CVA Hawkens Rifle
- Thread starter shottas69
- Start date
simonkenton
New member
It isn't worth much.
Look at these GB auctions, not much interest in the old time muzzleloaders.
http://v4.beta.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx
If it is in good shape and you could get $100 you would be doing well.
It is a good rifle, the problem is everybody now is interested in "MAGNUM LOAD INLINE"
Look at these GB auctions, not much interest in the old time muzzleloaders.
http://v4.beta.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx
If it is in good shape and you could get $100 you would be doing well.
It is a good rifle, the problem is everybody now is interested in "MAGNUM LOAD INLINE"
The value of a CVA Hawken percussion rifle is generally lower than a used Thompson Center rifle unless it's in "mint" or unfired condition.
My guess is that the value of a .50 CVA Hawken rifle in average to excellent condition would be between $125 - $175 more or less.
An average grade shooter could be worth up to $125 - $140.
Very good condition could be worth up to $150.
Then if it's in really excellent shape, up to $160 - $175.
The value/price also depends on where it's being sold, how quickly a person wants to sell it, and the condition of the wood, metal finish, bore & lock.
My guess is that the value of a .50 CVA Hawken rifle in average to excellent condition would be between $125 - $175 more or less.
An average grade shooter could be worth up to $125 - $140.
Very good condition could be worth up to $150.
Then if it's in really excellent shape, up to $160 - $175.
The value/price also depends on where it's being sold, how quickly a person wants to sell it, and the condition of the wood, metal finish, bore & lock.
Last edited:
W. C. Quantrill
New member
There are lots of beginners looking for rifles like the CVA Hawken. It doesnt make it worth a premium by any means, but most people are sick of the stainless and plastic abberations, and are looking more and more to the traditional rifles as we get the hunting laws changed to prevent shotgun primers in the various states. Originally these seasons were labeled Traditional Blackpowder hunting season, then the whiners got it changed to Muzzleloader hunting season so they could use the cheatlines. Some of them even use smokeless powder and consider it sporting. But a lot of that is changing and as the States wake up and change their hunting season laws.
Its a tremendous kids gun, a good starter gun for a kid, there are a couple fellows who take these little rifles and clean them up and shorten the stocks and make rugrat guns out of them. Also, these guns bear absolutely no resemblance to a Hawken rifle. They are actually replicas of the Tryon Frontier Trade Rifle, but Tryon wasnt as popular of a name as Hawken so for marketing poop, it got named Hawken.
Its a tremendous kids gun, a good starter gun for a kid, there are a couple fellows who take these little rifles and clean them up and shorten the stocks and make rugrat guns out of them. Also, these guns bear absolutely no resemblance to a Hawken rifle. They are actually replicas of the Tryon Frontier Trade Rifle, but Tryon wasnt as popular of a name as Hawken so for marketing poop, it got named Hawken.
CVA Mountain Rifle in the Hawken pattern, or CVA Hawken Rifle?
We're talking two different rifles.
The CVA Hawken Mountain Rifle, if made in the USA, brings a higher price than those later made in Spain. It was offered in .50 or .54 caliber, with the .54 caliber being less common. Almost all I've seen were .50 caliber.
The workmanship of the US-made Mountain Rifles was much better. Materials too, I suspect.
The change from USA to Spain was made in the mid to late 80s, near as I can tell.
A CVA Mountain Rifle in excellent condition will bring $225 or so, perhaps as much as $300. It depends upon where you live (folks in Montana will pay more than folks in Florida, for example), and whether it's made in the US or Spain.
The CVA Hawken Rifle is a different model that resembles the Mountain Rifle. It differs in having modern, adjustable sights. As I recall, it was offered with brass parts too, as opposed to the Mountain Rifle whose parts were iron, pewter and German silver.
However, the Hawken Rifle had a real walnut stock. The stock on the Mountain Rifle was probably maple or beech. I suspect mine is maple.
I suspect that, because of that walnut stock, it would bring $300 to $350 if in excellent condition.
