Saddle Scabbard

[dbusarow]

Here's a scabbard I just finished for a customer. He wanted a scabbard for his scoped 700 that was as slim and trim as one for a lever action. Well, he didn't get that exactly but it is nicer than most you see. Nice and simple.

The body is 12-14 oz skirting. The straps are 10-12 oz skirting and the "stiffener" around the scope is 4/5 oz. All W&C skirting.

It's hard to see in these pictures but I did some wet molding around the forend to get his fairly wide sling to fit.

Here's some close ups

The modest sunburst effect on the scope stiffener is just the extra oil penetrating the edge of the leather. Just got lucky on that.

And here's one of my girls wearing it

When I put the fender over the top of the scabbard the tip was pressing on her shoulder and she wasn't happy. With the fender under the scabbard as shown she didn't seem to know it was there. Did a little loping and trotting as well as walking around. Even threw in a couple turn arounds and rollbacks.

I think the buyer will be happy.

ETA, Most of the stitching was done on my new Cobra Class 4. The smaller details for the snaps, strap keepers etc I stitched by hand. For those small pieces hand stitching was easier since I'm not as confident with the machine in those small spaces yet. But a three foot long stitch is a snap with this machine.

Dan

Edited October 21, 2010 by dbusarow

[Grunt]

Awesome job!

[Timd]

Beautiful, clean work.

[dirtclod]

Nice job ! I've 9 or 10 scabbards for a scoped rifle over the years. Mine were a different design than yours. But i LIKE your design the best by far.

[Lobo]

Beautiful work, and an excellent design. Coupling the snug retention to the pistol grip of the rifle, and relieving for the bolt handle, should minimize or eliminate movement of the rifle within the scabbard and prevent excessive wear to the rifle's finish.

+1 on the Cobra Class 4. I just added one to my shop last month and it is a pleasure to use.

[Dwight]

Like the others have said, beautiful job.

What did you use for the finish on the scabbard, if you don't mind sharing.

May God bless,

Dwight

[dbusarow]

Thank you all for the great comments.

For the finish, it is all neatsfoot oil. The long straps and keepers I dunked in NF for 10 seconds which turns them dark. The body is got one heavy coat of NF just like I would use for a holster.

Once the NF settled in for 24 hours I gave it a coat of Aussie Wax for protection.

On the edges I also used some Angelus Natural Shoe Wax to help with the shine.

Thanks!

Dan

[mattsh]

Can't really add anything that hasn't already been said, but that is beautiful work.

[ifoo]

Really beautiful work and design.

[dbusarow]

Thank you mattsh.

Thanks ifoo

Dan