Leg O’ Mutton Cases

Functionality

The leg-o’-mutton comes in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. Some feature designs to safely hold a single barrel, others a double barrel and still others two sets of double barrels with different lengths. Side-by-side cases are far more common but now and again you’ll find a leg-o’-mutton made to accommodate an over/under. The type of compartments found on different cases are equally unique and will accommodate snap caps, forend grips, choke tubes and wrenches, shooting glasses, cleaning kits, lubricants or ear protection. A fold-over closure seals the case closed with a strap and buckle. Lengthening shoulder straps is easily done.

I’ve got three leg-o’-mutton cases. Two were given to me by owners who thought they were heavy and required a lot of maintenance. One came with a used shotgun I bought. I use them regularly. One case accommodates shotguns with shorter barrels up to 29″ while another holds barrels up to 32″. I suspect the shorter case housed guns used for upland bird hunting or a round of skeet while the longer one contained long barrels used for waterfowl, trap or a live pigeon shoot. The third one is robust and is designed to hold two double barrels.

Traveling with a firearm isn’t difficult but it is more challenging now than it used to be. For plane trips I’ll use a metal case. Mine is made from 0.080 marine aluminum lined with felt, and has padded risers to support the forends. Unless you’re a cat burglar, the two key locks and one combination lock make opening the case nearly impossible. Pre-cut spacers keep barrels of different lengths snug, and a padded Velcro strap neatly pins the stock to the case.

After watching baggage handlers at work, I feel confident the metal case increases the odds my shotguns will arrive at my destination intact. But still, when compared to my leg-o’-mutton, I can’t help but think my aluminum case is simply a glorified toolbox. You know, the kind of container that carries a specialty tool like a Sawzall.

Maybe leg-o’-mutton cases aren’t as practical as current options and since most won’t clear a TSA checkpoint, they certainly aren’t suitable for modern air travel. But like a wooden Cris-Craft or a split cane fly rod, these cases were made in a time when quality mattered. I wonder if my metal and soft shotgun cases will be in service 100 years from now? I know these leg-o’-muttons will be, and that’s one reason I take care of them, respect them, and always hold them in awe.

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