The only knock I've seen on the St Louis Hawken is it's got plastic sights, but you can get other sights from Dixie.

I had one on backorder from BassPro and intended to order a buckhornrear sight and blade front for it, but I changed my mind and switched the order to the Kentucky rifle kit instead. Not because I think the Kentucky rifle is better than the Hawken, at all, but I'd made the Kentucky rifle kit from CVA many years ago and it got stolen. I really liked that one, It was 2nd most accurate ball shooter I've ever owned - only the old 50's vintage Turner Kirkland .40 cal squirrel rifle was better -and I decided at long last it was time to replace it.

By the way, when I called this morning, they told me the St Louis Hawkenis finally in stock againand ready to ship.