal squirrel rifle for my 12 year old daughter, and this helped make up my mind. Again, thanks a lot. Joe

[@keith1517]

I picked up one of these for 110 at a local gun store. It was a GA DNR practice rifle. It has mostly been just handled and has hardly been fired. I also got a TC New Englander caplock for 130. Your rifle came out beautiful, thanks for posting this

[@caseyjams]

I think the best part of an oil finish is the ease at which scratches and nicks can be repaired. I've got a .45 Kentucky rifle I built from a kit when I was 13, some 30 years ago and to this this day it's still my favorite shooter, tack driver. By the way, I used to live up in Becker, MN. about a mile N. of Hwy. 10. Sure do miss those giant sized great tasting deer, unlike the puny ones here in SC. What I don't miss is a frozen butt waiting for Bambi's papa to come along.

[@mrgearheadfromhell]

Sweet build / restoration I'm not into the black powder thing but can appreciate both a job well done and a piece of American history. That will serve as a great grocery getter and a great conversation piece when perched above your fireplace. It actually looks quite at home there.

[@iMatt65]

Excellent job on the rebuild and the video. The scene around 17:30 looked great.

[@lemmik1900]

What a great job on the restoration. You are a man with many skills.

[@adamflight1]

Meats, herbs, and gunstocks! Man I love this guy!

[@XXX957TRO]

love the ending the music and everything it brought it all together

[@austexinak]

Very nice looking rebuild, and can't go wrong with the Jeremiah Johnson ballad at the end.

[@markgoostree6334]

You have a good lookin' rifle. Funny how a little work really makes a difference! I recently finished reworking a T.C. Hawken. Sanded the stock, fixed the cracked wrist, worked on the brass, but I could not save the barrel. It was a rusted sewer pipe. Rifling completely gone in most areas. I got a Green Mountain barrel. It's 33", 1:66 twist, .50 cal. Now, if I can just find some powder....!

[@mojopin12]

Really great video. One thing I love about this channel is your appreciation for period items and the character that comes with items made by hand instead of the cookie cutter creations of today.Thanks for posting.

[@opalprestonshirley1700]

Great vid, beautiful rifle. You are right on them prices $499.00. It is a sweet deal alot to be proud of. Thanks for sharing.

[@359badger]

Very nice YP, welcome to the black power group. I use a Lyman 54. Hawken myself. It's been a while since I've commented, but I do enjoy your videos brother. I am looking forward to black powder season here in North Central Texas.

[@greyhoundfriend123]

That's beautiful. I like how you restore old things, so much prettier than stuff these days. I'm still yearning for one of those perfection heaters but not skilled like you. Thanks

[@542patriot]

Impressive work Yankee! I particularly enjoyed this vid because I just so happened to come across a Thompson Center hawken several years ago and did a very similar restoration. I've since taken several deer with it and I absolutely love holding a piece that was such a milestone in american rifle design! Again you're a real craftsman and may The Lord bless you a you steward the gifts he has provided you.

[@Big_John_C]

Great looking gun!! Some of my favorites are the ones I've spent time restoring. Good luck this season and thanks for another awesome video.

[@TacticalBBQ]

Incredible video Yankee! Amazing craftsmanship.

[@MrPingn]

Beautiful work there. Nothing wrong with buying a high end and fresh out of the factory item. But there is nothing wrong with taking a worn out rusted piece of junk and turning it into a work of art.

[@resozv]

Very nice restoration. Welcome to the smoke pole clan. 4 more weeks is wonderful, same as here. Clik, fiz, BOOM!

[@cokeman250]

Very good vid. There is alot more to using that style gun then just shooting it. Its almost spiritual to remember the guys who relied on those guns for security and food. Those men where hunters, farmers, fathers, Preachers,husbands, sons,and trappers. All men who had the same outlook on life and use for the gun. God Bless brother

[@SaltyOldDawg]

Gorgeous!! That is a beautiful rifle! You did an amazing job bringing it back to life! You are truly a skill hearted craftsman.

