New Hawkins

[William]

Or Hawken, however it's spelled. I traded my TVM Virginia rifle for this, mostly because this has a full 15 inch LOP while the Virginia had just over 14. So I'm left with only caplocks now. However, I sent a message to TVM today asking about getting a correct handed ( ) flintlock in either their Southern or Early Virginia rifles with a 15" LOP on a premium ++ maple stock. Here's the info on it;
M.A.MEESE NO. 110-1999 stamped on bottom of barrel. The Green Mountain trademark and. 50 cal. stamped on another. Lock is a L&R percussion. Has hooked breech. All German silver furniture. Full Buckhorn sights, walnut stock and German silver matchbox. The crown has been polished to a near mirror shine for thumb starting I assume but it's the nicest job I've ever seen. The hooked breach is something of a surprise too and the trigger pull is light and very smooth.
I with my friend Stormrider 51 who sold me the Virginia rifle some years ago as once he received the Hawken, realized that he never asked what the LOP was on it, just that it was a lefty. Not sure of the twist rate but perhaps someone here might know based on it's late 90's Green Mountain barrel. If any of y'all know who Mr. Reese is or was I'd like to hear from you too.

[William]

Patchbox inscription.

[William]

One more, below the Western trade rifle that Mongrel made for me to show just how big this thing is. Just over 54 inches from crown to toe plate, it weighs a good bit. Anyone know the size of nipple the GM barrel takes?

[William]

All three percussion rifles. From top, Big Red, cherry stocked .54 Lyman barrel.
Middle, my other Mongrel made .50 maple stocked Western trade rifle, based on the Bown rifle.
Bottom, walnut stocked .50 Hawken rifle made by M.A. Meese.

[Muley]

Really nice Hawken.

[Dogshirt]

It will depend on what breech plug was put in. As far as I know, the GM barrels don't come breeched. And there are a LOT of breech plugs out there.

[William]

It will depend on what breech plug was put in. As far as I know, the GM barrels don't come breeched. And there are a LOT of breech plugs out there.

Okay, so probably not an Italian metric size then. Well, I guess that I will pull it and compare it to the one in my Western trade rifle; 1/4 x 28.

[Hanshi]

That's a very nice Hawken!  In fact all three are making me jealous. 

[William]

Sorry to do that to you Hanshi, I just needed to brag a little. It's my one vice.

Anyone know anything about the builder, M.A. Reese? He had a shop in Scottsdale,  Arizona but after 2013 seems to have closed up. He built a number of lefties so I'm wondering if he himself was left handed.

http://dawhois.com/site/mameese.com.html

[singletree45]

That Hawken is definitely up to Green River if you know what I mean. Looks to be a very good copy of an original. If I would guess the twist on it I would say it is probably 1 in 66 twist. You got a real nice looking rifle there.

[Fredredcj]

Great looking rifles. I think I've seen couple of his muzzleloaders for sale in  the past , maybe on TOTW  . Not sure but if so maybe they could tell u something about him.

[William]

Great looking rifles. I think I've seen couple of his muzzleloaders for sale in  the past , maybe on TOTW  . Not sure but if so maybe they could tell u something about him.

Yes, I found a few older posts on Track from 2008 that listed his rifles for sale and all but one were left handed.  Nothing seems to show up on him past 2013 though, when his website expired.

[hotfxr]

Since I have been training my body to shoot "Correct handed" lately, I feel it is incumbent on you to send me that large Hawken type rifle to speed me on way to left handedness. Of course I may have to cut an inch or so off the stock since I don't quite have the reach you do. But hey, what's an inch or so between friends? I will be patiently waiting for it's arrival.


Yeah, that will happen, right.
   

[William]

Oh sure, that may happen, but perhaps you should hold your breath while waiting?

[flintboomer]

GM made both 48 and 66 twist barrels, if it was a drop in it would most likely be a 48 but since I dont think they made lefty drop ins I would expect it to be a 66.
Put a small mark on the ramrod or on some masking tape near the back end and with a fairly tight cleaning patch on a jag line the mark up to the front sight and push it in until it makes 1/2 turn, place a piece of tape where it stops and then pull it out and measure it. Double that number. It may be off slightly but it will tell you.
I think they also made some very fast twist barrels but it is unlikely to be one of them.
Nice trade, nice looking rifle that should work quite well for you.