Are all lever action riffles considered saddle guns

[ZiaCowboy]

I had a discussion with someone the other day about a Marlin Glenfield 30/30 lever action.
He said that it was a saddle gun. I told him that it was a lever action riffle alright, but that it was not a saddle gun. I thought a saddle gun was a carbine with a shorter barrel and the riffle itself was sorter n length overall (from barrel to stock).... Could someone please clarify? Or are all lever actions considered saddle guns?

[Joe Lansing]

A true saddle gun comes equipped with a saddle ring, usually located on the left side near the trigger. The purpose of the ring is to attach a sling, which is worn bandoleer style over the left shoulder. This is to prevent the rider from losing his rifle if he needs his two hands to do something else, ie.:control his mount, draw his pistol or saber or if he falls off his horse to still have his gun. Some pistols were  made with lanyard rings for the same purpose.
                                                                             J.L.

[OKDEE]

Sounds like a word sludge fight to me!   

About any gun can be carried on the saddle.  That being said, a SRC, or saddle ring carbine, as made by Winchester, usually is about a 22" barrel, with the saddle ring on the left side of the receiver.  That maybe what you are referring to.

That still does not stop someone from riding with a 16", 20", 24" or 28" barrelled rifle in the saddle with them.   

Just my inflated (37 cents) worth on this!   

[Grogan]

Historically, it would seem to me that there could be LOTS of various Carbines that could qualify as being a "Saddle Gun".

And these wouldn't necessarily be limited to Lever Actions.

Let's see...various Civil War and pre-Civil War muzzleloaders would be included, including Enfield Carbines.

Then Springfield Trapdoor Carbines as well as Sharps and Remington Rolling Block Carbines, most equipped with Saddlle Rings would also be included.

Those were all Military Saddle Guns, but what about Cowboys?

Well...Cowboys could have carried just about ANYTHING on their horses and I guess that would be a Saddle Gun.

And since most Cowboys DIDN'T use Carbine Slings as Cavalry Troopers did for battle, I'm thinking that the Lever gun's ring was mostly used to secure the Carbine into its scabbard, with a leather thong.

(Josiah Wright Mooar carried his 32" barrelled 16# Sharps Buffalo Rifle across his saddle long enough he almost wore the forend through...not sure this would qualify as a "Saddle Gun"?)

So a Marlin Glenfield 336 in .30-30? 

Sure...why not! 

[Forty Rod]

Any gun I carry on a saddle is a saddle gun.  This is another meaningless generic term like assault rifle.

I consider all of my lever guns to be saddle guns and none is a carbine.  I also have a Remington Model 08 that is a great saddle rifle.

[Buck Stinson]

Saddle guns are most often considered to be any shoulder arm with a barrel length of 22" or less.   The manufacturers refered to these guns as carbines.   Rifles on the other hand, usually have longer barrels, either round or octagon.  These are not considered saddle guns, although many were used by westerners while on horseback.  Not all rifles had long barrels and not all carbines or saddle guns had saddle rings.  A rifle could be ordered from Winchester or Marlin with a saddle ring and a carbine could be ordered from either of these manufaturers without a saddle ring.  I've seen Winchester short rifles with 14" octagon barrels, which in my opinion would definately make this a good one for use on horse back.  The Marlin Glenfield was a lower priced, no frills product that was sold to outfits like Firestone Tire outlets and department stores  It was not a gun that would be found on the shelf of a sporting goods store.  They often had birchwood stocks and embossed checkering.  The Glenfield line was dropped by Marlin in 1983.  The Glenfield lever action .30-30 was usually of carbine length, which was 20".  It would be considered a saddle gun, even though it does not have a saddle ring.

Adios,
Buck

[Grizzly Adams]

I agree, that any arm carried on horse back is a "saddlle gun."  I consider the 1886 and 1876 rifle to be saddle guns, as you would certainly need a horse to pack one very far!

In these parts, ranchers and such still refer to their rifles as "saddle guns" even though some of them are bolt actions, and ride no where accept behind the seat of the pickup truck.  Just an extension of the old idea.

That said, as Grogan has pointed out, the carbine, in any style action, is generally  considered the arch typical "saddle gun."  Witness the vast difference in terms of wear and tear that is seen on old 1873 SRCs versus 1763 rifles.  It is relatively easy to find an 1873 rifle in strong condition, but a SRC in strong condition is a rare find indeed.  The SRC was a working man's arm, and in the day, that usually meant on  horseback.

Of course rifles where also carried on horseback.  I own an 1873 rifle that started life with a 30 inch barrel.  Some cowboy sawed off the barrel to 23 inches so he could more easily carry in a scabbard!

[shieldsmt]

Big thing to consider in a saddle gun is FLAT.  I've packed bolt-actions w/scopes as well as an unaltered 1903 Springfield for many many rough miles.  They are round and having that bulge under your leg plays hell with your knee in pretty short order.  Any of the leverguns sit flat.  A Win. Highwall will to.  Your saddle is going to constantly want to shift with the weight on that side also.  I don't consider my Springfield a saddlegun, but still pack it during elk season. 

[larryo_1]

Griz:
i couldn't agree with you more!  When I used to pack my ol' 45-90 hunting, by the end of the day my damn arm was a foot longer than the other one and was I ever happy to pack it across the saddle horn or in my old Army cavalry scabbord.  And yes, that '76 would certainly qualify as a "Saddle Gu" however I, too, feel that ANY rifle can be called a "Saddle Gun" were it to be carried over a saddle.