Help with a saddle??

[civil99]

I have what appears to be a civil war era saddle. Can anyone give me any info on it? Thank you in advance
(sorry I couldnt figure out how to rotate them once they were uploaded

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello @civil99, welcome to CWT.

I'm sure our experts can help you with your question.

 

[1867crete]

Very nice! Leary of "cs" stamped items. McClellan saddle, definitely military but I think early 20th century... excellent condition! But I am no means a expert excited to learn more about your saddle! Welcome aboard!

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum from South Florida.

 

[civil99]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

 

[ikesdad]

I too am no expert yet also extremely leery of CS marked stuff.

 

[unicornforge]

Pages 149-150 "The Ordnance Manual for The Use of the Officers of the Confederate States Army. 1863"
Missing saddle skirts
has leather cover instead of raw hide
foot staples would be iron not brass and smaller
Civil War period saddle trees were recycled/improved in later wars with leather covering, brass instead of iron, and elimination of saddle skirts.

I would be really surprised to see a saddle/saddle tree that wasn't modified/updated by the army for later wars.

Read this: http://9thvirginia.com/xequip.html

 

[zburkett]

It appears to be a McClellan that someone has done some modification to make appear more Confederate. I have a similar McClellan that I have come to ride as my regular saddle. Mine is dated 1917 which puts it in the Pershing era. Your saddle appears to be in exceptional shape. I wish mine was that good. Welcome and congratulations on a really excellent find.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. Be sure to stop by the Weapons & Ammo forum. I have to agree, its a McCleean that has been modified to appear CS. My guess is that is from a CS Cavalry reenactor.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[major bill]

Hello from Michigan.

 

[tbuckley]

Welcome from eastern Ohio.

 

[turner ashby kidd]

Looks like a nice saddle regardless of the era. Only the stirrups look (to me) correct for the 1859 Model.
I have a mid 1920s picture of my grandmother beside her horse with a similar saddle. One of my riding companions wrote a book on Confederate Saddles so I know I'm not the expert.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri located on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River. I would say it's a WWI era McClellan Saddle, used through WWII. Someone has changed some things on it.

 

[James N.]

Concur with all the above that it's most likely a 20th century saddle; welcome to the forums!

 

[ikesdad]

McClellans are still being made today.

 

[Cavalrykyle]

It is a 1904 McClellan saddle...doesn't appear to be that much modified on it. The CS shield appears to be about all that was changed. Still a nice saddle in great condition.

 

[J. Hanger]

I don't believe this is even a cavalry saddle....rather it is an artillery model of the Mac as can be told by the "D"-ring on both the pommel and cantle of the saddle.

As to the CSA slot plate, these are readily available from any one of a number of "sutlers" on the reenactment scene. Originally, it would have been a number like 13 that would indicate the size of the saddle.

J

 

[Legion Para]

http://confederatesaddles.com/

 

[dixie1861]

Welcome to the group! That's a pretty cool saddle even if it's not from the Civil War era.