SADDLE RINGS

[Deaf Smith]

I have seen from time to time some lever guns have saddle rings. I understand this started a ling time ago. What are they used for ? how are they used?

Used to when the rifle was in the scabbard on the horse they were used to tie down the gun so it would not drop out on the ground. Some used it as a lanyard (like a tactical sling today) so it could hang down while riding the horse, allowing two hands to control the horse.

I use it as a tactical sling point. Deer hunting I just let it hang down while I stalk through the woods (my favorite way of hunting.) That way when my arm gets tired carrying my Marlin Texan, I just slowly let it down to hang while I rest. Less movement that way.

I use the same sling for my AR!

Deaf

 

[0ne3]

Thanks for you reply. Beautful rifle

 

[Dog Soldier]

I have seen many Winchester Carbines on store racks with the Saddle Rings removed. In the later years even Western buyers wanted the rifles with out "Rattle Rings".
It sorta makes me sad to see these attachments disappear. It is not that I need one. But progress sometimes just leaves me behind.

 

[Gun Master]

How about standing?

What's the pony gonna do after he shoots ?

 

[Ifishsum]

I made a basic single point cross chest sling that uses the ring on my '94 for walking through the deer woods. I've found it to be a very useful way to carry the rifle, much less shoulder fatigue than a standard sling and I can bring the rifle into shooting position with less movement.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've thought about getting one in brass.. they don't scratch up the finish like a steel ring.

 

[bannockburn]

I completely wrapped the ring on my Rossi Model 92 with a length of paracord I had left over. Prevents the ring from scratching the receiver and keeps it nice and quiet.

 

[Mk VII]

I've got a Spencer here that somebody has removed the ring from.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I don't know much about saddle rings, or whatever you choose to call them, and I know even less about riding horses. But I do know the Model 1892 Carbine at the bottom of this photo was made in 1918. The Rifle at the top of the photo is an early one, made in 1894. Both are chambered for 44-40. I don't ride horses and I don't hunt, so I don't much mind how much noise the ring makes.

By the way, this photo illustrates the difference between the 19th Century configuration of a rifle and a carbine as produced by Winchester. It was more than just barrel length. Rifles usually had a cast crescent shaped butt plate, a metal fore end cap, and the magazine was hung below the barrel by a hanger dovetailed into the barrel. Rifle barrels could be round, octagon, or half round and half octagon. Rifle barrels could be as short as 16" and as long as 36". Twenty four inches was standard.

Carbines had a more drastically tapered barrel than rifles, and 20" was standard. Carbines had a gentler curve to the butt plate, which was a formed piece of heavy sheet metal. There was no fore end cap on a carbine, and the fore end and magazine were slung from the barrel by barrel bands. The front sight could be either welded directly onto the front barrel band, or brazed directly to the barrel. The stocks were shaped differently too, a carbine had a flat running up the comb of the stock.

 

[jeepnik]

There is one current and excellent use for, lets call them receiver rings that gets all the what was it used for stuff out of the way. A few years ago Marlin started putting safeties on their lever guns. Actually a better term is "lawyer switches". At any rate some inventive fellows came up with the idea or replacing them with rings.

These rings are much more aesthetically pleasing and does away with a useless safety that might be engaged at the wrong time.

 

[Dr.Rob]

There is one current and excellent use for, lets call them receiver rings that gets all the what was it used for stuff out of the way.

That is exactly what I wanted one for, to remove the silly push button safety. Cant seem to find one in brass though.