[@admiralfaffy]

Hey Yankee Prepper, I noticed at the beginning of this video that you had a Mosin Nagant as one of the WW2 era rifles you had finished with tongue oil. I'm somewhat of a Mosin fan and just recently purchased my first 91/30 for about $110. I was wondering what you went through to re-finish it, so I don't ruin my rifle when I go to re-finish it. I really liked this video and I'm glad that you were able to breathe life back into that beautiful rifle.

[@terry2346]

Made the 54 cal TC Hawken from a kit. I treasure mine! Blessings on you for bringing that one back to its glory!

[@Yankeeprepper]

took another nice deer to pack the freezer with this year. I sure enjoy hunting with this rifle.

[@oldgravely]

gret vid. sanding heats the wood and closes the porse. wetting opens them. wet sanding with the finish filles the pores and gives you that babys bottem smooth feel to a stock. I use 50/50 thined finish to wet sand. well done brother.

[@mjf712000]

Awesome, thanks for taken us along this journey. Well done.

[@charn1960]

cracking vid Yankee, good tip about the wire wool and the boiled linseed oil I will try that on my Axe handle, sick of using a dead cat which will work but tends to put hair all over the place plus it won't upset them next door again,greetings from the uk, nice gun by the way

[@peterm474]

Great video. I love the work that goes into bringing old rifles back to life. I did a Mosin restore and went until it had a high gloss finish, then I decided I'd like to do one of the Chinese carbine versions (cheap) in a satin black. I couldn't be happier with either of them.

[@BamaBackwoodsman]

Nice job if you clear coat the brass it will last longer without polishing.If you are not taking advantage of every bit of deer season you are missing out on a lot of great hunting in my opinion. I hunt bow, black powder and rifle. I use a crossbow these days because of a bad shoulder injury that will not allow me to shoot compound or traditional anymore. I am sure glad they made them legal in my state. I am going to try my hand at making my own powder to see if I can do it effectively for fun

[@Danielshorsemanship]

Man that came out beautiful. Great job, it is always a good feeling when you do it yourself and it all comes together. Awesome!!!!

[@jamescooper2618]

A very nicely cleaned-up TC Hawken! Fast Forward 7 years and those guns are no longer in production. I picked up a well worn TC Hawken for $200 and refinished the stock and brass and bought all new screws for it. I sanded to bare wood down to 320 grit and stained with Minwax Special Walnut stain then finished with 5 coats of Minwax Spar Polyurethane, wet sanding between coats. I wanted a hard coating to protect against North East foul weather we can get. They are a fun project!

[@Yankeeprepper]

I still the rifle and use it every year for Black powder season for deer. It's very accurate and has brought home more than a few deer for my family's table.

[@jamescooper2618]

@@Yankeeprepper That's so cool!

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

Ha,ha. The Jeremiah Johnson music was fitting. I love my TC Hawken. Nice job on that rifle.

[@Yankeeprepper]

Still got the rifle and going on 8 years later......took a deer with it last year!

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

I just checked out your channel and subscribed. Happy to see like minded people that share Christian values and love America. 🇺🇸

[@WOWSTWOA]

Thank you YP !!! I REALLY appreciate you being on YT !!!!!!!!! May GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU'RE FAMILY !!!

[@munchh2007]

Just watched this while eyeballin myself some tactical alcohol stoves. That is a lovely job my friend, I love watching old wood come back to life.

[@SoCalPreppers]

Pretty sweet lil Project, I love to do detail work like this, its really fun to get into . thanks for sharing.

[@WillMoon]

This is the essence of America right here. Be frugal, buy something inexpensive that you can repair, fix it up yourself, have pride in your craftsmanship, then at the end of the day drive out into the back country on a beautiful day and shoot some guns.

[@Bstanley71]

What a magnificent rifle! Excellent job my friend and a great choice on the linseed oil finish.