By excellent I mean an absolutely pristine bore, no dings on the wood, almost no evidence of wear and it looks like it's only been fired (and immediately cleaned) a few times.
I have a Mountain Rifle I bought new in 1981. It's a fine shooting, good looking rifle. It also looks more like a real Hawken because it was browned, not blued like the Thompson Center.
The Thompson never appealed to me because it was blued, carried modern sights and had brass patchbox and nosecap. The real Hawkens of the 19th century used iron; not brass. They rarely had a patchbox.
The CVA Mountain Rifle has a patchbox made of German silver, and a nosecap on the forearm made of pewter. I like it much better than brass; looks more authentic to the period it represents.
Back in the day, some folks criticized the CVA Mountain Rifle because it had a rifling pitch intended only for balls -- 1 turn in 66 inches.
The Thompson, with its 1:48 twist could handle conical bullets much better.
Or so they say.
I've never had cause to experiment with my rifle, since I never used it for hunting. It has been a plinker from day one, capable of putting 5 balls into a silver dollar at 75 yards from a benchrest, if I do my part.
In answer to your question:
It's nearly impossible to set a price for a rifle unseen.
But if I had to guess:
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
CVA Mountain Rifle: $225 to $300.
CVA Hawken Rifle: $250 to $350.
But if someone's carved their initials in it, or added some doo-dad that isn't original, that price could easily be cut in half.
These are good rifles, if made in the US and if new in the box or nearly so.
Alas, like many black powder guns (originals and reproductions) people usually shot them and then neglected to clean them, or clean them properly.
Black powder contains a salt very similar to table salt, so rust set in within hours or days depending on the humidity.
WARNING! Don't assume your rifle is unloaded! Many, many folks have loaded muzzleloaders and then neglected to unload them by firing or pulled out the load. It's not unusual to find an old, original still loaded.
And many of the modern muzzleloaders are still found with loads rammed down them 5 to 50 years ago.
To check, remove the ramrod and slide it down the bore until it stops. Mark where it stops with your thumb. Now, remove the ramrod and lay it alongside the barrel.
If there's a gap between where the nipple drum attaches to the barrel, and the end of your ramrod, your rifle is likely loaded.
Use a worm to pull the load. Don't attempt to fire it out as it may have rusted in place and create high pressures.
Unsure, have a gunsmith check it.
I know I've been long-winded here, but I hope the above helps.
We're talking two different rifles.
The CVA Hawken Mountain Rifle, if made in the USA, brings a higher price than those later made in Spain. It was offered in .50 or .54 caliber, with the .54 caliber being less common. Almost all I've seen were .50 caliber.
The workmanship of the US-made Mountain Rifles was much better. Materials too, I suspect.
The change from USA to Spain was made in the mid to late 80s, near as I can tell.
A CVA Mountain Rifle in excellent condition will bring $225 or so, perhaps as much as $300. It depends upon where you live (folks in Montana will pay more than folks in Florida, for example), and whether it's made in the US or Spain.
The CVA Hawken Rifle is a different model that resembles the Mountain Rifle. It differs in having modern, adjustable sights. As I recall, it was offered with brass parts too, as opposed to the Mountain Rifle whose parts were iron, pewter and German silver.
However, the Hawken Rifle had a real walnut stock. The stock on the Mountain Rifle was probably maple or beech. I suspect mine is maple.
I suspect that, because of that walnut stock, it would bring $300 to $350 if in excellent condition.
By excellent I mean an absolutely pristine bore, no dings on the wood, almost no evidence of wear and it looks like it's only been fired (and immediately cleaned) a few times.
I have a Mountain Rifle I bought new in 1981. It's a fine shooting, good looking rifle. It also looks more like a real Hawken because it was browned, not blued like the Thompson Center.
The Thompson never appealed to me because it was blued, carried modern sights and had brass patchbox and nosecap. The real Hawkens of the 19th century used iron; not brass. They rarely had a patchbox.
The CVA Mountain Rifle has a patchbox made of German silver, and a nosecap on the forearm made of pewter. I like it much better than brass; looks more authentic to the period it represents.
