I've noticed that lever action rifles are sometimes equipped with a saddle ring mounted on the non-loading port side of the receiver. Inevitably, the ring is usually either bare, or has a short piece of leather thong through it apparently for decorative purposes. My question - is there a practical use for the saddle ring?

Regards,

Dave

Had a couple of uses in it's day..a carbine ring could be used by a cavalryman with a sling like strap over his shoulder to hang onto the gun in a horseback fight. Forget what they call the 'carbine sling'?..But the ring is a horseback thing. Cavalry carbine/saddle carbine(or red Ryder BB gun!).

Could be used to tie the gun into a scabbard too.

The 'decorative' leather thong is to keep the ring from making noise or damaging the finish of the receiver. Hard to hunt with a noisy carbine ring clacking around..hence the leather.

Also was used with a leather thong to loop over the pommel to carry on the saddle in lieu of a scabbard.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

If you had ever dropped a rifle into the dirt from horseback, you would understand its use. If it doesn't break the stock outright, it fills the action and barrel full of dirt. Horses also are just delighted to step on stuff you drop anyway, and a rifle is no different! The ring is just a convenient way to tie that rifle to the saddle so you don't drop it.

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PLUS ! It looks really neat

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regards....roger (no sig)

Thanks to all who responded. Yep, even though I'm a Texan I have almost no experience with horses and/or saddles - especially in conjunction with long guns. Your answers make a lot of sense and remind me of what John Wayne said in the movie "The Cowboys": "...a cow is just trouble sewed up in a leather bag, and a horse ain't any better".

Happy trails,

Dave

I have two winnie's booth 94's the 25/35 has a saddle ring and the 32 spl doesn't I'd like to put on it, I think their real cool!!!

My 1895 win src in 30-40 krag has one and so does my win canadian cenntenial also has one. The one on the 1895 stays there but the other has been taken off due to interfering with my grip. Got that in a labeled plastic baggie. Made up a screw that fits the hole on the CC. Frank

The original stud type had a non-typical thread size,,1/4-30 or something like that. Don't know what the later comemoratives might be.

The 'staple' type base is mearly staked into place from the inside. Marlin used the same method. Seems to hold OK.

Collectors love to see that ghost figure 8 wear pattern in the finish from a ring that's been in place.
Though there are ways to create that too..