Need information on what has worked for you for a rifle scabbard for the saddle. The rifle is a Marlin 336. No scope. Any photos of how you attached it would be great. Questions like right side, left side, stock forward or back? Thanks.

Everyone has different preferences, but these are mine.

I have long since preferred a plain leather one. Ones with fleece lining attracts debris and water, heavy nylon padded ones don't give enough protection.

I gave up on the separately hooded ones. The hood is just a PITA. If weather is bad ,I always carry a garbage bag along and cover the butt end. The ones with just a flap work well, but you might have to add a leather thong and big button in place of the snap.( a disc cut off a deer antler works well for the button).

For attachment, I use the quick clip carabiners that are spring loaded,nand shaped like a pear.Then I use a small leather strap to fix a small ring on the saddle at the flank cincha rigging to clip the carabiner to. On the front, I usually run a longer strap with a ring down thru the gullet and over the pommel. I adjust it's height as necessary to give the scabbard a down slope towards the front. Rough country for added safety I use the rear saddle ties around the butt of the rifle to tie it off too. I have it adjusted so the scabbard fits about right under my knees joint. That is why those flat sided 92's and 94's were such great saddle guns.

I prefer, butt rearward on near side so the butt is under the saddlebags. I have probably carried a scabbard with scope down for over 30 years and have never had a scope loose zero..

I don't like the scabbard set at a high angle, with the butt upwards towards the pommel of the saddle. Carried that way, it interferes with reining and sooner or later the horse or mule is going to go on one side of the tree and the scabbard on the other side giving you a broken stock. BTDT.

I like the near side as I am ponying a pack animal about 99% of the time and if the scabbard is on the off side,, butt rearward you constantly get the lead rope of the animal you are ponying caught up in it.

My saddle isn't real heavy , but with a cantle bag for a pauncho/raingear, saddlebags, pommel bag and scabbard it weighs a lot more than I need so I fix all of those things so they can be snapped on and off when I unsaddle and then saddle back up. Sure helps on those cold mornings when the leather is stiff and your hands are numb.

Sorry ,I don't have any photos of the rigging

Thanks for the great information. I was hoping that you would chime in with some input.

I too think that a leather unlined scabbard would be the way to go and I like the way you attach your scabbard.

Do you have a scabbard you can recommend? I was looking at the one that Colorado Saddlery sells. I have purchased other items from them and has always been quality stuff.

Like saddlesore, I prefer a leather scabbard with no lining and no hood. Snow or rain I slip a small plastic bag over the butt and if not too windy a poncho will protect it too.

Unlike saddlesore, I rig it on the offside, butt to the rear.



99-A saddlegun

I buy from Walkers Saddlery in Lost Tine Oregon. Jim has never disappointed me and his products are top rate. I'm sure Colorado Saddlery will do you right too.

I don't know why I have four scabbards and there is only one of me.

I have a brother in SW PA that has one he doesn't use anymore. I think it is for a scoped rifle though. They still work for non-scoped though.Probably get it pretty cheap if you are interested

Fleece-lined is the cat's ass. A filthy, disease ridden, diarrhea inficted cat's ass. They would absolutely ruin a rifle here, and other places as well. I'd sling a rifle while in the saddle before I used one of those.

Here is an axe on SonnyD(to help balance the rifle) opposite the rifle. The rifle is a right-handed bolt so has to go on the off side. I've seen too many broken stocks from carrying butt forward in *this* country. It'll catch a tree and snap.



A rifle slung on Mac:


Axe on the Creamsicle:


Try to avoid affecting your leg, and the horse's motion. Make sure a bolt gun doesn't allow the bolt to poke the horse. That's why I'm obligated to have it off-side, while I'd prefer to have it on the side I mount/dismount. Also I prefer to not have the gun ride on the scope, or I could hang it on the near side.

These scabbards have leather straps and I just feed them through the girth rings.

A lot of what I posted really doesn't apply to your case as your are hanging a LA. But some thoughts to keep in mind.

Also, take the sling off and put it in your pocket.








Hint there.

Here's a pic of my bro in law on his horse. Leather straps and buckles through d rings on saddle to adjust for height.



The scabbards we are using were made by his leather guy copying a scabbard dad had bought in the 80's at a local farm store. His leather guy didn't like the rough leather inside, so ripped the first one apart and lined with smooth goat leather. $125 is what he charged if I remember right for the 2 I bought. Beats the $80 one I bought locally by a long margin.

