Butt ammo cuffs?

Model12Win · November 27, 2015, 10:26 PM

Hello all!

I've got a question knockin around this 'ol brain of mine. Something I've wondered for years.

I see the cowboy (and cowgirl) shooters with their lever guns and whatnot on the trail, and some of 'em have contraptions like this on the buttstock:

They are a leather thing you strap onto your rifle's butt with some leather cordage, and they hold several shells on the side of the gun. They look cool and very handy, but I've got to wonder...

Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things? Is there any historical evidence to show that these really existed back when the buffalo roamed and "look at that Indian" meant more than looking at a motorcycle?

Seems like a mighty fine thing to ride the trails with. Someday very soon I'll have me a single-shot cowboy gun, either a Sharps or a rolling block, and I'd like one of these leather buttstock cuff ammo carrying things... but only if it's historically accurate!

If it ain't so, and it's a modern deal, when did these become into invention?

Thanks so much all!

g.willikers · November 28, 2015, 09:51 AM

Whatever folks can come up with today, it's probably a good bet someone in the past did, too.
Go for it.

Buzzard Bait · November 28, 2015, 10:22 AM

What brand are those I might need something like that I might need to talk to Santa

bb

Pahoo · November 28, 2015, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things?

My understanding is that yes, there were "similar" wrappings added and many did not hold ammo. I've seen such on Native American applications.

Now then, these are certainly handsome and I have made a few, in the past but one thing to watch out for is the leather rubbing on the stock finish. You won't like the results if left too long on the stock. ......

Be Safe !!!

T. O'Heir · November 28, 2015, 03:13 PM

"...Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things?..." Most 'cowboy's' didn't own a firearm at all. Too expensive when you're making $30 a month. An SAA is rumoured to have cost the U.S. government $13.50 each in 1874. A Winchester rifle(that no more 'Won the West" than I did) was similar in cost.
Everybody running around carrying a firearm is a Hollywood invention.
Nobody would carry ammo like that either. Same reason. Too expensive to lose even one.
Natives decorated their assorted firearms with brass tacks.

tangolima · November 28, 2015, 03:32 PM

I read that nobody was shooting their guns left and right either. Ammunitions were too expensive to waste.

-TL

g.willikers · November 28, 2015, 06:26 PM

Leather wrapped around a stock was also a way to repair a cracked one.

rickyrick · November 30, 2015, 10:10 PM

I've always wrapped doo-dads on my rifles this is the only handy pic I have available at the moment. I have one with a boar tusk hanging from it. It is not unlikely that folks did it in the past

WV_gunner · December 1, 2015, 09:55 PM

I have the modern version, elastic. I like the leather ones a lot and maybe one day I'll have one. But when hunting I have realized a light rifle is your friend. Having a half box of ammo on the stock just makes it weigh that much more. I just keep an extra two bullets in my coat pocket. I can break the gun down with my right hand and grab the next round with my left.

gyvel · December 1, 2015, 10:06 PM

Quote:

"...Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things?..." Most 'cowboy's' didn't own a firearm at all. Too expensive when you're making $30 a month. An SAA is rumoured to have cost the U.S. government $13.50 each in 1874. A Winchester rifle(that no more 'Won the West" than I did) was similar in cost.
Everybody running around carrying a firearm is a Hollywood invention.

You're pretty much spot on here, but many settlers carried their muskets that were given them upon discharge after the Civil War. That was probably the real gun that won the west.

November 27, 2015, 10:26 PM	#1
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Butt ammo cuffs? Hello all! I've got a question knockin around this 'ol brain of mine. Something I've wondered for years. I see the cowboy (and cowgirl) shooters with their lever guns and whatnot on the trail, and some of 'em have contraptions like this on the buttstock: They are a leather thing you strap onto your rifle's butt with some leather cordage, and they hold several shells on the side of the gun. They look cool and very handy, but I've got to wonder... Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things? Is there any historical evidence to show that these really existed back when the buffalo roamed and "look at that Indian" meant more than looking at a motorcycle? Seems like a mighty fine thing to ride the trails with. Someday very soon I'll have me a single-shot cowboy gun, either a Sharps or a rolling block, and I'd like one of these leather buttstock cuff ammo carrying things... but only if it's historically accurate! If it ain't so, and it's a modern deal, when did these become into invention? Thanks so much all!

November 28, 2015, 09:51 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Whatever folks can come up with today, it's probably a good bet someone in the past did, too. Go for it. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 28, 2015, 10:22 AM	#3
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	Those look real nice What brand are those I might need something like that I might need to talk to Santa bb

November 28, 2015, 03:13 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...Did the cowboys of the 1800s really have such things?..." Most 'cowboy's' didn't own a firearm at all. Too expensive when you're making $30 a month. An SAA is rumoured to have cost the U.S. government $13.50 each in 1874. A Winchester rifle(that no more 'Won the West" than I did) was similar in cost. Everybody running around carrying a firearm is a Hollywood invention. Nobody would carry ammo like that either. Same reason. Too expensive to lose even one. Natives decorated their assorted firearms with brass tacks. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 28, 2015, 06:26 PM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Leather wrapped around a stock was also a way to repair a cracked one. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 28, 2015, 03:32 PM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,816	I read that nobody was shooting their guns left and right either. Ammunitions were too expensive to waste. -TL

November 30, 2015, 10:10 PM	#8
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I've always wrapped doo-dads on my rifles this is the only handy pic I have available at the moment. I have one with a boar tusk hanging from it. It is not unlikely that folks did it in the past __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

December 1, 2015, 09:55 PM	#9
WV_gunner Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Location: WV Posts: 938	I have the modern version, elastic. I like the leather ones a lot and maybe one day I'll have one. But when hunting I have realized a light rifle is your friend. Having a half box of ammo on the stock just makes it weigh that much more. I just keep an extra two bullets in my coat pocket. I can break the gun down with my right hand and grab the next round with my left.