THE BAD;What is the good and the bad about this rifle ?
When I run a clean patch down the bore it comes out clean with no rust color on it. It has a nice wood stock on it. Should I be shooting maxi or mini balls in it ?
if you want to get really technical any BP ML built after the Hawken brothers quit building them, would be a fantasy piece.
Back in early 1800's to late 1850's it was common to see flintlocks by various makers.
because some held on to old traditions and were tooled and trained for such rifles.
So it did take several years to catch up to the new fangled percussion cap/
Today there is no true hawken out there. Unless somebody gets the Hawken patent and then makes the rifle that way.
So technically all we have are hawken copies. Some closer to the original than others
The Hawken "plains rifle" was made by Jacob and Samuel Hawken, in their St. Louis, Missouri shop, which they ran from 1815 to 1858.
so yes flintlocks were mase by them in the early years, and thus yours would not really be a fantasy piece
That is all that matters. When I have to make such measures, I look to see if it's "in-the-spirit". Some are more than others but at best, all are considered "Non-Replicas". I enjoy shooting and teaching all of them. .....I bought this New Englander as a fun gun to shoot, not as a replica of any other gun.
When the powder residue is fresh, I use Ballistol and your TC #13 is suitable. However, once the residue starts to eat your barrel, then you need to use another product. As Hawg first recommended, use Kroil or similar product and keep scrubbing. Basically, you "now" need to attack the rust and yes, soaking will help........Maybe I should be using something else ?
Hornady great plains,