Cowboy Gear

[JEBar]

Almost every Henry rifle I've seen in photos, either historically or in movies this model of rifle is carried upside down. Now I know why. It is just too loose in the scabbard right side up, and could fall out. Upside down it cradles better and is balanced. Oh well, I prefer the look of right side up, but I would rather not leave it on the trail somewhere, so upside down it is. I guess if it's good enough for the Texas Rangers, it's good enough for me.

per Spock, Fascinating ... thanks for the info and your impressions

as to the wrap, I'm not a fan but what you think is all that's important ....

[RanchRoper]

RR I've never riden with a scabbard, the way you've got it mounted does it catch the brush or trees? I've seen em mounted the opposite direction as well with the stock in front of your leg. Any advantage one way or the other? Ever got you into a jackpot?

Packing a rifle is a cowboy conundrum. No matter where you put it, it's in the way of something, or in jeopardy of getting caught on a branch or falling out of the scabbard. Personal taste too, but mostly the lesser of evils is what I try for. Southwest style is what you see in the photos. Northwest style is facing front. On the near side (the side you get on and off) the riders weight plus the weight of the rifle pull on the saddle when mounting or dismounting, causing your saddle to shift all the time. No matter how tight you cinch up, it will move, and you don't want to be so tight that your horse can't breathe. It's balances better on the "off side" because of this. On the near side as well, your rifle is very easy to get at when you get off your horse. Might be a good thing sometimes. In my case, the off side is where I pack my rope because I am right handed. A forward facing rifle is in the way of my roping and getting to the horn to take my wraps. Plus I would be concerned about a forward facing stock getting hung up in a tree branch if I'm pushing cows through timber. I have not had this rifle on my horse yet either, so what you see in the photos will get lots of adjustment before I'm settled on what works best. Might end up on the other side even, we'll see.

[RanchRoper]

Modern cowboys gear . No horse needed .. Carries 2 rifles , 1 shotguns and 2 pistols . Ammo and extra goodies in seat ..

I think I could hitch that up like a roman chariot....hmmmm

[RanchRoper]

Oh and the rig looks good! Never ridden in a wade, what maker is it? I can see the stamp on the fender just can't blow it up enough to read it .

Platte Valley Saddle shop in Kearney Nebraska.

Lyle and Lynda Henderson, great people. I have lots of gear from them over the last 30 years. Real old timey working gear built right. Made in America or not made at all....sounds like a motto

[RanchRoper]

Almost every Henry rifle I've seen in photos, either historically or in movies this model of rifle is carried upside down. Now I know why. It is just too loose in the scabbard right side up, and could fall out. Upside down it cradles better and is balanced. Oh well, I prefer the look of right side up, but I would rather not leave it on the trail somewhere, so upside down it is. I guess if it's good enough for the Texas Rangers, it's good enough for me.

per Spock, Fascinating ... thanks for the info and your impressions
as to the wrap, I'm not a fan but what you think is all that's important ....

....the wrap is off....didn't like it.

[RanchRoper]

I spent some time this evening trying different places on my saddle for the 1860 Henry. For now I have settled on southwest position, near side. This is the side I get on & off, and it seems to sit well there. I stepped on and rode around at a walk for a few minutes just to check how it feels and my leg comfort, and my horse comfort. Badger is the chubbiest guy we have right now (easy keeper, winter fat) so if I can get stuff to fit him properly, and get my legs around him and the gear ok, then all is good. The only issue with near side is I would have to reset my saddle a little more often during the day, but I do that a fair bit anyway, it's just good habit and your horse appreciates it. But, on the near side, it is not in the way of roping at all, especially if I am working alone and have to tie off and get down to treat a cow. I included a photo of the Big Boy from last fall as well so you can see the 2 for comparison. Both fit well, obviously the Big Boy is more compact, and by old west standards a "carbine" size rifle. One can see why the carbines became popular as they are much easier to pack around from a size perspective. However, I have to say, the lack of a fore end on the 1860 made it much easier for me to sit square and use my leg on my horse. Big difference. The Big Boy rifle as you know if you own one, has quite a hefty wood fore end on it. While it grips in the scabbard well, it was always a little on the uncomfortable side for me. My knees are not the greatest after 40+ years riding, so I'll take all the comfort I can get. The other upside is that I can get off in a hurry and get right to my rifle if necessary. Anyhow, I'll do more adjusting as time goes on, but for now, as an old Gene Autry song says "I'm a happy, rovin' cowboy."

ps: I had not been on Badger for awhile, and he did not try to buck me off....always a bonus!