The information and the photos are great! Makes me wish fall was here.

One thing you have to watch out for when using a scabbard with butt rearward is have the muzzle end adjusted so it will not gall the horse or mules leg. The front leg motion going back and forth will gall a horse or mule pretty quick.

Notice on the white horse of Ironbender's that the muzzle end is past the shoulder. Whereas in Cheesey's photo the muzzle end is right on the shoulder or leg. I have galled a mule when mounted as Cheesy's photo shows

As Ironbender said, it sure helps to put something on the other side to keep you saddle balanced. Even if it's a full canteen hanging from the horn.

The reason I like to have the scabbard nearside is I'm a short old fart and whenever I tried the off side, I would catch my leg on the scabbard as I swung it over. Again I will mention that my scope is down and I have never had one loose zero.

Great points, Vince.

The best way to balance is with pard's .410 revolver for spruce chickens on the way into camp.

I'm tempted to flip my rifle to have it on the business side of my horse.

Here is horror story about carrying a scabbard, butt forward.

Below is a photo of a TC Hawkin right after I restocked it to fit me. The original stock pounded the heck out of me when shooting big maxiballs. It was no easy task as drilling the long hole for the ramrod took some doing. Now it has three walnut glued dowels in from the top ,just in back of the rear lug, above that cross crew. This was due to cracked stocked.

We had rode out in the dark that morning and I was riding a three year old green broke mule that had a case of the jitters continuously. When we got to our hunting area, we dismounted and were about to tie up. Something spooked that mule and she lunged forward. I had not even had time to take the rifle out of the scabbard. The scabbard was mounted, stock forward and when she lunged, she went on one side of the aspen I was going to tie to and the scabbard went to the other. The leather strap on front broke, but so did the stock. I didn't know it until it got light and I was a mile away from the mules.

This particular rifle is on it's way back to me from TC after they re-barreled it from being worn out, the 2nd time.

I should have taken note as last year the same mule, now 12, ran off with me and when I baled of, I got banged up pretty good. I ought to shot the damn thing for bear bait, but she is going to be a pack mule now.



This is the only rifle I ever had problems with carrying it upside down. The TC rear sights are spring laoded and kept in place with a screw. Riding on the screw, the sights move and shift the zero. I replaced it with a peep sight.

http://www.aussiesaddle.com/Products/Shootist/carbine_scabbard.html

this is one that is interesting to me. Not at that price though.

I like mine on the front of the saddle pointed down. Under my leg gets me sore pretty fast.

What about when the critter rears and puts the stock in your forehead?

It looks like it would take up a lot of room in front of the saddle. Also would be difficult to protect from the weather.

My marlin carbine runs shorter than that one. It puts the gun farther forward than tying to the front of the saddle like I currently do. Leather scabbard fills up with leaves and needles and requires dumping out a couple times daily.

Been getting lazy and putting my rifle on the pack horse.

Wow. Best wishes.

Rooster didn't need a scabbard. He drove with his teeth and kept his rifle in hand for when he needed it in a hurry.

Why ride a horse that rears? Not me.

Yea, but I have dentures in the front and I can see the mule running off with my false teeth clamped on the reins and me sitting on the ground.

but, at least you'd still have your rifle.....

The only way to roll if you plan on jump shooting.

Trail riding might be a different story, never tried it.

That is the best way to have it if your going to bale and flale. My knee bothered me to much last year to carry like that. I moved the scabbard opposite side more vertical. Reach over pull the rifle with left hand while dismounting in one motion. The horse is a little more free to bend his neck with a more vertical rifle also.

That way works until the horse and scabbard goes on the opposite side of tree. Which will happen if you ride in thick timer sooner or later. BTDT

As an example, this photo shows a dense stand of aspen in back of me that I had to thread down thru, with many trees about knee width apart in the saddle. Weaving in an out and paying attention to the pack mule to make sure it doesn't go on the wrong side of a tree, a person sometimes forgets about what's on his saddle.



Of course Sam's photo shows pretty much open country with no trees so it should work ok.

Lot of different ways that can be suited to the type of country one rides in.

I know all about that, can find out real quick how good that Mcmillan stock really is.

I've never had trouble splitting stuff apart on trees. If the rifle is mounted high enuff, you can always reach down and push it against the horse when ya see the tree coming. Another upside is, the rifle is always where you can see it. When you lose your first rifle outta the low, near-side backwards scabbard that a limb pops open and the rifle falls out in the snow in rough stuff where it's not immediately noticed, you'll damn sure re-thunk yer options......







