G'morning Gents
I was asked to look at a BP rifle that had a couple of issues.
The gun turned out to be a circa mid 70's CVA Hawkens, the old fellow said he got it 45 or so years ago.
He had never shot it and it has been in the gun sock in closet all this time.
Clearly someone had put a scope mount on it, but the scope was long gone.
There was a ramrod, but it was about 4" too short having been snapped off at one end.
Also, the hammer would cock, but would not fall with trigger pull.
Pulling the lock, I found the internals bone dry and with light dusting of surface rust. I disassembled
cleaned off the oxidation and Lighty lubed and reassembled. The set triggers were not adjusted well and once that was righted the action worked just fine.
I made a new ramrod, and I also decided, if he were to shoot it a ball starter would be handy.
So, using the remaining left over cutoff of the hickory ramrod blank, I started to fashion one.
For a final (TIP) I used a once fired brass 38 special case, which I turned down the rim some and pushed out the spent primer and epoxied it on.
I needed a hand grip of some sort, so I went to ACE Hardware, I went back and asked the friendly, helpful hardware man... I mean, that what their jingle say's, right ?
I asked, " Do you have wooden balls ?" ... He said " WHO, the hell do you think I am? Pinocchio ?
Oh ! and coffee is on