Fancy tooled rifle scabbard found in gunshop

[Wyatt Burp]

Years ago I saw this unmarked scabbard in an ultra modern plastic gun selling gun shop laying among all the brand new vinyl rifle bags. I think it was seven bucks. The toe is very sloppy which shows it was definitely home made, but the guy or gal who tooled it did excellent work. Pictured here with my Browning .44 Magnum. It hangs on the wall now.

 

[opaul]

I love finding treasures like that. Thanks for sharing.

 

[gnfrk]

Very awesome! I love finding vintage goodies like that.

 

[ColbyBruce]

That appears to have been money well spent.

 

[Qball]

Tragical that some people don't wan't to pay for handicraft.
I guess that the GS payed zero $ for it.

 

[DoubleAdobe]

That is really some first class tooling. I will admit I never saw the toe done quite like that. Could it have been modified from the original?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

That is really some first class tooling. I will admit I never saw the toe done quite like that. Could it have been modified from the original?

Good point. I just took a close look at it and it could have been shortened then the plug stitched in unevenly. The bottom edge is too worn to see if the tooling stopped at the stitching, though.

 

[Goblin]

I'm as happy to see a pic of the Browning as the scabbard. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mmesa005]

Everything look period correct!

 

[Hondo44]

Good point. I just took a close look at it and it could have been shortened then the plug stitched in unevenly. The bottom edge is too worn to see if the tooling stopped at the stitching, though.

That's a gorgeous piece of period leatherwork. Having done leatherwork in my store for years, I can say with certainty, the quality of tooling is excellent and the maker would not have ended the tooling at the toe without a proper matching border to the rest of the case.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

That got thrown in with some el cheapo gun cases?
What a shame........
Good for you though!

 

[adam12]

Beautiful! You did a good deed for saving it from all those black rifles!

 

[superfluities]

How many hours just to do the tooling? I've never done any leather tooling, anybody?

 

[M14sRock]

That is awesome. Good on ya for saving it. Maybe a good shoe repair place can fix the toe?

 

[Hondo44]

How many hours just to do the tooling? I've never done any leather tooling, anybody?

Just the tooling speed is based on experience and skill level. I estimate it would be 2 to 6 hours. It would take me 4 at least. But 'production' swivel cutters/toolers are fast, and some can do excellent work in 2 hours. I like to think I can do pretty fair work, but not at that speed! Whipping the edge is more time on top.

It's not unlike gun engraving; there's excellent engravers, and there's fast engravers, but there's few excellent fast engravers.

I'd love to see a close up clear photo, but it looks like good work from what I can see.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

When I got it I didn't just think it was really good tooling, the composition is perfect, too. As it tapers down and the design gets tighter, it's very consistent and not crammed up in some areas. With such broad areas to carve, I think this was made by a saddle maker. I was just tooling a holster yesterday and when I draw the design I look at the intricate details but at the same time always making sure it's balanced as a whole. Especially with dyed background, it has to have just the right balance of black or it doesn't look right. Here's a pic a customer sent back to me...

 

[old&slow]

6 dollar wouldn't even cover the cost of the lace used on the edging. And Hondo is alot fast than I would be carving ,, 6 hours + Might start to cover carving / tooling but I wouldn't bet on it..

Nice find ,, thanks for sharing..

 

[DoubleAdobe]

It takes me quite a while longer to make the pattern and make it fit like I want than to tool it for me. Still that is a 6 hour job plus lacing for sure at a minimum for me.