Hawken rifle facts for kids

The Hawken rifle was a special type of muzzle-loading rifle. It was very popular in the American West during the early days of exploration. People used it on the prairies and in the Rocky Mountains.

This rifle was first made in the 1820s. It became known as the "plains rifle" or the "buffalo gun." It was also a favorite for fur trappers. After the American Civil War, newer rifles like the Sharps rifle and lever-action rifles took its place.

The Hawken rifle was created and sold by two brothers, Jacob and Samuel Hawken. They learned how to make rifles from their father on the East Coast. The brothers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1815. This was when the fur trade in the Rocky Mountains was just starting.

They opened a gun shop in St. Louis. There, they designed their "Rocky Mountain Rifle." They wanted to make a high-quality gun that was light enough to carry. It also needed to be powerful enough to hunt large animals from far away. This rifle was perfect for fur trappers, traders, and explorers.

In 1858, other people took over the gun shop. They kept making and selling rifles with the Hawken name. These owners included William S. Hawken, William L. Watt, and J. P. Gemmer. Gemmer closed the business in 1915 when he retired.

History of the Hawken Rifle

The first known Hawken rifle was made in 1823. It was built for a man named William Henry Ashley. The Hawken brothers did not make their rifles in large factories. Instead, they built each one by hand, one at a time.

Many famous people were said to have owned Hawken rifles. These included Hugh Glass, Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, and Theodore Roosevelt. These rifles were known for being very accurate and able to shoot long distances.

The Hawken rifle company was sold in 1862. The last rifle actually made by a Hawken was built in 1884. Even though they were popular with mountain men and hunters, muzzleloaders like the Hawken were slowly replaced. Newer, mass-produced rifles, such as the Sharps rifle and the Winchester rifle, became more common. These new rifles were "breech-loading," meaning they loaded from the back, which was faster.

How the Hawken Rifle Was Designed

Hawken rifles were usually shorter than older "Kentucky rifles." They also had a larger caliber, which means the bullet was bigger. The design of these rifles was similar to the Harpers Ferry Model 1803. They often had a "half stock," meaning the wood part of the rifle went halfway down the barrel. Some also had a "full stock" that went all the way.

These "Rocky Mountain" guns usually had a .50 or .53 caliber. Some were even as large as .68 caliber. They typically weighed about 10.5 pounds (about 4.7 kg). However, some heavier ones weighed up to 15 pounds (about 6.8 kg).

The barrels were made of strong cast steel. They had eight flat sides on the outside. This design helped reduce "fouling," which is when gunpowder residue builds up inside. The barrels came in different lengths, like 33 or 36 inches.

The rifle's stock (the part you hold) was made of walnut or maple wood. It often had a curved cheek piece, which looked a bit like a beaver's tail. This part was sometimes called a "beaver tail."

Hawken rifles often had "double triggers." The back trigger was a "set" trigger. When you pulled the back trigger, it didn't fire the gun. Instead, it made the front trigger very sensitive, like a "hair trigger." This meant the front trigger would fire the gun with just a light touch. If you didn't use the set trigger, the front trigger needed a much harder pull. The front sight on the rifle was a simple blade sight. Unlike many modern copies, the butt plate and other metal parts were made of iron, not brass.

Hawken Rifles in Pop Culture

In the famous Winnetou books by Karl May, the main characters owned Hawken rifles. Winnetou was a brave Native American warrior. His blood brother, Old Shatterhand, also had one. Winnetou decorated his rifle with silver thumb tacks. Old Shatterhand named his rifle "Bear Slayer."

The 1972 movie Jeremiah Johnson also featured a Hawken rifle. Robert Redford played a mountain man who used this type of rifle. The movie helped make people more interested in replicas of these rifles. It also brought back the popularity of muzzleloaders among hunters today.

See also

In Spanish: Fusil Hawken para niños