Here is a modern copy of the Bridger Hawken . Note the browned barrel and furniture and the fancy maple stock finished to enhance the figure in the maple , the long bar adjustable rear sight and German silver surrounds on the forestock . What doesn ’ t show are the lost wax investment cast parts , the 5-axis CNC pantograph that carved the stock , the modern GBQ steel , the P & W automated CNC drill and rifling machine and CNC planer that made the barrel , plus all the superb modern technology that contributed to the final product . The one great thing about all this is that it makes the final product as inexpensive as it is . It means that the average shooter can afford one if he puts his mind to it . Doing it the old way , without the advantages of modern technology , would cost a fortune .
As for myself , and I am probably typical of the genre , I use the best maple I can get with the best figure simply because $ 100 extra for the wood will yield $ 300 extra on the gun . Plain maple is to be avoided except where specifically ordered . I almost always finish it with modern clear penetrating oils preceded by Laurel Mountain stain and finally LM stock finish- which is really a very pliable varnish . I do this for a simple reason . The rifle sells better for a higher price if I do . Tradition be damned . I have found that a traditional finished stock detracts from the final price of the rifle , moderns just don ’ t like it . I have done a few with the blackish varnish finish , but only on special order for those who know what they want .
I also buy the best barrels I can get , machined to fit the stocks carved on a 5 place CNC auto carver , digitally fed . I almost always finish them brown , simply because that ’ s what the public demands . Once in a blue moon , I get an order for a traditional rust blued one but I ’ m always careful to over blue it so a tinge of rust brown shows through for that worn , antique touch .
I often antique rust blue the lock , hammer , trigger guard and buttplate , but I ’ ve had buyers complain because they weren ’ t ‘ correctly ’ browned . I rarely case harden the same parts in color again because it adds substantially to the cost and it ’ s not normally profitable to do it , unless on special order . The same goes for the real silver decorations and especially the silver plated forestock end-cap . Most moderns prefer German silver , it ’ s just as pretty and far more durable with less care needed . And the real thing adds to the cost : A wax cast nose-cap costs about $ 10 , the plating cost $ 40-50 , the customer gets charged even more , as those base costs don ’ t include S & H or the time / effort to get the job done . Same goes for the front sight . German silver is stronger than the real thing and brass bases are tougher than copper , too . As an aside , nobody knows what an original Hawken front sight looked like . Most show signs of modification in their later years . Likely the Hawkens did what I do now - leave the front sight a bit high so the shooter can file it into the shape he wants when he first sights it in .
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