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The project started as a search for a new barrel with a tighter twist for my .50 cal Cabelas Hawken. I didn’t think the original barrel with a 1-48 twist rate would stabilize longer Kalifornia mandated “lead free” hunting bullets. It quickly became apparent that a suitable barrel was almost unobtainable, and if found would cost $300+ in used and usually stripped (no sights, wedge lug, etc.) condition. That was a little more than I wanted to spend, so I started to look at other options.
We have a CVA Bobcat stock and lock that was bought to up-size my son’s Jr. Hunter (also a 1-48 barrel) so I thought that that would be a great base for a new fast-twist barrel. Found on ebay a cva 1-32 twist Grey Wolf barrel. It was complete, had one fitted barrel wedge lug, included sights and ram rod, and in great shape except for having a stuck bullet. They were asking $60 for it.
Bought it. When it arrived pulled the bullet and tried to fit it onto the stock. It wouldn’t fit, the stock was to short. This was the d’oh moment. Who’d a thunk that CVA made different sized stocks and barrels??? Yeah, should have known better, but the Bobcat stock took the Jr Hunter’s barrel with no problem, and both of the barrels used one wedge. I didn’t want to return the barrel, but the seller had sold the original stock and lock months ago. Time for some research.
There is really very little available information about CVA sidelocks. The company phased them all out about 15 years ago in favor of their in-line designs. They don’t have any information, stock no parts, and even offer to buy back the old rifles for a discount on the newer designs. Turns out that they made at least 3 different sized Hawken styled stocks, two with 1 wedge, one with 2. To complicate things, there are 2 tang designs, and 3 types of locks. Barrels came in two different widths, 1" or 13/15" across the flats.
Found and bought a cva Hawken Hunter stock, a completely undocumented model, complete except for the lock. Of course, it couldn’t use the lock that we have, it takes the larger, harder to find one. Found one of those.
The end result is a Frankenstein Hawken that turns out almost exactly what I wanted. It has a 1-32 twist barrel, fast enough for most lead-free sabots, a nice wood stock, and it weighs in at 6.7 lbs, almost 1.5 lbs lighter than the Cabellas Hawken. The last mod was installing a Williams peep sight.
Total cost of the project: $185 and about 3 weeks of research and ebay hunting.
Why didn’t I just buy an inline? Already have one, with the same twist rate, but I like the looks and handling of side locks. Why didn't I buy a sidelock that would work? I didn't think this would morph into another rifle, so I didn't even think about it.
Sorry that this was a bit long. It’s a shame that so many nice rifles go to ebay to die, but I’m glad it’s out there as a parts source for some really cool projects.
_20190324_122349s.jpg
We have a CVA Bobcat stock and lock that was bought to up-size my son’s Jr. Hunter (also a 1-48 barrel) so I thought that that would be a great base for a new fast-twist barrel. Found on ebay a cva 1-32 twist Grey Wolf barrel. It was complete, had one fitted barrel wedge lug, included sights and ram rod, and in great shape except for having a stuck bullet. They were asking $60 for it.
Bought it. When it arrived pulled the bullet and tried to fit it onto the stock. It wouldn’t fit, the stock was to short. This was the d’oh moment. Who’d a thunk that CVA made different sized stocks and barrels??? Yeah, should have known better, but the Bobcat stock took the Jr Hunter’s barrel with no problem, and both of the barrels used one wedge. I didn’t want to return the barrel, but the seller had sold the original stock and lock months ago. Time for some research.
There is really very little available information about CVA sidelocks. The company phased them all out about 15 years ago in favor of their in-line designs. They don’t have any information, stock no parts, and even offer to buy back the old rifles for a discount on the newer designs. Turns out that they made at least 3 different sized Hawken styled stocks, two with 1 wedge, one with 2. To complicate things, there are 2 tang designs, and 3 types of locks. Barrels came in two different widths, 1" or 13/15" across the flats.
Found and bought a cva Hawken Hunter stock, a completely undocumented model, complete except for the lock. Of course, it couldn’t use the lock that we have, it takes the larger, harder to find one. Found one of those.
The end result is a Frankenstein Hawken that turns out almost exactly what I wanted. It has a 1-32 twist barrel, fast enough for most lead-free sabots, a nice wood stock, and it weighs in at 6.7 lbs, almost 1.5 lbs lighter than the Cabellas Hawken. The last mod was installing a Williams peep sight.
Total cost of the project: $185 and about 3 weeks of research and ebay hunting.
Why didn’t I just buy an inline? Already have one, with the same twist rate, but I like the looks and handling of side locks. Why didn't I buy a sidelock that would work? I didn't think this would morph into another rifle, so I didn't even think about it.
Sorry that this was a bit long. It’s a shame that so many nice rifles go to ebay to die, but I’m glad it’s out there as a parts source for some really cool projects.
_20190324_122349s.jpg
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