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Jacob (1786-1849) and Samuel Hawken (1792-1884) are among the most famous makers of American muzzle loaders and worked together in St. Louis in the famous Hawken shop. Their rifles have long been associated with the 19th century frontiersmen, and their early rifles are known to have been used by the mountain men active in the fur trade in the 1830s, including by General William Henry Ashley and the American Fur Company. Many of their rifles, including this one, date to after the heyday of the Rocky Mountain fur trade when Hawken rifles continued to be in demand, including by former fur trappers like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson who found new work as hunters, guides, and scouts. Before large caliber cartridge “buffalo rifles” like the Sharps Model 1874 and Remington Rolling Block became popular for hunting bison, percussion rifles were used for the job, with some rifles upwards of .75 caliber put to use to fell the massive beasts.