AllOutdoor Review – Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case
Travis Olander 10.30.23
I’ve always thought the idea of using a guitar case as a gun case was cool. Sure, you might’ve seen something like it in Hollywood, but it serves another, very real purpose – it conceals the fact you’re transporting a firearm, which is always an extra layer of insurance against passersby, wandering eyes, and those with bad intentions. Savior Equipment seems to understand this idea: They introduced the aptly named Savior Equipment Fiddle Master series of gun cases. We’re reviewing the Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case compact 30″ version. Let’s take a look.
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Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case – Specs & Features
- Includes resizable hoop-and-loop fasteners
- “Travel Sentry Approved” locking latches w/ keys
- Weather-Resistant O-ring Seal
- High-Impact Polymer Shell
- Rubberized Internal Shell
- Polyurethane Ester Foam
- Side Carry Handle
Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case – Dimensions
- External: 33”L x 15”H x 7”D
- Internal: 31”L x 13”H x 4”D
- Straps: 15” x 1.5”
Now, the shape of a violin or guitar isn’t exactly the same as your typical rifle or shotgun. In fact, its these instruments’ profiles that allow for plenty of storage with a relatively short shotgun (like my Mossberg 500).
With the shotty strapped for travel, you could easily fit some storage bags, magazine pouches, boxes of ammo, hearing protection, and all the other range gear you’d need to bring with you. One issue that I immediately came to dislike, though, was the lack of any pluck-fit foam. The Fiddle Master is a relatively deep case, and with all this extra room, it’d be nice to have the cushion for my guns – and the ability to create some better organization to store extra kits. Onto rifles, though: I was able to fit my 10.5″-barreled SBR well enough, but with one caveat.
Any AR-type rifle (or any rifle with tall receivers like the AR) might have a bit of a tight fit, width-wise, if you’ve also got any sort of optic installed on your top rail. The AR just barely manages to squeeze itself inside the tub with the top turret of my ACOG resting directly against the edge of the interior. My PDW stock is shorter than the typical six-position buttstock, too. So, if your AR or other rifle’s equipped with that kind of stock (or any larger scope) the longer overall length and height could wind up getting pretty cramped, or not fitting at all.
This isn’t a big deal. You could just remove your optic for storage inside the case if it doesn’t fit. But then you run the risk of throwing off your zero every time you want to store your rifle. If the case were just an inch or two wider, it’d have no trouble accommodating most semiautomatic, box magazine-fed rifles with most optics.
If you manage to squeeze your long gun into the Fiddle Master, you’ll cinch it down with the two provided hoop-and-loop straps. They’re about 15″ long and 1.5″ wide, and slip through cut-outs that run along the length of the interior of the case.
It’s a simple retention system, but it works, allowing you to decide where you want your straps to rest, and allowing you to avoid having to cinch them down over grips and optics.
As for actual storage capacity, the Fiddle Master comes up just shy of its advertised interior length: Around 30.5″ from top to bottom.
The max width near the base measures about 12.5″, while max width near the shoulders of the case – where your optic will typically rest – measures 8.5″.
Again, it’d make a big difference if Savior Equipment added just an inch of width in the above areas. Height is more than adequate for the typical SBR and pistol-gripped shotgun. Things are just a tad skinny and could use some widening.
On the outside, the Fiddle Master is built quite well. The latches are solid and strong, with stainless pins concealed inside the mounts hosting each latch around the perimeter of the lids. The locks function fine; they’re not going to stop someone who’s an expert picker, but they work well enough to keep your firearms and kit secure during travel.
The other, non-locking latches are spaced well apart and provide good clamping pressure, keeping the O-ring sealed and helping to stop water and moisture from ingress. I wouldn’t risk submerging the Fiddle Master case, but it is wholly waterproof in outdoor weather.
The lid pins are also stainless, though they can’t be spied from the outside. They’re encased in the molded polymer that makes up the upper and lower shells of the case. They’re solid enough to prevent the lids from bowing or flexing excessively when open.
Carrying the Fiddle Master is a relatively comfortable endeavor. The handle’s soft with a rubbery center, and it swivels freely between its two steel pins. The handle’s placed properly to afford a decent center of gravity, preventing either base or head of the case from leaning too far forward or rearward.
Onto the most important factor: Protection. The shell and overall construction of the Fiddle Master is surprisingly high quality. The shape of the case itself, coupled with the slight convex curvature of the top, provides plenty of stiffness and rigidity. When clamped down and latched, the case can easily be thrown about without worry of any damage. It feels comparable to, well, an actual violin or instrument case made for travel.
Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case: Worth It? Or Gimmick?
For around $125, the Fiddle Master is, in fact, a pretty great “short” long gun case. It’s obviously incapable of hosting a conventional 16″-barreled rifle, or 18″-barreled and stocked shotgun. But if you’re in the market for something that can hold a pistol-gripped shotgun, SBR, or a few handguns (with some interior storage of your own provided to keep things secure), this case gets the job done without much fuss. I’m pleasantly surprised at how rugged the case seems to be. I’ve owned plenty of other budget-friendly rifle cases in the $80-to-$150 category (Plano, SKB, Flambueau) and all those cases felt “cheaper” and more flimsy than this unit. The O-ring and waterproofing is a nice touch, as are the TSA-friendly locks.
And, of course, the case does a damn fine job of concealing its true purpose. Any passersby simply will not know this is hosting some firearms instead of a violin, unless you let them in on the secret. Concealment is, itself, an extra layer of security when it comes to guns, and that’s something hard to find with most gun cases. Not everything is great here, though: The tub desperately needs some pluck foam to allow for better fitment of firearms and gear, and it’s ever so slightly skinny for the typical AR-type rifle. If these two foibles were addressed by Savior Equipment, the Fiddle Master would unironically be one of the best 30″ gun cases on the market under the $200 price point.
