levergun saddle scabbards

[kimwcook]

This is for all our cowboy levergunners or those who use a saddle scabbard on their ATV's. What saddle scabbard, that's available today, would you suggest. Come on Rangerider, Bigsky, 20 cows et al, what you say.

These are the one's I'm leaning towards. http://www.rankinsaddlery.com







I really like the looks of these. Somehow they look right.

[jnyork]

You might think about making your own, here's one from the 1930's that goes with my 1886 Winchester .33WCF, has been in the family since about 1934 or so.

[kimwcook]

That's pretty dog gone close except for the laced up sides and hair on.

Tell me about the 1886.

[morgan in nm]

I use an old Abercrombie. I really like it because it is light weight and thin enough to have a rifle in it and dousn't rub my leg or the horse.

[rjohns94]

I would be interested in ones that large loop levers could fit in. My 92 needs one and I can find any in this area. I was thinking of one just like those posted but i don't think the large lever would work in them.

[Malamute]

Those look like nice quality leather goods.


I for one prefer sights up in a scabbard. I can't see any good coming from the weight of the gun constantly pounding and rubbing on the scabbard while the horse walks/runs. You may get away with it fine, or, perhaps not. Wearing the finish off the top of the sights doesnt seem like a good idea in any event.

[Hillbilly]

If you ride with the rifle butt-rear and barrel (or butt forwards for that matter) under the stirrup skirt... You will probably find the thinner the scabbard is the less it will bug you.

I have a factory made scabbard that is rather thick and not form fitted very well... it bows my leg off the horse if I rig it horizontal. I use that one near vertical... right side-front.

I will make the next one... and I will pay attention to the relationship of the straps to the saddle rigging. I dont think some of the factory-mass produced scabbards have the straps in the right places. How the scabbard hangs will place it forward or back in relation to the riders leg, the hip of the horse and the horses shoulder and neck... some place the rifle way back... the one I have puts the muzzle in the crease of the neck.

J

[kimwcook]

First of all carrying a rifle saddleback is a pain. Either one holds it in their hands, rests it across the pommel/seat of uses a scabbard. Or some other version of a rifle boot from the horn. But, I'd rather have it in a scabbard then hold it for most of the ride. If for some reason I think I should have it out, I'll take it out. If I feel I should have my rifle out I should be on the ground with the horse secured somewhere else. It's no fun trying to take care of a horse and do business at the same time. Even a well broke horse.

[Griff]

First of all carrying a rifle saddleback is a pain. Either one holds it in their hands, rests it across the pommel/seat of uses a scabbard. Or some other version of a rifle boot from the horn. But, I'd rather have it in a scabbard then hold it for most of the ride. If for some reason I think I should have it out, I'll take it out. If I feel I should have my rifle out I should be on the ground with the horse secured somewhere else. It's no fun trying to take care of a horse and do business at the same time. Even a well broke horse.

AMEN.

[kimwcook]

Nice to see you popped up, Griff.

Kind of seems like I've seen you post here and there. Been busy?

[BigSky56]

Kim
Any of those would work I carry mine sights up butt to the rear on the right side of the horse, always have the rifle on the off side that you dismount from no hang ups if you have to get off quick. Ive carried rifles this way for years working cows and hunting, never had any problems. danny

[kimwcook]

Danny, you don't worry about not seeing your rifle as you're riding along. In case some brush grabs onto it. You can always tie it down. In the past I've always carried mine butt forward so I can some what keep an eye on it.

[BigSky56]

Kim
I keep the butt of the rifle at about the top of the horses hip bone and if Iam going up real steep country I will use a leather string. I tried butt forward but it interfered with spurring, even chasing a cow and tossing a loop I havent lost a rifle, I'll see if I cant find a photo. danny

[mescalero1]

When I worked, Danny's method worked for me.

[bsaride]

Never used one but I would want it lined to cover the rivets on the inside to prevent
scratching up the rifle. just my 2 cents worth.

[20cows]

I made mine and though it is very plain, it works for me.



This is how I hang it on the pony-



I punched a slotted hole closer to the opening (about where the trigger rides in the scabbard, so it would hang a little farther rearward than it did originally. It was so far forward it interfered with my horses head at times. I'll try to get a picture of that.

[20cows]

The rivits are so high up in the seam, the gun can't touch them (on mine, any way).

[mescalero1]

20 cows,
Looks good, and I mean the WHOLE rig.

[mescalero1]

Why the hack and the bit?

[BigSky56]

Kim
This has always worked for me it doesnt get in the way of spurring or roping and so long as the muzzle is above his belly line it wont hang up going over blowdowns. Danny


Did the pic come thru this time?

[mescalero1]

Danny,
The pic does not show for me.

[BigSky56]

Mescalero
Thats a roping tiedown 20 Cows is using it keeps the horses head down while roping as they say it keeps the horse collected. I have to use one sometimes on my big heading horse when he gets uppity. danny

[mescalero1]

Thought there was a control issue of some sort.

[mescalero1]

Thanks Danny,
Got it now, my 472 has a 17 1/2 " barrel, never an issue.

[Buck Elliott]

Kim
Any of those would work I carry mine sights up butt to the rear on the right side of the horse, always have the rifle on the off side that you dismount from no hang ups if you have to get off quick. Ive carried rifles this way for years working cows and hunting, never had any problems. danny

My preference also. As for gettin' snagged and lost, the scabbard shown at the beginning of this thread pretty much does away with all that. BTW I carry mine with the sights UP...

[Buck Elliott]

Never used one but I would want it lined to cover the rivets on the inside to prevent
scratching up the rifle. just my 2 cents worth.

Properly set rivets are NOT a problem...

[Hillbilly]

Big Sky... you must be pretty tall? On the horse I ride these days... I cant get a scabbard out from my heel like that. but I am a short guy with a big tall horse.
Looking for a shorter horse.... the ground is a lot further down at 50 than it was at 25 .
good looking picture
~J

[BigSky56]

Hillbilly
I was 6'3 before I went in the service had a few helio accidents and shrunk some , when I was 25 it didnt hurt when my pony put me in the dirt at 55 it can hurt for a day or two. I use to have a cow pony that was a little humpy first thing in the morning it was a coin toss to see who would persevere. danny

[Griff]

Danny, that's the way I carry mine also. Bein' a lefty I don't like anything near the right side of my horn. Plus I think a butt-forward carry interfers with flexibility. YMMV.

And rivets are optional; I don't have a pic, but one of mine has tabs that extend beyond the seam line, slots cut in the leather to pass the latigo thru and are sewn for strength, I actually like this better than rivets, but few makers seem to make 'em this way.

[20cows]

Why the hack and the bit?

It's not a hack and a bit. It's a halter with lead rope and a bit. I have since switched to a mecate. It has simplified a few things. I don't have a good pic handy.

[mescalero1]

If you get a pic, will you post, sorry?

[Hillbilly]

20 Cows...who built your saddle?
I am sorta looking for a Will James or Small- horned Wade tree....I always thought you had a really nice rig and that saddle is pretty close to what I am looking for.
Hill

[kimwcook]

I like both 20 cows and Big Sky's rigs.

Take a look here: http://www.shootingstar.montana.com/

Shameless plug. Jeff Morrow made my saddle and it's awfully close to the Beartooth Ranger, but without the exposed stirrup leathers. Get ready for sticker shock. Although looking around you'll find out he's very competitively priced. Custom stuff doesn't come cheap.

[Travis Morgan]

First of all carrying a rifle saddleback is a pain. Either one holds it in their hands, rests it across the pommel/seat of uses a scabbard. Or some other version of a rifle boot from the horn. But, I'd rather have it in a scabbard then hold it for most of the ride. If for some reason I think I should have it out, I'll take it out. If I feel I should have my rifle out I should be on the ground with the horse secured somewhere else. It's no fun trying to take care of a horse and do business at the same time. Even a well broke horse.

Depends on the horse, the rider, and the rifle.

Subsonic loads are a lot more comfortable for the horse's ears, so they'll put up with it a hell of a lot longer. If you routinely shoot say, a Model 92 in .45 Colt loaded under 1K FPS, and are smart enough to not shoot it past your horse's face, or over his head, he won't give you too much of a fit when you unlimber the old '94, once in a while. Dad used to walk his mare out into the pond and shoot cigarette butts with his .32 special, and she'd just put up with it, since he did it so often.

Keep in mind, however, the above anecdote involved a hell of a well trained horse, and the man that got her that way, who knew how to handle both horses and guns in dangerous situations. Having a horse, rifle, and SASS badge doesn't mean you know what you're doing, so go slow, and start with a beat up, EMPTY rifle.

[20cows]

This is the best shot of a mecate rig like mine I have at the moment. It is my late brother Mikel's. The mecate is a single rope attached to the right side of the bit by a "slobber leather" to form a closed rein and then from the left side of the bit it extends as a lead rope with a leather popper on the end to use as a quirt, if you need it.



My saddle was made by a friend, Kenneth Thompson, in Winters, Texas. He made it the way I asked him to. It is a big saddle (17"), but I weighed over 300 pounds when he made it. I ain't giving it up, though!



This is my scabbard before I added the mounting slot to move the trapper more to the rear. I now sits far enough back that it does not interfere with the horse's movement at all. My previous post shows the current position.

[BigSky56]

Kim
Thats my riding and hunting rig its a fred hook slickfork it weights about 25 lbs it is a pleasure to ride in all day, hook uses a McClellan tree in his saddles. danny

[Travis Morgan]

Fred Hook (his shop is called Montana pack and saddlery) Makes the most comfortable saddles I've ever used. Ugly as hell, but worth it.