Carbines and saddle rings

[Bill in Oregon]

I just came into a nice old Marlin Model 1893 saddle ring carbine in .30-30 made in early 1907. The carbine is in great shape, and the saddle ring was long ago carefully removed and discarded.
Since so darned few of us ever have use for a saddle ring, and the darned things make a very unuseful racket on a hunting rifle, do you generally remove them, or do you go to the trouble of wrapping with leather to quiet the sound?

[TedH]

I remove them and toss them in my parts box.

[BenT]

If I am walking I use a saddle ring sling. It has a plastic swivel hook , so it makes no noise and it doesn't get in the way. If I am sitting it doesn't make any noise. I leave them on and put them to use.

[Bill in Oregon]

Ben, I had never heard of this. Very interesting. Got a photo of yourself so equipped?

[Pete44ru]

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Every single saddle ring gets a leather thong, in my house - for a nice (IMO) look, bluing wear, and metallic noise suppression while hunting - and, no, I've never had a thong get caught by a link/lever during cycling..

[J Miller]

I don't remove them, I don't put leather thongs that absorb moisture and rust, on them, and I believe the sound they make is so minimal as to be insignificant.

When I got my first 1894 SRC the saddle ring had been removed so I replaced it. The modern ones as found on Win 94s are built so they don't contact the receiver. So basically it's just personal choice.

Joe

[Griff]

Depends on what I use the gun for. For walkin' around or sneakin' around, as the case may be... I put a simple strap on it... for going to the range, hangin' on the wall, or storage in the safe... no.

If the little strap gets wet or dries out... it gets replaced. I have lots of deerhide!

[gamekeeper]

I like 'em, my 9422 has one I bought off Joe Miller, that doubles as a takedown screw...

[Lastmohecken]

I leave them on, But I can take them or leave them. I do like the looks of them, but I don't tie leather on them, because I am left handed and they get in my way.

[Malamute]

Ben, I had never heard of this. Very interesting. Got a photo of yourself so equipped?

That's actually what the original use and intent was. It started before the Civil War. Cavalry Carbines generally always had a "sling ring", and a wide strap with large snap hook and roller was attached to the strap. The strap was worn diagonally over the shoulder with the snap hook and carbine hanging down about hip level on the right. The carbine was sometimes carried in a small socket attached to the saddle so it didn't flop around, but was always attached to the trooper if he came off the horse willingly or not.

If you google "carbine sling ring" youll see pictures of the slings and some attached to carbines.

https://www.google.com/search?q=carbine ... C2kQsAQIMw

Theres a widespread belief that the so-called saddle ring was used with a loop of leather and hung over the saddle horn, but so far, I've never seen a historical picture of one being so used, or any written references. Its become somewhat of what could be called an urban legend, but with no supporting evidence.

Back on topic, I've taken them off the guns I've had and filled the hole with a filler screw. I like regular slings for carrying.

[Bill in Oregon]

Malamute, I'm well aware of the use the heavy carbine sling for mounted military use, especially on a heavy carbine with a sling bar like the Sharps. I was just wondering how often they were actually used this way on lever action carbines.

[Griff]

...Theres a widespread belief that the so-called saddle ring was used with a loop of leather and hung over the saddle horn, but so far, I've never seen a historical picture of one being so used, or any written references. Its become somewhat of what could be called an urban legend, but with no supporting evidence...

Yep, I've had to listen to that theory a number of times also... again, never found any evidence to support it, either.

[Malamute]

Malamute, I'm well aware of the use the heavy carbine sling for mounted military use, especially on a heavy carbine with a sling bar like the Sharps. I was just wondering how often they were actually used this way on lever action carbines.

Good question.

I know of one guy in Montana that had a 32 spl 94 carbine. He tried the leather loop thing once. He dropped the gun on the trail and didn't realize it for some time. He found it a mile or so back when he looked. He decided it wasn't that great an idea. That's the only actual use of the ring in that fashion that I know of.

