Value of Neglected TC .50 Cal Hawkens

StrelokM38

StrelokM38

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
11   0   0
Hey there.

Got a pair of Thompson Center Hawken rifles. Both in .50 cal with set triggers.

Externally, they are in decent condition. Blueing is present and little wear. However, one has a crack in the stock near the rear tang and a non functioning set trigger. Both have carbon built up generously beneath the hammer.

Problem is that the previous owner hadn't cleaned the things at all throughout their use, spent a couple days cleaning out the barrels to reveal something that looks like the surface of the moon. Rifling is 'present', but that's being generous. Corrosion is pretty terrible from start to finish and I doubt they are in a shooting condition.

What kind of value would you put on something like this should he sell them?
 
I think muzzle loaders are pretty easy to de-activate so sell them to someone for a wall hanger. However back when these guns were used I can imagine there were some pretty crappy barrels still in use. Someone might buy one just to have the click-bang-boom experience and all the smoke that goes with it and not really care about accuracy.
Me I would go $50.00 but then I am not in the market.
 
Though the barrels can be replaced or rebored the cost would be more than the value.They could be used as parts guns though and that’s where the value is and I think if the price is right you would have no problem selling them
 
I would pull the breech plugs, clean thoroughly and inspect from end to end. Might or might not be usable.
I think replacement barrels for T-Cs have been made. Easier that fitting a custom barrel. Rebarreling might be cost effective.
 
Cleaning by conventional methods such as bore brushes and solvent doesnt work well in removing rust. The "fuzz" created by rust can make a barrel look much worse then it actually is. I went through a similar experience years ago, and it wasnt till I shot the rifle that I was able to attack the rust. Turned out the barrel was still actually half decent, and the rifle shot quite well.
I'm not recommending you shoot the subject rifles, but you may be premature in your assessment, based upon your current cleaning methods.
 
There is plenty of cratering across the rifling itself. I looked through them both with an endoscope and the corrosion is rather deep and numerous. When I had first put solvent through the barrels, the gunk coming out of it was as thick as paint.

Being quite literal in saying that these had never been cleaned, and had likely been in this state for a long number of years. I can provide some screenshots from the scoping later.
 
For someone prepared to do the work, reaming to smoothbore would be an option. Nothing wrong with a medium sized smoothbore for a lot of hunting or plinking. The barrels are 15/16"? I suspect that a 9/16" reamer wouldn't touch the breech plug threads.

In nice shape, these guns would probably bring $300 - $350 or so. As is, as project pieces, I am sure they would bring $100 apiece almost instantly, maybe $150 in a short time.
 
Green Mountain made drop-in replacement barrels for the T/C Hawken. There's probably a few squirreled away out there.
Many pitted ML barrels have been reamed to smoothbore. There's standard targets for smoothbore competition at Rendezvous shoots.
 
Smoothbore competition requires a flintlock and no rear sight.

GM drop in barrels are no longer available and going for stupid money these days.

If you were local I'd offer $200 for the pair and we'd probably both feel okay about that. I'd expect to spend another $250 getting one of them to shoot then parting out the other to recover some of the cost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom