I have for sale a Thompson Center Hawken in .50 caliber.  When I acquired this rifle, it was in pretty rough shape externally, but its saving grace was a shiny, intact bore.  The rifle started life in kit form (as evidenced by the "K" serial number and "K" stampings in the barrel channel and lock mortise), and the person who assembled it removed the factory cheek piece from the walnut stock.  I've been told many shooters prefer this arrangement, as it eliminates or reduces "cheek slap."  The removal was nicely done, and looks like it came from the factory that way.  Anyway, the wood has some nice figure and grain, so I hand sanded it and applied four hand-rubbed coats of Birchwood Casey Tru Oil.  The brass furniture had some corrosion and scratches, so I hand sanded and polished them.  The barrel did not appear to ever have had any finish applied to it, and it had some surface rust and flecking.  So, I draw filed it, removing most of the imperfections, but didn't want to overdo it, so some slight "character marks" are still visible.  I then applied three coats of Birchwood Casey Plum Brown to the barrel and tang.  I installed a more traditional looking fixed rear sight and blade front sight, but the original modern adjustable sights are also included, should one wish to use those.  The lock has some light flecking to the finish, but nothing major.  I also installed a new Hot Shot nipple.  All of the factory supplied Phillips head screws (ugly and not period correct) were replaced with slotted steel or brass screws, as appropriate.  The original ramrod was nicely "candy striped" by the original builder, and so I left it that way.  So, with many hours of elbow grease and TLC, it is now much more pleasing to the eye.  It's not perfect, but is a nice looking vintage muzzleloader, and should provide its new owner with many years of enjoyment, whether punching paper or white tails.  $475 $450 $425 $400