Into what has become “the CVA muzzleloader story” on this website. (BPI), I’d like to provide you with my perspective
![connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554 connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/bradfordsauction/42/688942/H22021-L233453516.jpg)
Need to check the rate of twist on my rifle, always thought it was a 1:48 but your info shows that it might be a 1:66, it looks like my barrel is 1 inch across the flats but need to mic it.CVA MUZZLELOADERS: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORYĪs the CEO of Blackpowder Products, Inc. I'm going to guess that my rifle was manufactured in the early 80's before 1987 when all the rest of the stuff was added. Starting around 1987 the date or date code, proof marks and rifle type like Hawken or Frontier were added to the information on the barrel. Seems the CVA Hawken was introduced in 1981 both from what your documentation says and from other sources. SledMan, thanks a whole lot for the information, it confirms some of the stuff I found elsewhere. Something among all the projects to get done. I have a gun I bought pretty cheap a few years ago locally, was told it was a Hawken but it has the English sporting lock and a shotgun butt with a single trigger, wrong screw holding hammer on and sear spring was not tempered correctly, looks like a R.E.Davis lock but is made different on internals and lock plate size, have yet to find a screw to fit it, and no marks on barrel as to who made the barrel or the gun, same with the lock no stampings or engravings of any kind. Your CVA may have been a kit gun, as browsing online it seems some say the CVA kits had no date codes or such and I remember having a CVA kit in the earlier 70's and it had some heavy machining marks on the barrel that by the time it was smoothed and browned would have wiped out any stampings other then the deeper ones for model. Not a bad looking rifle, was cruising gunbroker last week saw a Hawkin with a Douglas barrel was showing the browning on the barrel worn mostly off but not a bad looking gun, sent a email asking on bore condition, seller replied next morning it was sold, well for $300 I knew I should have picked it up. Anyways thank for the replies, I'll keep looking around trying to find an answer. I'm a sucker for them also and will still pick one up at the drop of a hat if the price is right. Maybe that's when they started to stamp "Hawken" on the barrel, don't rightly know much about them and would think there would be more information out there since that model been around for a while. I also found one thread that said the first year of production for the CVA Hawken was 1981 which seems a little late to me. I know the later models were marked "Hawken" next to the rest of the stuff on the barrel. It doesn't have the double "00" most CVA serial numbers start with either.
#CONNECTICUT VALLEY ARMS SERIAL NUMBERS 0026554 SERIAL NUMBER#
Indian Joe, I'm thinking mine is an earlier import, the serial number doesn't have a separate date stamp or code on it just the five digit serial number. It had the reddish factory colored finish on it and the wood still had the machine marks on it from chiseling it out of the blank, saying it was as rough as a cob would be generous. Picked it up at a local gun show for $75.00 with the trigger assembly set too deep in the stock so it wouldn't fire. not the purtiest guns but never had one that wouldnt shoot right up there with the bestīP Bill, I've had it for about ten years.
![connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554 connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554](https://decg5lu73tfmh.cloudfront.net/gunvaluesboard.com/images/fbfiles/images/828w/pistol4-kql32mxrpb_v_1517446608.jpg)
a couple branded Dikar spain, a couple Connecticut Valley Arms, got one low number barrel with a 00xxx serial dont know whether its later or earlier I found these things hard to resist at the time, a kit gun for 120 bucks and a spare barrel for 50 !?.
![connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554 connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/bradfordsauction/42/688942/H22021-L233453522.jpg)
Thanks AllEddie my CVA's (several of them) are 1987 imports (dealer got a bulk buy I think) anyway these start the serial number with the year. Just wondering if anybody could supply an approximate manufacturing date or at least the first year CVA offered the Hawken. I know there's a lot of information available on the Mountain Rifle but can't find squat on dating the CVA Hawken. Serial number is 49*63 with no date or "K" for a kit. It has a brown barrel marked with "Connecticut Valley Arms", "Black powder only " and "Spain" with no proof marks.
![connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554 connecticut valley arms serial numbers 0026554](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/16/ed/a116ed48ea45ddb9dbfcb6b39f36f553.jpg)
My regular shooter is a CVA Hawken cap lock and I'm wondering about it's age.