So far as I can figure, the ring was part of Winchesters desire to interest the military in its guns. That never really materialized, but the ring became somewhat of a tradition, I guess you could say. Winchester had the magazine cap threaded into the end of the tube in the 1866 and early 1873's, then went to an unthreaded magazine cap with a cross screw holding it in place, as is common today. They still grooved the end of the cap for a screwdriver until the end of the 1920's or later. I think the ring is much the same. It didn't serve any useful purpose, but hung on for a long time anyways.

[765x53]

Malamute, I'm well aware of the use the heavy carbine sling for mounted military use, especially on a heavy carbine with a sling bar like the Sharps. I was just wondering how often they were actually used this way on lever action carbines.

My question is, are modern saddle rings sturdy enough for this use?

[Old Ironsights]

I use mine with either Junior's Saddle Ring Sling or the modern equivalent Tacticool Single-point Bungee sling. (the Bungee sling is actually VERY handy)

Heck I ADD Saddle Rings to my leverguns... (on my Rossi .410 and my old Marlin I put in the Beartooth Saddle Ring Safety Delete...)

[crs]

Guess why I removed the saddle ring from my Winchester circa 1907 Model 1892? No cheating, NOW!



Note sling swivel for when I need both hands free or to hang it on something when cleaning game.

[Malamute]

Malamute, I'm well aware of the use the heavy carbine sling for mounted military use, especially on a heavy carbine with a sling bar like the Sharps. I was just wondering how often they were actually used this way on lever action carbines.

My question is, are modern saddle rings sturdy enough for this use?

Myself, I'd be very leary of trusting my gun to such a small shanked item. The older ones were about 1/4" shank, the newer ones much thinner.

[AJMD429]

If I am walking I use a saddle ring sling. It has a plastic swivel hook , so it makes no noise and it doesn't get in the way. If I am sitting it doesn't make any noise. I leave them on and put them to use.

Pretty much like the single-point sling the 'tactical' guys use on their AR's....

[Old Ironsights]

If I am walking I use a saddle ring sling. It has a plastic swivel hook , so it makes no noise and it doesn't get in the way. If I am sitting it doesn't make any noise. I leave them on and put them to use.

Pretty much like the single-point sling the 'tactical' guys use on their AR's....

Like I said - I actually like those on my levers. The extra stretch/bounce lent by the bungee is handy. Once you get used to it, it even pulls the gun into the shoulder nicely.

[Lefty Dude]

Terrible thing for a port-side shooter, mine are all off. Never to appear again.

[Pete44ru]

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Doesn't anyone else here remember former board member Junior Doherty ?




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[Malamute]

Yes, of course! Hes using the sling rings the way they were originally meant. I don't think its a bad idea, just not for everybody.

That picture turns up in searches of carbine sling rings.

[Old Ironsights]

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Doesn't anyone else here remember former board member Junior Doherty ?




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Mentioned him (RIP) in my first post this thread...

[Griff]

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Doesn't anyone else here remember former board member Junior Doherty ?




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Mentioned him (RIP) in my first post this thread...

Yep, RIP indeed.

[Rusty]

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Doesn't anyone else here remember former board member Junior Doherty ?




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Junior's daughter wrote a very nice post after his passing over on the castboolit forum. At that time she said she was going to keep the website up and the business running to honor her dad.

[cas]

I always thought they were for tying off to a scabbard they'd been inserted into.

[BenT]

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Doesn't anyone else here remember former board member Junior Doherty ?




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That is who made mine. Junior was great on just basic functional stuff. I learned a lot from reading his posts. RIP

[Tycer]

I have one of Junior's slings. Use it every year hunting my BLR (added the saddle ring) or my 92 or 94 Trappers. Logged many a mile with it.

[1894]

I bought two of Juniors slings , one to use on my marlin 1894 and one for Justin Case . I use the one every year , the other is still in its plastic bag it came in.
RIP Junior.