Larry Mahan Saddle Information

[kdpearson]

Hi,

I just found this site while I was researching a beartrap saddle stamped "Larry Mahan" that I just picked up as a rebuild project. The ralide tree is busted is and needs replaced but the leather is in nice shape. Anyway, does anyone know where I can get information on a saddle with a brand like that?

Thanks,

Ken

[RonaldSe]

Hi,

I just found this site while I was researching a beartrap saddle stamped "Larry Mahan" that I just picked up as a rebuild project. The ralide tree is busted is and needs replaced but the leather is in nice shape. Anyway, does anyone know where I can get information on a saddle with a brand like that?

Thanks,

Ken

to the forum, you'll love it here!!! Could we get a picture of the saddle?

Thanks

[bruce johnson]

I am not sure who made the saddles. I would sure suspect it was a factory who put his name on it. In the mid 70s Larry Mahan was a pretty savvy marketer with his name on a lot of things - hats, boots, clothes, etc. Kind of the "new fashion look" of the wild shirts, woven coarse jute straw hats, and fuzzy felt hats. The broken Ralide tree fits with that time frame too. Seems like the ones just sitting have about a 20-25 year lifespan before they just breakdown and crack. Ralide might be able to hook you up with a replacement tree.

[kdpearson]

Here are some pics. I looked at Ralide's website and it looks like a model 1523 matches up pretty close.

[Saddlebag]

The few cracked Ralide trees I've encountered were the result of someone putting the cantle screws a little too close to the stirrup slot. When I look at the pic Big Horn comes to mind as they often used that pattern along the edges.

[kdpearson]

The few cracked Ralide trees I've encountered were the result of someone putting the cantle screws a little too close to the stirrup slot. When I look at the pic Big Horn comes to mind as they often used that pattern along the edges.

This one looks more like someone drove over it with a truck. I glued it back together so I could get accurate measurements to order a new tree and it took a whole kit if JBWeld to cover all the breaks. I'll watch out for putting cantle screws too close when I put it back together.

Ken

[gothcowboy]

Hi,

I just found this site while I was researching a beartrap saddle stamped "Larry Mahan" that I just picked up as a rebuild project. The ralide tree is busted is and needs replaced but the leather is in nice shape. Anyway, does anyone know where I can get information on a saddle with a brand like that?

Thanks,

Ken

IIRC back in the 70's Longhorn, I believe, had a few Larry Mahan models. However, the swell treatment looks distinctly vintage Big Horn, and the fact it's on a Ralide faux cutter type tree, the cantle, and the stamping, leads me to believe it would have been a lower end production saddle i.e. Big Horn or even a Simco. I'm thinking more Big Horn because Simco didn't typically lace their swells in that style - Simco's Little Wonder and cutter swells were typically a sewn split.

Edited February 5, 2010 by gothcowboy