Back in the day, some folks criticized the CVA Mountain Rifle because it had a rifling pitch intended only for balls -- 1 turn in 66 inches.
The Thompson, with its 1:48 twist could handle conical bullets much better.
Or so they say.
I've never had cause to experiment with my rifle, since I never used it for hunting. It has been a plinker from day one, capable of putting 5 balls into a silver dollar at 75 yards from a benchrest, if I do my part.
In answer to your question:
It's nearly impossible to set a price for a rifle unseen.
But if I had to guess:
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
CVA Mountain Rifle: $225 to $300.
CVA Hawken Rifle: $250 to $350.
But if someone's carved their initials in it, or added some doo-dad that isn't original, that price could easily be cut in half.
These are good rifles, if made in the US and if new in the box or nearly so.
Alas, like many black powder guns (originals and reproductions) people usually shot them and then neglected to clean them, or clean them properly.
Black powder contains a salt very similar to table salt, so rust set in within hours or days depending on the humidity.
WARNING! Don't assume your rifle is unloaded! Many, many folks have loaded muzzleloaders and then neglected to unload them by firing or pulled out the load. It's not unusual to find an old, original still loaded.
And many of the modern muzzleloaders are still found with loads rammed down them 5 to 50 years ago.
To check, remove the ramrod and slide it down the bore until it stops. Mark where it stops with your thumb. Now, remove the ramrod and lay it alongside the barrel.
If there's a gap between where the nipple drum attaches to the barrel, and the end of your ramrod, your rifle is likely loaded.
Use a worm to pull the load. Don't attempt to fire it out as it may have rusted in place and create high pressures.
Unsure, have a gunsmith check it.
I know I've been long-winded here, but I hope the above helps.
simonkenton
New member
I hate to find myself disagreeing with Gatofeo, he knows more about muzzleloading than I do.
But, good luck getting 300 bucks for that rifle.
But, good luck getting 300 bucks for that rifle.
Well, it may bring far less than my estimate.
Prices vary by region -- and the durn fool with an itiching pocket that walks in the door!
It seems to me that, today, anything that will hurl a marble across a room is worth $100. Prices on guns, at least around the Salt Lake City area, have gone up considerably in the past year or so.
Perhaps I was way off-base on my estimate. I'm going by the 2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms, and added a little fudge factor for the rise in prices since last summer.
If I could find a USA-made CVA Mountain Rifle or Hawken Rifle for $200 or less at a gun show, I'd buy it. I know from experience that the early CVA Mountain Rifle is a great firearm: accurate, well made and attractive.
But perhaps I'm overly optimistic on price. So many shooters today think that the lead ball is an embarassing anachronism and that they MUST have plastic stocks, glowing sights, stainless steel barrels, sabots and WunderHammer X-13 ZX jacketed bullets just to get their deer.
My gawd, how did our ancestors survive against elk, grizzly, moose, deer and the occasional enemy soldier or bad man with just a lead ball in a greased linen patch over black powder?
Did game get tougher and grow a Kevlar hide?
As far as the price, I'd guess that a nice looking, browned CVA Mountain Rifle with pewter forecap and iron triggerguard would bring $300 at a Missoula gun show -- if only as a decorator for some rich yahoo's log home.
I dunno. I may be off-base. Muzzleloading rifle values are not my specialty. I don't follow them all that closely but I've seen enough around here (Salt Lake City) to know that you can't touch them for less than $200 anymore.
Andif it's less than $200, the bore is a rusted wreck and the stock looks like it was beaten with tire chains.
Your mileage may vary.
Prices vary by region -- and the durn fool with an itiching pocket that walks in the door!
It seems to me that, today, anything that will hurl a marble across a room is worth $100. Prices on guns, at least around the Salt Lake City area, have gone up considerably in the past year or so.
Perhaps I was way off-base on my estimate. I'm going by the 2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms, and added a little fudge factor for the rise in prices since last summer.
If I could find a USA-made CVA Mountain Rifle or Hawken Rifle for $200 or less at a gun show, I'd buy it. I know from experience that the early CVA Mountain Rifle is a great firearm: accurate, well made and attractive.
