I've been wondering how to go about this. I've been given a Hawken type stock (for two wedge keys)that lacks a barrel, tang, wedges, trigger/trigger guard and buttplate. The nose cap, barrel rib and patchbox came with it. It is nice enough to make into a great little rifle.

The original barrel (not with the stock) was a .45x7/8" or possible 15/16" (I have access to the barrel and can check the barrel to make sure). Since I've got to get a barrel I would like to get a flint barrel so I would not have to do any metal work such as converting & moving the vent, etc. I don't want to have to spend $200 for a barrel on top of the missing hardware. I'll end up with enough invested as it is.

Any suggestions as to how I should approach the build? I don't know where I could get such a barrel and have checked TOW and others. Any help is appreciated.

I am building a Hawken squirl rifle with a 7/8-3/4 tapered barrel from Mark DeHaas. You can find him thru google. I didn,t order dirct and it took about 2 months to get the barrel. I couldn,t find a Hawken type breech plug and am using a T/C factory Tang with an after market plug. I am building thbis rifle in flint, using a Davis late Ketland lock. I am going to have to drill the breech and hook inorder to get the lock bolt in. If I were doing it again, I would use a long tang breech plug (no hook) from TOW. It would be a lot simpler to install. My stock was originally pre- inleted for a cap lock patent breech and I didn,t think I could make the long tang plug work. How ever I now know that it would have worked if the stock had not been inlet for a trigger. No trigger inlet, you can move the breech and use any lock you choose. I would reccomend a Chambers late Ketland and modify the plate.

Well even if you get a plain barrel and have a traditional plug purchased and installed, you're still looking at nearly $180 with shipping from Track. I don't think you can get a "new" barrel with a proper tang installed for your budget, BUT...,

I'd post something on the Traditional Muzzleloader Association forum under both "Flintlock" and "Trade Blanket" that you are looking for a barrel, and the dimensions. Since we don't sell stuff on this site, that would be a good place to go, as well as Historical Trekking and their message board. You may find somebody with an old barrel that's just gathering dust that might part with it for a price in your range. You might end up with a T/C product after somebody changed to an aftermarket barrel, but that still might be a good buy.


LD

Great idea, Dave. This is not a rush job anyway but rather something to work on in the coming year. I
I've got one already well on it's way, a .54 Hawken type rifle I'm putting together. All that's left on that one is to brown the barrel and snag a lock somewhere. I am quite willing, however, to put that one on the shelf for a while and build out the .45.