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Back when I lived in my hometown of Petersburg, Alaska, a good gun case was a necessity. Living on an island means most all recreation comes by means of a skiff cutting through waves, slinging corrosive salt water spray everywhere.
So, you need an excellent case. Now, living on a homestead in Oregon with my own personal shooting range, I haven’t needed a case in years. With some interesting travel opportunities on the horizon (carbine courses), I find myself in need of a compact and secure method of transporting an SBR.
Preferably, one that’s a bit discreet as well. Here’s where the Savior Equipment Fiddle Master gun case comes in. On the heels of reviewing (and loving) their Apollo electronic hearing protection, I had high hopes.
Here’s the tech specs, followed by hands-on.
Tech Specs:
- Discreet Violin Hardcase
- Weather-Resistant Sealing
- Fits Firearms 30″ OAL or Less
- 2x Cuttable Rifle Lockdown Straps
- TSA Approved Locking Latches
- Keys Included
- Sticker Pack Included
- Imported
- High-Impact Polymer Shell
- Rubberized Internal Shell
- Polyurethane Ester Foam
- 4 Latches
- Side Carry Handle
- External | 33” x 15” x 7”
Internal | 31” x 13” x 4”
Straps | 15” x 1.5”
Where To Buy
Hard sided, locking, discreet “violin” case with an adjustable interior. Sounds good, so let’s test it out.
The exterior of the Fiddle Master is a robust material. I’m no expert on the many types of polymer, but this is not only tough, but clearly pretty scratch and scuff resistant too. It took some dragging across gravel to finally mar the surface a bit.
If you say “Weather Resistant”, you’re talking about rain. Nobody is worried about some sunshine sneaking in right? So, let’s hit the Fiddle Master with a garden hose. 10 minutes, focusing on the seam where the two halves come together should do it right?
No water intruded into the rubberized internal lining, just a couple droplets left in-between the overlapping lips of the lid and base.
Taking a gun in a locking case on the plane unfortunately means using a TSA approved lock. I was able to pick this lock three times, in under ten seconds each time. Call me thankful then, that Savior Equipment also included a little hole to loop a cable lock through, binding the case together.
I also pried at the four latches as much as possible without straight up destroying the case, which would be easy enough using tools even if the case was made of steel. The latches are close enough to the body of the case that they don’t make prying easy. The latches are spread out enough to resist prying in between latches.
Ok, so the case can keep your gun as safe as should be expected. Now let’s look at how well it works for it’s nominal purpose.
The two included straps can be looped through any of the 11 slots, giving you anchor points wherever you want them. These straps can also be cut for the most photogenic and snug fit, but if you plan on changing which gun you’re toting in the case like I am, you may want to leave the straps long.
The top half of the Fiddle Master has nice cushy foam, but the rifle will actually be resting on the bottom half that it’s strapped to. The rubberized material is pretty rigid, but does have a little bit of “give” to it. Definitely something I would consider a non-scratch surface. It would have to be a pretty thick gun to press into the foam in the top half of the case,
While the Fiddle Master does indeed keep your rifle secure, it is lacking in the ability to hold an assortment of accessories (magazines, most notably). I can agree that a compact case isn’t meant to be a do-it-all, so I’ll stow ammo, mags, and accessories in a discreet range bag.
Size constraints would significantly limit the amount of goods kept alongside the gun anyways. I think Savior Equipment has an opportunity here to design some optional accessories that attach via one of the 11-mounting points, and adds the ability to securely hold on to a mag at least.
Bottom Line:
The Fiddle Master is not only an inconspicuous rifle case, but a tough one as well. Weather resistant, lockable, and durable enough to get your gun where you’re headed, and in style. The Savior Equipment Fiddle Master runs $149.99.
“The Fiddle Master is not only an inconspicuous rifle case”
🤣
inconspicuous? The thing is huge.
The thing also screams to thieves “musical instrument I can pawn.” only to discover its either empty – or – has a gun inside in which case (no pun intended) its payday all over again.
‘inconspicuous’ would not be my word choice for this
The thing is huge … for a violin case.
It’s a cello case then.
Inconspicuousosity is not carrying this while wearing molle camo apparel, combat boots, sporting a Duck Dynasty beard, aviator sun glasses and with God Guts and Gunz tattooed all over your arms.
The SCotUS just royally screwed us on the ‘Frames and Receivers’ ruling, 80 percent kits can (and WILL) be treated just like factory-finished firearms, requiring serial numbers to be sold.
I’m utterly baffled as to WHY Thomas allowed us to get shafted like this.
This was a no-brainer using the ‘Bruen’ decision, home-building guns was common as dirt at this nation’s founding, serial numbers weren’t a requirement until 50 or so years ago…
Because, The Right To Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed.
The Constitution should have a Second Amendment and a Half that says The Right To Bear Arms and Make Them Shall Not Be Infringed. and then Congress could pass 43,756 laws infringing that right.
I’m pretty sure when Mr. Trump was running for president he said your Second Amendment is safe with me.
Nobody said you can’t have guns, were just saying you can’t have guns without our permission.
And here we are again, back to depending on judges and lawyers to protect Americans Constitutional Rights.
That ain’t going to happen, job security priority one.
The Biden is a hydra.
I’m waiting for more details, as some outlets have reported the ban upheld against simply “ghost guns”, and others have added the very important word “kits”. We must remember that this started with a focus on all-inclusive packages that contained an unfinished frame, the jig, the required bits, and all parts (barrel, slide, LPK, etc) to fully complete the gun. Polymer80 was able to shimmy out of the spotlight for a while by requiring the frame and jig to be purchased separately, and other retailers further required parts to be purchased separately from the frames. Then Joetato’s handlers pushed him up in front of the cameras a couple of years ago and handed him a script to tell the nation all of it’s bad.
I want to know exactly what this ruling means, and to what it pertains. Did seven out of the nine Justices just tell us that the liberty to make/assemble our own guns Americans have enjoyed since the founding of this nation is no longer permissible without full government oversight, serialization, regulation, and registration?
The answer is the whims of 9
Incorrect on the requirement for a TSA lock. A standard lock can be used, if TSA needs to inspect they can, and will call you to open the case, AMHIK. Honestly I would have expected a TTAG to know better about travel with guns…
From the TSA Website, see last sentence (I highlighted with asterisks as I cannot make bold or italic print here):
Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm. For civil enforcement purposes, TSA also considers a firearm to be loaded when both the firearm and ammunition are accessible to the passenger. For example, if an individual has a firearm in accessible baggage and ammunition in his/her pocket, or any combination where the individual has access to both, the firearm is considered “loaded” for purposes of assessing a civil penalty. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. ****You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.****
Thanks for the correction
i would buy this if i could have a tommy gun.
You can.
two ways i can tell you don’t live in the land of lincoln.
your response and your choice of sa arms.
The lock loops are easily defeatable with a cigarette lighter or pocket saw found on any swiss army knife. It would have been better if these areas were reinforced with stainless steel.