But perhaps I'm overly optimistic on price. So many shooters today think that the lead ball is an embarassing anachronism and that they MUST have plastic stocks, glowing sights, stainless steel barrels, sabots and WunderHammer X-13 ZX jacketed bullets just to get their deer.
My gawd, how did our ancestors survive against elk, grizzly, moose, deer and the occasional enemy soldier or bad man with just a lead ball in a greased linen patch over black powder?
Did game get tougher and grow a Kevlar hide?
As far as the price, I'd guess that a nice looking, browned CVA Mountain Rifle with pewter forecap and iron triggerguard would bring $300 at a Missoula gun show -- if only as a decorator for some rich yahoo's log home.
I dunno. I may be off-base. Muzzleloading rifle values are not my specialty. I don't follow them all that closely but I've seen enough around here (Salt Lake City) to know that you can't touch them for less than $200 anymore.
Andif it's less than $200, the bore is a rusted wreck and the stock looks like it was beaten with tire chains.
Your mileage may vary.
This is the Hawken, .50 cal, built from a kit in 1978:
The Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms Fifth Edition (2007) says it's worth $335 in 100% condition, $235 in 90 % condtion and $175 in 80% condition. The Blue Book is only a guide; actual prices can and do vary considerably in either direction.
It's a fine rifle, 28" octagonal barrel, 1:66 twist. This gun was made in Spain. It's not a Thompson Center nor a Lyman Great Plains Rifle, both of which I own in a number of configurations, but in my opinion it's heads above Traditions rifles (which I do not own).
The Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms Fifth Edition (2007) says it's worth $335 in 100% condition, $235 in 90 % condtion and $175 in 80% condition. The Blue Book is only a guide; actual prices can and do vary considerably in either direction.
It's a fine rifle, 28" octagonal barrel, 1:66 twist. This gun was made in Spain. It's not a Thompson Center nor a Lyman Great Plains Rifle, both of which I own in a number of configurations, but in my opinion it's heads above Traditions rifles (which I do not own).
CraigCollier
Inactive
I have an old muzzleloader, that (by the description above) sounds like it would be one of the older CVA Mountain Rifles...or as someone noted on another forum the Deer Creek version.
I've had this gun for at least 15 years, it was given to me by my old Scoutmaster when I was in Boy Scouts. I killed a couple deer with it, and as things happen sometimes, it got put into storage.
I got it out the other day and it needs some work. My dad and I refinished the stock probably 10 years ago, and he has since passed and the Scoutmaster isn't in too great of health either. I'd like to refinish this gun back to its original glory kind of in honor of both of these men.
The hammer mechanism is still very tight (from what I can tell, I am no gunsmith), there isnt any rust except light surface rust on the butt plate and trigger guard.
Before coming upon this topic and another on a different forum, I was going to replace the iron and pewter pieces with brass to make for a more "decorative" gun. I see now, that doing so would be a travesty since my version is one that people like the most with the iron buttplate and trigger guard, german silver patchbox, pewter nose cap.
I have a few questions though (before this gets way too long ).
-Just how old is this rifle? The barrel number reads 0103196; its stamped Connecticut Valley Arms, Black Powder Only, .50 Cal. It is a browned barrel. By this description on another site, this sounds like the Deer Creek barrel.
-The barrel thimbles for the ramrod. I only have one as the other must have fell off in shuffling around over the years. Are the thimbles supposed to be browned as the barrel is? The one remaining thimble is browned.
-What wood would be more period correct for a replacement ramrod? And, would iron tips/accessories fit this gun better than brass to be more original?
-Finally, Im going to sand down the finish my dad and I put on this stock and try to find a color more correct with the original gun. Does anyone know what color stain would be the best for this rifle?
Thanks in advance for those of you who care to read this long post. I really appreciate any help you all can be.
I've had this gun for at least 15 years, it was given to me by my old Scoutmaster when I was in Boy Scouts. I killed a couple deer with it, and as things happen sometimes, it got put into storage.
