Butt covers!

[amin ledbetter]

I knew as soon as I mentioned the word Butt that yawl would come running in to see what this was all about!  Has anyone of you guys made tooled leather rifle and shotgun butt stock covers covers in awhile? I need to make two, and honestly, I don't know how I want to lace the dang thing up. I have started on a pattern for my Yellowboy, but drew a blank when I tried to come up with the end cap cover and how I was going to attach it. You guys have any you've made that you could share some photo's of? That is if you don't mind me borrowing some ideas from them.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Here is a simple pattern.  This site has a few generic but useful patterns to start with.

http://eightbits.home.att.net/Crafting10_Stock_Cover.PDF

[Boothill Bob]

I made a simpel one for my rifle, a new one is coming soon

[Arizona Cattleman]

Amin, I have a Yellow Boy myself, I have been thinkin for a while on the subject.  I was planning to rap the butt with a piece of leather and mark the inside of the leather with a pencil.  Then bevel the leather to 45 Deg, then make an end piece and bevel it also.  Using a saddle stich, you can then sew the end piece to the wrap.  Punch lacing holes in the wrap, finish the leather and lace to the stock.  If you want tooling, then do it before sewing the butt piece.  I will try to get to it this weekend and post pics of each step.

AC

[Springfield Slim]

This pattern eliminates some sewing but mostly it helps keep things centered. You can see a larger pic at www.whyteleatherworks.com, look under accessories, for some reason it won't enlarge properly here.

[Kid Terico]

Springfield and Boot Hill nice looking work. Heres a butt cover I put on the wives coach gun. Its a double barrell 20 guage. The other side has 6- 20 -guage- cartridge loops. Works fine for her.  KT

[Biscuit Joe]

Here's one I made for a friend( not my best work), but you can get an idea of what it should do, and the second one is the first one I made, I made for myself.

Saddle stiched by hand. Don't know any other way to do it.

[Gun Butcher]

  Hey Amin, them Pards have posted some mighty fine looking examples for you. Mine is not tooled but I took a page from Marshal Wills design book and made mine longer.  They work real good with a hunk of closed cell in the butt for added comfort or to extend the pull length.
I really like AC's thoughts on beveling the pieces . that would give it a really clean look.

Ain't it a hoot sittin round in the mornin with a cup of good coffee talking bout "Butt covers.

[Slowhand Bob]

There was an article with patterns in the Saddlers and Leather Journal not to long back.  I really wish they had a better and more in depth index but if I can find it I will post the issue number.  They generally have a pretty good supply of back issues for sale.  The problem with patterns here is that there are so many variety and sizes of butts  (teehee) to deal with.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The "eightbits"site posted above in my earlier post has a very easy-to-follow procedure for creating a pattern, or even adapting an existing pattern, for each particular firearm.  The patterns are plain but easy to see and follow.

[outrider]

My covers are styled very similar to the ones Gun Butcher has done

[Gun Butcher]

Whew, outrider you gave me quite a start there  for a minute Then I figured out that you where talking about the pattern cause mine ain't even on the same stairway as yours    Yours is really fine.  Mine just covers my butt

[Arizona Cattleman]

Pards, Outriders are exactly as I am going to do mine in the post above, however I am using tooling leather which will be thicker and therefore needs the bevel.  So many Butts, So little time.....

AC

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  here's one I did in 06, it was my second try at making butt covers, the first one I made was easier, I made it for my 1873, out of split cowhide, this one one my Hartford 1892 is already dyed dark brown veg-tan, that I just reversed, I like the color and the rugged look it gives.

                 tEN wOLVES 

[Boothill Bob]

Nice butts guys.... I mean butt covers 
I like outriders, wonder if I´m going to make a mew one

[Dalton Masterson]

I have started one once, then laid it down and havent returned to it. Looking at all these, is making me want to at least make a wrap. I dont necesarily need the butt plate covered, so it shouldnt be too extensive.

BTW, wouldnt these be called britches if they are covering butts??

DM

[GunClick Rick]

Here's my butt,but i ain't gonna cover it

[amin ledbetter]

Man!    All these are great!  Ya'll really know how to inspire a guy don't ya!?? Thanks a million fella's for postin these! My research just got a lot easier! But like any other rookie, I do have a couple questions.

The eyelets that some of you use, do you have a problem with them diggin into the wood? One of the rifles I am going to be making a cover has very nice wood, and I do not want to mess it up. And, do any of you pad the comb ( top area of the stock ) where your cheek rests?

[Devil Anse Hatfield]

No Eyelets in any Butt cover I have ever seen. Just punched holes in the leather its self .

Devil

[outrider]

Amin....I don't use eyelets.....and if you do make sure you put an under strap to go between the butt cover and the stock...those eyelets will certainly dig into the gun stock