18 years in the making

[DocV]

Was digging in a closet a few weeks ago and came across a rather large and heavy box. Turned out to be a Thompson Center 50 cal Hawkins kit that Mrs. DocV gave me 18 years ago. I had done some initial work on the stock back then and got so involved keeping (then toddler) ChildV in tow that I plumb forgot about it.
Did some more shaping and sanding on the stock; a bit of filing, filling and burnishing ; then slapped on 20 coats of french polish and dulled the finish out a bit with some high-grit paper and 0000 steel wool. The ram-rod still needs a bit more attention but here it is:

[Cshuff21]

Nice!

[texanjoker]

nice surprise to pull out of the closed.

[WildBill]

Many years ago one of my friends built one of these kits. This was in the 70s after the movie, Jeremiah Johnson came out. He came over to my house to cast some bullets. They were huge! He killed many elk with his 50 caliber Hawkins.

[DocV]

I've had my eye on one of those kits for years - great job :)

Thanks! This is my second TC Hawkins. The first kit, some 24 years ago, was in the white. You had to draw file and stone the flats. It took me a month to do the barrel. This kit was a much faster build.

[puma guy]

Very Nice!

[Lano]

Shoot! I bet I could of finished it in 14-15 years.



Seriously, nice job.

[rbwhatever1]

Nice muzzleloader. They're fun to shoot!