I got it out the other day and it needs some work. My dad and I refinished the stock probably 10 years ago, and he has since passed and the Scoutmaster isn't in too great of health either. I'd like to refinish this gun back to its original glory kind of in honor of both of these men.
The hammer mechanism is still very tight (from what I can tell, I am no gunsmith), there isnt any rust except light surface rust on the butt plate and trigger guard.
Before coming upon this topic and another on a different forum, I was going to replace the iron and pewter pieces with brass to make for a more "decorative" gun. I see now, that doing so would be a travesty since my version is one that people like the most with the iron buttplate and trigger guard, german silver patchbox, pewter nose cap.
I have a few questions though (before this gets way too long
).-Just how old is this rifle? The barrel number reads 0103196; its stamped Connecticut Valley Arms, Black Powder Only, .50 Cal. It is a browned barrel. By this description on another site, this sounds like the Deer Creek barrel.
-The barrel thimbles for the ramrod. I only have one as the other must have fell off in shuffling around over the years. Are the thimbles supposed to be browned as the barrel is? The one remaining thimble is browned.
-What wood would be more period correct for a replacement ramrod? And, would iron tips/accessories fit this gun better than brass to be more original?
-Finally, Im going to sand down the finish my dad and I put on this stock and try to find a color more correct with the original gun. Does anyone know what color stain would be the best for this rifle?
Thanks in advance for those of you who care to read this long post. I really appreciate any help you all can be.
The CVA Mountain Rifle had iron and German silver furniture. The thimbles may or may not have been browned as there was more than one version of the Mountain Rifle. Replacing those with brass, while not a 'travesty', would be remaking the gun into something it wasn't. The iron/pewter/German silver furniture is one of the main reasons the gun is still desirable.
There is no way to accurately date the rifle, even with the serial number. However, it's certainly at least 30 years old and very probably closer to 35.
Walnut would be the preferred stain color, although maple was used as well. The browned barrel suggests the original color was walnut; a blued barrel was used with maple most often, but there were variations.
A hickory ramrod is highly recommended. Walnut and maple might be nice to match the stock as a cosmetic item, but it's virtually impossible to find a straight grain in those materials , and exposing the end grain on a ramrod is asking for a serious injury. Get hickory and stain it to match. Dixie Gun Works should be able to help with that.
There is no way to accurately date the rifle, even with the serial number. However, it's certainly at least 30 years old and very probably closer to 35.
Walnut would be the preferred stain color, although maple was used as well. The browned barrel suggests the original color was walnut; a blued barrel was used with maple most often, but there were variations.
A hickory ramrod is highly recommended. Walnut and maple might be nice to match the stock as a cosmetic item, but it's virtually impossible to find a straight grain in those materials , and exposing the end grain on a ramrod is asking for a serious injury. Get hickory and stain it to match. Dixie Gun Works should be able to help with that.
CraigCollier
Inactive
Thanks alot. What would be a good way to clean and polish the original iron and pewter metalwork? Same as with the hammer mechanism, would this be better left raw iron, just polished and cleaned?
CraigCollier
Inactive
They weren't browned originally though, were they? There's no traces of browning on any of the iron parts.
FrontierGander
New member
i sold this 54 cva hawken for $275 shipped.
I feel that the only reason i was able to make that much was due to the wood grain and my personal touch in the stain and finish.
I feel that the only reason i was able to make that much was due to the wood grain and my personal touch in the stain and finish.
Been too many years since I've seen a good CVA Hawken or Mountain rifle and by my measure, not worth anything close to $300.00. I think that arcticap listings are more in line with what I feel they are worth. But you never know !! Good sidelock prices keep going up and sure that makes the CVA's more attractive. Sorry to see less and less of them. 
.. Good luck !!!
Be Safe !!!
.. Good luck !!!Be Safe !!!
CraigCollier
Inactive
Thanks Hawg, I'm just wanting to refinish this rifle as close to original as possible.
CraigCollier
Inactive
Well thats the thing, I don't want to do anything that is going to detract from the value of the gun (like using wrong hardware).