difference
in the term just Hawken it refers to an original.
In that scenario, one would need to google up some pictures and specs on an original and compare that to the Santa fe replica imitation.
But basically rememberI am speaking basically and generally.
---
When the hawken brothers moved to St. Louis, they listened to the fur trappers and mountainmen about the conditions out west.
Open plains, winds, bigger game animals and hostile native americans.
so they developed a new style rifle.
shorter barrel but heavier and mostly bored for bigger slugs (50, 54 ca).
But a half wood stock.
Most of the iron work was done in iron, rather than brass and such.
The iron work was not flashy thus spooking the game or giving away their position to the Hostiles.
The heavy barrel allowed for heavier charges thus more velocity and knock down power.
The heavier bullet had more knock down energy and would stay on course better in the wind of the open plains.
Mule deer of the open plains were almost 1/2 again bigger than the smaller white tails, and then they had Moose and elk and grizzly bears also.
Not to mention a determined mountain lion.
By using a 1/2 wood stock, they compensated in weight somewhat for the heavier barrel
The shorter barrel made it easier to carry on horse back and walking.
Easier to swing around in the heavy patches of willow along the rivers and marshes.
The thicker barrel also took abuse better when dropped, and it dissipated the heat from firing better, along with more of it being exposed to the open air.
Today a lot of manufacturers list their rifles as Hawken. based on the basic design, but yet they take free license and make changes.
They use a different shape trigger guard and sights, they sometimes use brass and german silver hardware. They use one tenon instead of two and vice versa.
But if you look at just the bare basics then it is Hawken - esque.
1/2 stock, heavy octagonal barrel, 28 to 34 inches long, open sights,
and normally in the 50 and 54 calibers. although some are made in 45 and 62 and 68 calibers. Poetic license on what they think will sell