There is also some extra security/protection from the top scabbard strap breaking and flinging yer gun into la-la land, if ya rig it thru the lariat....


A bazillion miles scope-down has also proven to NOT be a prollem....


And, it's a lot easier to lash meat to a stock saddle when the scabbard don't cover the dee/rigging rings.....


A good scabbard is also a great way to transport yer rifle up to the trailhead.

Pat, I like that, bale and flale!




SS, yeah, open country is way less tricky.

And unlike you I'm not leading anything so maneuverability is way easier.

Generally when riding through trees it's going to be slow going which makes the rare 'hang-up' not a big deal. Branches hurt when they start whapping ya too hard!

That's a jo... , ah say, that's a joke son!

That's how I rigged it last year, easier on my knee and just tuck it in by the neck in tight spots. The only down fall with that setup is rain and snow getting down the scabbard.

I have been around a lot of horses carrying rifles and many owners have strong feelings about the proper way to rig the scabbard. It could be the same in the case of this thread.

Open country, semi-open country, brush, timber, trails or no trails are all legitimate considersations in rigging the scabbard. Other considerations are horse health, saddle balance and safety. Another consideration is how many shoot-em-up westerns we have watched.

I would prefer to carry the rifle on the near side with butt up to the rear, muzzle down so when I dismount it is easy to grab the gun butt and yank it out even if the horse moves or jerks forward. However, saddle balance is paramount for me and there is a trade off. Therefore, as shown in my pic previously posted, I carry the rifle on the offside butt up to the rear, muzzle down.

With practice I found I can dismount quickly with the rifle in the right hand without dropping the rifle or creating a wreck.

Interesting thread.

Why would you want to hunt on a horse that rears up? I don't and will not own that ain't broke better than that.

[quote=huntsman22]I've never had trouble splitting stuff apart on trees. If the rifle is mounted high enuff, you can always reach down and push it against the horse when ya see the tree coming. Another upside is, the rifle is always where you can see it. When you lose your first rifle outta the low, near-side backwards scabbard that a limb pops open and the rifle falls out in the snow in rough stuff where it's not immediately noticed, you'll damn sure re-thunk yer options......


You need to go back and read my first post on this thread..

Rough country for added safety I use the rear saddle ties around the butt of the rifle to tie it off too.

Then read my second one.
There was no chance to push the tree away or the scabbard inward. As stated when you are threading your way thru thick trees, paying attention to the pack mule ,you can't be worrying about where your rifle is.

The scabbard was mounted, stock forward and when she lunged, she went on one side of the aspen I was going to tie to and the scabbard went to the other. The leather strap on front broke, but so did the stock.

I don't pack on my stock saddle. My mule can usually handle a full elk by herself, If not I make two trips,no problem

The only times I have had problems is carrying the scabbard, butt forward. In my younger days, I was mostly riding green broke mules every year in training. Having a rifle butt up that close to the neck proved worrisome when they started to make trouble, and I don't carry a lariat as I have never had the need to rope some thing when hunting and if I need rope, it's in the panniers at all times.

I can't ever remember the time when I had to jump off and shoot right now. Back in the year when CO permitted anyone to purchase three elk tags, I dismounted, pull my rifle from the butt rearward scabbard, snuggled against a rock and killed two cows in about 30 seconds or less after I got settled. I still had the reins in my hands and the horse and pack mule was right behind me.

One of the big problems with butt forward is with green horses and a lot of rental horses. You reach down and grab the rifle butt,swing it around and these dumb critters think the are about to get whacked in the head, or you walk up to them with the rifle raised getting ready to slip it in the scabbard and they rear back. Rodeo ensues.

Mots of the photos posted are, I am sure, of well seasoned horses, but it doesn't always work out that way.

I started this whole deal of hunting with horses in about 1967 so I'm not exactly a newbie at all this as are most others who posted their preferences. So I'm worried about all the less than experienced ones who might rent a horse, or take their wife's arena horse and go off hunting. Whatever one decides, make as it safe as possible. Bad things can happen and they happen fast.

Again, there are all different ways of making it work, depending on the circumstances. Referring back to the fist sentence of my first post on this thread.

Everyone has different preferences, but these are mine.

Some real nice horse/saddle/gun set up in this thread. Nice to learn how "they do it in" different parts of the country. Have we heard from back east yet?

John-
Did you miss this part?

+1

My bad!