Full stock percussion rifle made by Samuel Hawken of St. Louis, Missouri, between 1849 and 1861. A letter (by noted collector/authority Rudyard Rapp) that accompanies the rifle states that it was purchased from the original Hawken gun shop in St. Louis by a member of the Kessel family of Ava, Illinois, and remained in the possession of the family for approximately 125 years until sold at a farm auction by descendants in 1980s. The rifle has a full octagon, .43 caliber, barrel with brass front sight and dove-tail mounted buckhorn rear sight. The top flat is stamped: "S. HAWKEN ST. LOUIS" in a single line on the top of the barrel. The rifle has a full length, wedge-fastened, maple stock with simple cheek-piece. The end cap, ramrod pipes, crescent buttplate and finger-spur trigger guard are brass. The rifle has adjustable, double-set, triggers and a hickory ramrod. Traces of a simple wild fowl engraving are visible on the lock-plate. Although Samuel Hawken is famous for the "Plains Rifles" made for the western fur trade during the 1840s he also made small bore, utilitarian, "Plain Rifles" like this example.

Very good. The rifle barrel has an untouched, dark age patina with flash pitting around the bolster. The "S. HAWKEN ST. LOUIS" markings on the barrel are light but legible. The hammer and lock plate have heavy flash pitting. The stock is also in very good overall condition with a small chip in the toe of the buttplate. The stock has a dark stain or age patina that extends nearly to the lock and a lighter walnut finish from the lock to the endcap. The brass furniture has an attractive mustard yellow patina. This is a solid example of a rare S. Hawken percussion "Plain Rifle" with southern Illinois provenance. Many gun collectors desire to own a Hawken Rifle, so here is your opportunity!