[@SKILLET210]

Hot-Dang That Dog-L- Hunt, Oh Yeah, Great job On Restoration,The Ending was worth alot !! May Your Hunt Be Successful !! Watch Yer Top-Notch & Keep Yer Powder Dry !! Happy Trails From The Maritimes In Canada

[@samuelharvey5796]

Okay you made me want another Hawken muzzle loader. Starting to scour garage sales and Craig's list

[@235chuck]

Thanks for a cool video again. I almost always learn something from you & your channel. Did you, or do you ever use "Flitz" brand paste polish??? It comes in a tube. Good stuff. Black powder, flint lock & percussion is a somewhat lost art. Good to see you doing it AND sharing your experience and expertise with us all!

[@jaxboonie]

beautiful restoration

[@mariotibbrine1]

great work yankee you got one nice shooting wall hanger.

[@Zarthalad]

You should change your name to TheHandyPrepper! You did a beautiful job restoring that fireman Yankee!

[@jpetersonafr]

I love my hawkin. You should bring it out to the Delano muzzleloader shoot sometime. The set trigger on the hawkin makes it a real shooter.

[@usfreedom22]

The fire places is going, lol. My A/C won't shut off. It's 90 down here. Very nice rifle.

[@byrdjp]

I bought a Thompson Greyhawk that was "broken" two years ago for $20. $0.75 invested in two brass screws and it was up and running. I'm still trying to get used to the polymer stock though.

[@SlyDawg951]

Great Job and excellent step by step how to video on the Black Powder rifle which is an American Classic and history rifle of the American wilderness, I hope I said that right

[@elkhound25]

you really suffer with all the rifle,chainsaw and lawnmower projects....lol....keep up the great work !!

[@jamesoyler3005]

The best/ most beautiful thing about doing things yourself

[@greysuit17]

I love this whole video. The end was perfect. Love the look of that gun. I am using tru oil on a box and I think you make have just revealed the secret to getting it to look better. Ordering some coffee tonight.

[@toshibavoodoo]

YEA MUSIC is great, used soundhound to find song and no luck. The way that you wonder is the way that you choose, great lyrics!

[@stefandelphin]

...and never forget Hatchet Jack, the man who owned the Hawken rifle before...

[@NTycingProductions]

Well done, that is a beautiful rifle you finished!

[@1952Jeep]

Nice job, that's a functioning work of art!!

[@keith1517]

I just saw that yours is a caplock. My Hawken is a flintlock. Sometimes details evade me. Beautiful rifle man.

[@MrRedbeard2010]

awesome love the sound and great shot of you shooting!

[@BorealSelfReliance]

Nice! That rifle looks really great! I redid two of the original doors on my house with Tung oil, and I loved that finish. Guns back on the YankeePrepper channel!? --Nate P.S. I roasted some of that Sulawesi up over the weekend ...haven't slept since.

[@speed4207]

I'm giving the muzzle loaders a try this year also. The state has also included the "atlatle" for an alternative. Missouri that is

[@WanderingBeast]

outstanding, I havent shot black powder since I was a kid

[@Mrtubbs56]

Whoever let that rifle get in that condition certainly didn't deserve to own it. I'm glade it fell into the hands of someone that appreciates the history behind it. Great job restoring it.

[@Yankeeprepper]

+LarryG Okieusa Thank you. The rifle is still sitting above my fireplace! I take it down once a year to hunt deer in the fall with it, the barrel is still shiney....I just oil it up.

[@Yankeeprepper]

I take a small bucket with simple green and hot water. Pull the barrel off, (after taking the nipple out) and I put the end of the barrel in the simple green/hot water mix and plunge the barrel a dozen times from the other end with the rod and patch. It makes cleaning so simple and fast. Now...if cleaning black powder pistols were that easy.....

[@VeRSINGOnTheGo]

Agree, stupendous work. Appreciate the vid

[@MH-jt3lx]

Boiled linseed oil can be dulled or knocked back with fine steel wool.

