T/C Hawken smooth bore

[graybear]

Just my two cents worth & cheap @ half the price. I remember reading a decription of a muzzleloader for sale that said it was a smoothbore because of a state requirement years ago that guns used for hunting could not have rifling.  The seller said the law had since been changed for muzzleloaders. I don't remember for sure what state it was. New Hampshire or Massachusetts maybe?

[Hank12]

Mongrel, I just googled Nock and Manton and there was a lot of info on both them and their patent breeches. Nock in 1757 and Manton in 1797. Lots of pics and diagrams but from my view ,looking at the diagrams of the breeches, they both looked just alike. I learned a lot about the Mantons. I knew about their guns but not their breeches. Hank12

[Blackfeet]

That was Massachusetts

[old salt]

As for cleaning the so called patent breech I pull the barrel and nipple, put it in a bucket of hot water, patch the cleaning jag and pump water up through barrel until the water comes out clear. Dry and lube the barrel reinstall barrel. I do this at least 3 times a year and some times more often. Depending on the amount of shooting I do. So far I have not had problem of fowling in that area.

Under stand that the guns I have that have the patent beech are half stocks and pulling the barrel.
Just one mans way for cleaning

[HellBound]

My previous guess that the rifle in question may be a bored smooth 45. I have recently come across a T/C factory 50 smooth.  The story is this is a product of T/Cs custom shoppe. The only script on the barrel is: Thompson/Center   50cal.   go figger

                           P.A.