[JEBar]

looks good .... any issue with swinging your right leg over the stock ?

[RanchRoper]

looks good .... any issue with swinging your right leg over the stock ?

That's why cowboys yodel.

[JEBar]

oh yes, now I remember why I switched to a pickup truck ...

[JEBar]

I spent some time this evening trying different places on my saddle for the 1860 Henry. For now I have settled on southwest position, near side. This is the side I get on & off, and it seems to sit well there.

just curious .... I'd appreciate your comments about mounting it on the far side (right side), stock forward

[RanchRoper]

This photo is from Sept 2011, my wife took it as Badger and I were treating cows in the corrals at the a7 Ranch. I was working with my partner Clint. His wife had made little denim eye patches for some with real bad pinkeye, and we were changing the patches and giving medicine.
Nobody would pack a rifle doing this around the corrals, but if I was working alone out at the far end of the forestry lease, you can see how a forward facing rifle on this side would be in the way of the rope. I rope right handed and after I rope her I'll go to the horn and take a couple of wraps. Depending on the cow, I can let rope run, pop it off the horn and re-wrap, take up slack and re-wrap, etc over and over basically playing the heavy animal like a big fish. Better for the cow so I don't choke her down, better for my horse so he doesn't get jerked by a big animal hitting the end of the line hard. After I get everything slowed down, I can put a trip on her and get her down. Keeping the rope tight between the horse and cow, I can tie off on the horn and step down. My horse will hold the rope tight, and I can tie the legs of the cow with a little short rope in my belt. Then I can needle her, or whatever.
A rifle might get hung up and that would be bad. Even a rifle with butt to the rear on this side could be a problem as lots of times I'll face my horse away from the cow until she calms down after I've roped her. With heavy cattle, 1500 lbs or so, facing away takes the pressure of the rope on the horn off my horse's shoulders and distributes it along the saddle and out the back end. Little tricks of the trade.

Sooooo....I'll try packing the rifle on the near side and just get off once in awhile and reset my saddle. Hope this answers your question.

[JEBar]

Sooooo....I'll try packing the rifle on the near side and just get off once in awhile and reset my saddle. Hope this answers your question.

it most certainly does .... my very limited experience in the saddle while packing a rifle didn't include working a rope .... the reason I asked is my experience is limited to using horses to get way back into the woods while hunting .... I found having it but first on the right side was the easiest way for me to get the rifle out and ready for use

[RanchRoper]

I'll admit I got used to the rifle on the off side so it will be a little different for awhile.

[JEBar]

well understood .... once I get things in a vehicle, on a bike, on a horse, in the camper, in the house or most anywhere else, I fall into a comfort zone ....

[RanchRoper]

Ya we'll see how it goes. If it's pulling my saddle cockeyed too much it will get moved. It pulls on the other side too but stepping on and off during the day helps to straighten it out.

[RanchRoper]

SUCCESS. I did not like my rifle upside down. So, a little McGyver job, a brass Concho that matches my saddle and it is snug and carried right side up. Almost looks like it came that way.
Before the modification the rifle was sloppy in the scabbard.

[JEBar]

now that I like .... it shouldn't have any impact of mounting or dismounting

[CT_Shooter]

Good work, RR. It looks great and very secure. I wonder, though; has Badger ever heard the rifle fired from the saddle. How'd that go?

[RanchRoper]

No shooting from the saddle, that would be the mother of all wrecks. But they have heard it go bang; not up close, no need to subject their ears to that for no reason. Besides, horseback is not a stable platform to shoot from so I would not chance it.

[RanchRoper]

now that I like .... it shouldn't have any impact of mounting or dismounting

Yes! The muzzle is all the way down in the nose of the scabbard and there is no "play" in the rifle at the open end. Snug enough you have to give it a tug to pull it out. My leg on the scabbard while mounted will keep it secure as well. The stock is now level with my horse's hip and not sticking up. It's been bugging the crap out of me all day. FIXED!

This is why I never throw anything away....old leather strips, bridles, etc. These brass conchos were off an old bridle I used back in the 80's.