Dwane Report post Posted February 15, 2017 (edited) I'm going to make a lined rifle scabbard to carry on my saddle, what would be a good lining that won't be hard on the rifles finish? im hoping this is the right place to post this, if not please moves Edited February 15, 2017 by Dwane Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjartist Report post Posted February 15, 2017 deer hide tends to be soft and inexpensive for a bigger project like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JREESER1 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Some deer/elk hides are tanned with an abundance of tannic acids that play heck on bluing and even wood finishes, and you cannot trust leaving your firearm touching the hide for any length of time. Any brass, as in ammo can fester and turn green and get a moldy looking patina. I have had good luck with pig skin as a lining but still be careful, especially with any blued weapon. I have not had much experience with stainless steel. jr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sceaden Report post Posted February 16, 2017 I have yet to try it but my research indicates that vegetable tanned pigskin should work well. Chrome will damage finishes and as JREESER1 mentioned there is a similar risk with something like deer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Aren't they usually lined with shearing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted February 16, 2017 https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=+rifle+scabbard+lining+material+site:leatherworker.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leerwerker Report post Posted February 24, 2017 This is an issue that affects knife makers too. Some time ago I contacted the Leather Chemists of America about it. The bottom line of their responses were that leather is and should be acidic (pH level of 4). If you bring that and the metal of guns / knives together nothing will happen. BUT, just the moisture present in the air might add the third element to this evil trio: water. The acid can now attack the metal. The solution is to add a barrier between the leather and the metal in the shape of oil / wax finish, like Dubbin or Dr Jackson's or Aussie finish. As long as the leather stays well fed (don't over do it) the oil/wax forms a barrier around the leather fibers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwane Report post Posted February 27, 2017 I am actually more worried about the leather rubbing the finish off when placed in or pulled out of the scabbard. Just looking for a softer material to line the inside Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted February 28, 2017 (edited) I make sword scabbards. I line my scabbards with either short-hair cow hides or heavy Melton wool (22-24 oz.) fabric. Cow is nice because the hides are very large and you can cut long pieces from them. Goat is also fine, but the hides are quite a bit smaller. Historically, sword scabbards were lined with animal hair (sheep, goat, cow, etc.) from the Bronze Age (c. 1800 B.C.) through the Middle Ages (c. AD 1100). Both short and long hair hides were used. Sometime around AD 900-1000 Century wool textiles were being substituted for animal hair as the lining material. But in the High and Late Medieval periods (c.1100-1500) sword scabbards were generally not lined, except for the occasional canvas lining. I have not researched scabbard linings beyond the medieval period. Edited February 28, 2017 by Harry Marinakis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