[@ziggyman297]

I love shooting black powder weapons, but I hate cleaning them!

[@MyRoman9999]

You did a fantastic job on that stock. I kinda like a brown barrel, but that's just me. Nice video, you did good!

[@PrepItForward]

Nicely done Yankee. What a beautiful rifle and "four more weeks of hunting". I love the raw metal look of the barrel did you seal it with anything special or just using a gun oil?

[@joeman80128]

Yankee your going to take that pretty thing hunting!! For shame! No just kidding really nice job and thanks for the how to. I'm taking my mosin to deer camp this year just to be an ass to all the other guys with there $1000 rifles. I'll see how I do I guess.

[@waltertrexell7557]

Excellent video.

[@imbadwrench]

Mom mom bought me one at a yard sale when I was 16 for $40. GO MOM!

[@TINMAN]

Very nice,i so much enjoy your videos,peace

[@masterkeep]

Really nice results! I watched the video a second time just to make sure I didn't miss this - have you figured out how you are going to seal the barrel yet? It looks great as is, I just thought I understood you to say that it would be done eventually. Wanted to know what you thought was the best way with this one [period taken into account].

[@lenty2000]

Nice! incredible what you did to that gun!

[@dowdawg]

What a great video!! Always wanted a Hawken rifle, 50 caliber or better. The one I got was 45, but damn it was a Hawken!!

[@SgtBooker44]

Beautiful work YP, beautiful. I'd love to have a .54 caliber Hawken.

[@domino52o26]

My goodness, she turned out GORGEOUS

[@Archangel0804]

Wow....that is a great looking end result. I'd leave the barrel alone...looks pretty awesome just the way it is. Is there a recommended way to seal the brass once it is polished?

[@harley96cube]

Thumbs up for 4 more weeks of hunting! Nice job!

[@born2tx]

Good looking gun!!! Good luck with the smoke pole gun.

[@thebrooklynprepper]

Wow brother great job!!!

[@badkarma571]

It was a genuine Hawken, ya couldn't go no better.

[@58_Powermaster]

Hard to add much to what's already been said...awesome job Yankee!!!

[@clmautz]

Very nice - I'm with you on the doomsdayers, I love my BP - got a TC Renegade for $100 just like the poster below. Next up - a brace of BP revolvers...

[@1_Moretime]

Beautiful!!!

[@ristin59]

Great rifle!

[@caribeanprepper]

Highly impressed on the job! How much do you want for it ? Lol you probably dont want to let it go ... Inspirering.

[@Yankeeprepper]

Thanks for the words brother!

[@eltenda]

great rifle

[@kcatto21]

You got a beautiful finish on that old rescued smoke pole..... You never did say how you finished your barrel? or did you just oil barrel and go with a brushed finish? beautiful work yankee....

[@Yankeeprepper]

Yeah...I said I would never do another gun vid on youtube, butI figured even a doomsday prepper moron couldn't make black powder rilfles look bad.....of course that is what I said about "Prepping".....

[@VernonWallace]

Nice video. Thank you. What did you do to the barrel? It did not look to be browned.

[@pathfinderdaddy]

nice, real nice. There's a clean TC .45 cal Cherokee for $300. Good deal?

[@Yankeeprepper]

Just gun oil. I will brown the barrel after the season and make a vid out of that as well.

[@xXxCatsnakexXx]

What a lovely thing :) Any chance of a motorbike vid?

[@toshibavoodoo]

THANK YOU!!!

[@mauldindoc123]

Beautiful rifle, what caliber is it? I found one locally in .45. Any thoughts you could share would be appreciated- Happy New Year!

[@MrReddok]

The while time I watched this I thought "I bet Yankee is a Jeremiah Johnson lover." I just smiled when you played parts from the soundtrack. Do you know how to skin frizz?

[@born2tx]

Clear coat your brass with a lacquer clear coat it will stay nice n bright for a long time.