6/8/2022 – Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness

.56 caliber. 5″ pinned octagonal barrel. SN: NSN. Damascus patterned barrel, iron mountings, walnut stock with checkered grip. Muzzleloading overcoat sized single shot percussion pistol with captive swivel ramrod. Top flat of barrel marked “J&S HAWKEN/ST. LOUIS”. Unmarked, lightly engraved single-screw stepped percussion lock with spanner nut retained hammer. Iron furniture with lightly engraved tang, triggerguard with urn finial, and hammer. Hawken marked pistols present a true conundrum to the collector. Their rarity makes it extremely difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but it seems that the Hawkens probably did not produce any pistols, but rather retailer marked pistols from other makers. Both Belgian and English made examples of Hawken marked guns are known, as well as pistols that are likely of American origin but whose makers have not been directly identified. Unlike the Plains Rifles produced by the Hawkens, which have very specific identifiable characteristics and features, the handful of known, legitimate Hawken marked pistols are in no way similar or consistent. This pistol is of English mid-19th century styling but the absence of external English proof marks suggests it may well be a Liege product. Belgian proofs were more often applied under the barrel. Due to the pinned nature of the barrel retention and the repairs in the wood, the pins were not removed to examine the bottom of the barrel. A very rare opportunity to own a real J&S Hawken marked percussion pistol that is hard used but exceptionally scarce.