Pedersoli makes some nice sidelocks. The Missouri River Hawkens is a fine example of what they can make. 50cal 1-24 twist Its a shame the 45cal is a 1-47 and not a 1-20.
Pedersoli has some of the strictest proof testing you will find from any vendor anywhere. They voluntarily exceed the requirements for Italy and the CIP.
You are correct about Pedersoli's high end guns. Their percussion locks leave nothing to be desired. Their Mortimer guns, while not strict copies, function very well, as well as look sleek. Their long range percussion rifles REGULARLY WIN TROPHIES & MEDALS against custom guns.
It is the less expensive weapons that start you questioning their design staff. Did they EVER DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, and come to the USA to visit museums (Buffalo Bill Museum)(Museum of the Trade Gun), attend the large muzzleloading shows (CLA?); and get permission to handle real trade guns, Hawken rifles, the various schools of Eastern USA Kentucky/Pennsylvania rifles?
When you get the chance to handle the real thing (Hawken rifle, Tennessee rifle, both percussion), as well as have owned GOOD copies of flintlock long rifles (3); and then handled the offerings from Europe, you can begin to understand just what those offerings lack.
The above Missouri River Hawken is currently THE BEST production Hawken rifle available on the market. It costs well over a thousand dollars.
And, sad to say, it can't hold a candle to an original Hawken, nor a very close modern copy of one.
A modern bench copy of a J.& S. Hawken, or Sam Hawken, percussion, half-stock, iron-mounted, plains rifle by one of the half-dozen builders that truly KNOWS how to build one, will set you back at least $5K-$6K.
NONE OF THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE TODAY FOR BUILDING A HAWKEN RIFLE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BARREL, WILL WORK WITHOUT EXTENSIVE MODIFICATIONS TO MATCH WHAT THE HAWKEN BROS. PRODUCED IN ST. LOUIS.
So the builder makes those mods, or makes the part from scratch.
A real Hawken butt plate, or trigger guard, was made in 2 parts, and brazed together with brass. You could see the brass joint after the part was case hardened.
Butt plates, trigger guards, beavertail tangs, lock plates, nose cap, and the oval escutcheon plates were bone charcoal color case hardened.
All screws were fire blued.
The barrel, snail drum hooked breech plug, triggers, rear sight, wedge key underlugs, and wedge keys were antique rust blued (not browned).
The front sight was a copper base with a coin silver blade soldered into place.
The stock was PLAIN MAPLE, WITH NO CURL. That's right, NO CURL. A true Hawken was a working rifle, not a display piece. The wood was stained as dark as maple could be, usually with aqua fortis. Then finished with several coats of dark-tinted VARNISH. Then the entire rifle was rubbed back to a non-reflective, matte finish.
A Hawken rifle was a premium rifle that cost a years pay, back in the day.
The best production Hawkens to date were the Green River Rifle Works ones that DOC White, and his team of men & women built. And they weren't perfect. But, they were very good, and bring premium prices on the used market today, usually in excess of $2K.