Blevins buckle oxidation

[BlackDragon]

I got a saddle in the shop a few weeks back for cleaning and some repair.

The biggest issue I found were the Blevins buckles. Since they are made from aluminun they oxidized quite badly. Have yall ever seen them this bad?

[Tove09Tilda]

Wow! Okay, that looks like…  something …
Just asking as I am only used to english saddles, for what are those buckles used? 
I've never seen anything saddle-related that oxidised only some rusty head-irons which were replaced and since used for schooling purposes. 

[JDFred]

1 hour ago, BlackDragon said:

I got a saddle in the shop a few weeks back for cleaning and some repair.

The biggest issue I found were the Blevins buckles. Since they are made from aluminun they oxidized quite badly. Have yall ever seen them this bad?

 

I’ve never seen aluminum Blevins buckles. All the ones on my saddles are stainless.  That is something to look for in buying a used saddle.

 

38 minutes ago, Tove09Tilda said:

Wow! Okay, that looks like…  something …
Just asking as I am only used to english saddles, for what are those buckles used? 
I've never seen anything saddle-related that oxidised only some rusty head-irons which were replaced and since used for schooling purposes. 

Blevins buckles are used to adjust stirrup length.

[bruce johnson]

That is actually kind of mild compared to some I have seen. I have replaced a few that one post was totally eroded off and the other was a nub. Unless they get the length changed, a lot of people never check. One advantage for the stainless steel knock-off makers. 

[BlackDragon]

I looked for stainless but I couldn't source them. The websites would say all metal but when I inquired they would tell me they were aluminum.

[bruce johnson]

Springfield Leather has them, K-S from Texas, - I didn't search it but likely a google search for "Stainless Steel stirrup buckle" would give you more. If you aren't married to the Blevins style buckles - Batz has the version originally called the Fast Buckle that Ben Veach developed, Toby Yoder at Ron's Tools has Farrow buckles, and Weaver and others likely still  have the old Superior Quick Change buckles.