How to carry a long rifle on a horse.

[Hawken1980]

I have a great Kibler colonial and new horse. Hope to ride into a hunting great hunting spot this fall

what is the best way to tote a long rifle on horseback.

 

[deermanok]

Like they do in the movies?

 

[Hawken1980]

You know

Like they do in the movies?

I never noticed really, any movie suggestions?
Ever since I bought my farm my tv watching has gone way down.

Pic of horse

 

[Coot]

The "traditional" method of carrying a longrifle on horseback seems to have been to hold it in one hand, balanced across the pommel. This method keeps the gun handy for use but carries the risk of dropping & damaging the rifle, worst case, a broken wrist (on the gun). The alternatives might be worse - very few originals seem to have had slings and if carried slung across the back, an invitation to a low hanging branch to remove both rifle and rider from horse, tear out swivel mounts and possibly break wrists of rifle and/or rider. I have seen no documentation of a horse mounted scabbard for a long rifle but it seems like it would be a tangle hazard for the horses legs. I have both long rifles and horses & am not overly inclined to mix them.

 

[Brokennock]

Load gear on horse, rifle in one hand, reigns or lead rope in the other hand,,,,, walk next to horse carrying rifle. Horses can't be trusted.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Been packing a saddle gun for years. As cool as it would be to carry the long rifle I would not risk it. Don’t forget, those guys back then had no choice. Broken rifle, scared horse, bad wreck, long walk home...the possibilities are endless.

 

[hanshi]

I absolutely refuse to ever get on a horse much less trust my rifle on one. I carry my longrifles as they are my pets!

 

[tenngun]

Old days

 

[George]

From the papers of Archibald D. Murphey, a description of an American cavalry unit late in the Revolution, speaking of the way they carried their rifles:
"They carried the muzzle in a small boot, fastened beside the right stirrup leather, and the butt ran through the shot bag belt, so that the lock came directly under the right arm."

Here's a painting by Stubbs of that arrangement used by British cavalry about 1793:

Spence

 

[appalichian hunter]

I personally do not care for horses, miserable creatures, either they dump you and run off, bite you or stomp you, in my case all three at once. I would of made a miserable cowboy, guess that's why I walk.

 

[necchi]

I have a great Kibler colonial and new horse. Hope to ride into a hunting great hunting spot this fall
what is the best way to tote a long rifle on horseback.

Oh com`on,, that's a silly way to ask that question,, isn't it?
What do you care about?
The "hunt", "the horse" or "the gun"?
Honestly.
How do you carry the Kibler in your truck?
Have you ever loaded and carried gear on your horse?
Are you going to face a hostile environment?
Will this/is this a PC environment or requirement,, do you want it to be?

,,,,,,,,?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[user 36911]

Old daysView attachment 77646

That shows how loose their PRB fit was.

 

[Snydly]

Don't have horses any more but I always carried my long rifles across my lap. In most cases the horses are smarter than we are and I never had even an inkling of a problem. They balance nicely there and your arms don't get tired.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Historically, weapons intended for horse-mounted use were shorter. The Cavalry carbine. The limitations of space being the controlling factor. Not to say it wasn't done, but not the original intent. Had you gotten an elephant instead of a horse however, you could just put it in the trunk.

 

[andy52]

I have ridden into a rendezvous a few times with a Hawken-style rifle across my lap but it was for show, not a long trek. It was a lot of fun riding through the camp, however. Never tried it with a long gun but would figure it wouldn't be much different. Here is a photo from the "Patriot" showing long guns carried on horseback.

 

[Whitworth]

I personally do not care for horses, miserable creatures, either they dump you and run off, bite you or stomp you, in my case all three at once. I would of made a miserable cowboy, guess that's why I walk.

Me too, I prefer motorcycles. Every time I been thrown by one of them it was my fault

 

[ord sgt]

As a side note, I have been wondering about carrying my long rifle, 42" barrel, on a trip to the range when riding on a motorcycle. I have taken a modern shotgun which can be broken down, making a smaller package.

 

[troy2000]

Oh com`on,, that's a silly way to ask that question,, isn't it?
What do you care about?
The "hunt", "the horse" or "the gun"?
Honestly.
How do you carry the Kibler in your truck?
Have you ever loaded and carried gear on your horse?
Are you going to face a hostile environment?
Will this/is this a PC environment or requirement,, do you want it to be?

,,,,,,,,?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

That seems like an aggressively unhelpful response to what I considered a reasonable question.

 

[Hawken1980]

Oh com`on,, that's a silly way to ask that question,, isn't it?
What do you care about?
The "hunt", "the horse" or "the gun"?
Honestly.
How do you carry the Kibler in your truck?
Have you ever loaded and carried gear on your horse?
Are you going to face a hostile environment?
Will this/is this a PC environment or requirement,, do you want it to be?

,,,,,,,,?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I’m confused by the response.

I am blessed to live near a large management area that restricts off road vehicles but allows horses.

I love shooting flintlocks
I love to ride
I love the woods.

Seemed like fun to me.

 

[tenngun]

Historically, weapons intended for horse-mounted use were shorter. The Cavalry carbine. The limitations of space being the controlling factor. Not to say it wasn't done, but not the original intent. Had you gotten an elephant instead of a horse however, you could just put it in the trunk.

I don’t know that that is true. While cavalry did have short arms going back to early seventeenth century much of the long Hunter and the activities of the eastern frontiersman was carried out horse back and with long guns