Need Saddlebag Pattern

[Dwight]

Actually . . . I don't need the full saddlebag pattern . . . just the part that goes behind the rider . . . 

The distance between the two bags is one dimension I need

the width of the top . . . at the center is a second dimension

AND . . . the radius of the half circle cut out to ride up against the saddle . . . 

The rest is a no brainer . . . 

I want to make a set of saddlebags for a project . . . and maybe sell them later . . . just want them to be of the right dimensions that someone having a horse would want to buy them.

Thanks for all your help . . . 

I was thinking if someone cared to do it . . . lay your saddlebags down on the floor with a 1 foot ruler laying next to them and post a picture.  I can "interpolate" from there . . . close enough.

Thanks . . . may God bless,

Dwight

Edited August 28, 2024 by Dwight

[Littlef]

Tandy has a 1917 saddle bag pattern in their leather craft library.   I tried to post it but its like18.6mb, and over the size limit.  My email is capped at 10mb.  

this is the link.

1917 Saddle Bag Pattern Pack — Tandy Leather, Inc.

 

[Dwight]

1 hour ago, Littlef said:

Tandy has a 1917 saddle bag pattern in their leather craft library.   I tried to post it but its like18.6mb, and over the size limit.  My email is capped at 10mb.  

this is the link.

1917 Saddle Bag Pattern Pack — Tandy Leather, Inc.

 

Thanks Littlef . . .  whole lot more in there than I wanted . . . they'll be plain . . . kind of bags a cheap critter like me would have carried.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Littlef]

3 hours ago, Dwight said:

Thanks Littlef . . .  whole lot more in there than I wanted . . . they'll be plain . . . kind of bags a cheap critter like me would have carried.

May God bless,

Dwight

You’re welcome sir.  They seem to be way more fancier than what most people would use… but hopefully it gives you the dimensions you were needing. 

[Goldshot Ron]

I would be pleased to send you a pattern.  Here are a few that I have built.  Let me know which one you would want a pattern for.  As you said, the part that goes behind the cantle is the foundation for constructing the bags.

Ron

[Dwight]

2 hours ago, Goldshot Ron said:

I would be pleased to send you a pattern.  Here are a few that I have built.  Let me know which one you would want a pattern for.  As you said, the part that goes behind the cantle is the foundation for constructing the bags.

Ron

Good looking work, Goldshot Ron . . .  those would make a bad lookin horse's image perk up.

Looking at some of the TV westerns and movies . . . some of the saddlebags looked to be maybe 18 inches square . . . 5 or 6 inches deep . . . not the 10 inch variety that is sold on Etsy and Ebay these days.

I don't travel much . . . maybe 2 days gone at a time . . . and a pair that sized would carry all of my needs.

I remember them pulling the saddlebags off with a rolled up blanket . . . and the horse N saddle went into the livery.

I'm kind of attempting that for myself . . . 

Got a lady down the street with a couple horses . . . may just go down there and snoop around.

But keep up the good work . . . you are an asset to the forum.

May  God bless,

Dwight

[Goldshot Ron]

Dwight,

The kind of saddle bags that you mentioned are usually nylon bags.  I'd have to measure my old US cavalry bags, but 12"x12" x 5"deep are about as large as you would want for leather saddle bags.  I have made bags out of chap leather to cut down on weight, that would be an alternative to nylon.

Also, thank you for the kind words.

Ron

[Dwight]

5 hours ago, Goldshot Ron said:

Dwight,

The kind of saddle bags that you mentioned are usually nylon bags.  I'd have to measure my old US cavalry bags, but 12"x12" x 5"deep are about as large as you would want for leather saddle bags.  I have made bags out of chap leather to cut down on weight, that would be an alternative to nylon.

Also, thank you for the kind words.

Ron

Thanks, Ron . . . 

[bland]

@Dwight I don't think you would like a saddle bag 18 x 18 x 5.  They would get under you leg or hang way back (about 6 inches on a square skirt saddle) interfering with your horses movement.  They would also hang way down on the side getting in the way. 

The old cavalry saddle bags are pretty big and I think the measurements there are in the range of 13 x 10 x 4.  You could include a cantle bag on top and still tie your jacket/blanket on top.  

To your original question about dimensions.  There is some "it depends" in the calculations.  All saddles are a little different.  Do you have a saddle handy? If not I can give you measurements from mine.  

The distance from the cantle to the edge of the rear skirts on my 4 saddles average 5 1/2 inches.  The bag opening/lid should be just below where the cantle ties in at the seat ear where the conchos and saddle strings are (if it has them there).  Rear saddle strings are about 12-14 inches apart again not all the same. The distance from the center of the cantle to the level of the where the bag starts is about 8 inches so overall in the 16 inch range.  

As far as the arc on the cantle it also depends on the saddle tree maker some are a little flatter on the back.  I would just take some paper/posterboard for a pattern and cut the general shape then you can scribe a line on your pattern with your compas.  

I don't punch my tie holes until I can see where the rear saddle strings hit on the bag.  

Take that for what it is worth.  

 

 

Edited August 30, 2024 by bland
added content

[Dwight]

1 hour ago, bland said:

@Dwight I don't think you would like a saddle bag 18 x 18 x 5.  They would get under you leg or hang way back (about 6 inches on a square skirt saddle) interfering with your horses movement.  They would also hang way down on the side getting in the way. 

The old cavalry saddle bags are pretty big and I think the measurements there are in the range of 13 x 10 x 4.  You could include a cantle bag on top and still tie your jacket/blanket on top.  ......................   Take that for what it is worth.  

 

 

Thanks Bland . . . I thought the cavalry bags (and Matt Dillons) were somewhat bigger . . . but not ever using them . . . I had no clue.

Your info hits the spot . . . just what I really needed . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight