I don't know if this is the best forum for this question since I didn't make this, but hopefully someone here can help.
I don't know much about saddle scabbards, having never used one. I bought this one via Ebay for $35 (including shipping), just to decorate a room in my house. I'd like to know a little about it, though. I'm curious about the era. I know that Boyt made leather for GI use during WWII, but the company is much older than that. Is this pre- or post-war? Also, the cut seems different than what I'm used to, kind of just a wedge shape rather than more contoured. A lever-action rifle would tend to fall to whichever edge is down, rather than being held centered. It looks like the scabbard was used for a bolt-action rifle; there is a dent where the bolt handle rode. Is this scabbard designed for a bolt action? One edge (where the leather loops are) is also finished differently than the opposite edge, which is just sewn together with a welt. The loop-side edge has a separate piece along the length of the scabbard. I took a photo, but the camera focused poorly--hopefully it is clear enough to make sense. Does that mean that it was meant to mount with that side down (it looks to be more reinforced)?
Does anyone have any insight for me? Should I post this question elsewhere, like in the historical section?
(Note: I'm breaking the photos into two posts to help them load.)
Thanks.
CC Griff