Original FULL STOCK Hawken Rifle | William Hawken, the less famous Hawken Brother
Today we're checking out an original full stock Hawken rifle. While we know Jacob and Samuel made a few full stock "Hawkens" during their time in St. Louis, this rifle by their younger brother William is connected more with its Eastern roots.
William Hawken (1798-1885) was the fifth son of Christian Hawken. Unlike his famous brothers Jacob and Samuel, he did not move west and operated a shop in Hagerstown, Maryland, until 1840 when it was taken over by his son John and then worked as a gunsmith in Williamsport, Maryland. His rifles remained the more traditional American long rifle style of the East rather than the half-stock rifles that his brother famously made in St. Louis. This rifle is pictured on page 52 of "Arms Makers of Maryland" by Daniel D. Hartzler and noted as from the author's collection. It is fairly similar to the William Hawken rifle in the NRA museum.
The carving in particularly is the same basic pattern, and it has attributes of the rifles by him in "Maryland Longrifles" by Hartzler and Whisker. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, a dot pattern on the muzzle, traditional brass blade front and iron notch rear sights, and "W. HAWKEN." stamped on top of the breech section. The lock is marked "J. GOLCHER" in a ribbon and has scroll, border, and dog and bird engraving. The rifle has adjustable double set triggers. The furniture is brass aside from the nickel-silver rear wedge plate and the eagle and shield inlay on the cheekrest. The four-piece patchbox has some lined engraving and and is opens by a bottom on the toe plate which also has some simple engraving. The stock has a plain forend, an interesting sheet brass wrist repair secured by a series of screws, incised line along the bottom of the butt, and some incised scroll carving on the left behind the cheekpiece.
