Saddle Found At An Antique Store

[ReneeCanady]

Hello all, I found this saddle at an antique store last weekend. I know NOTHING about saddles. I thought it was really cool looking and would go just right in my fireplace room I assume it is a pony saddle because it is small. The only markings I see on it is the #601 stamped into the back skirting (i think that is what that part is called lol) Anyone have any idea if that is a series, a certain makers mark, or what? Any info would be cool news to me such as age, it's condition etc.. Thanks for looking! I cleaned it up as much as I could, but I am sure it still looks pretty dirty to you all.

[spurdude101]

hi Renee, nice find. Typically on a full sized saddle a few tell tale styles would stand out to deternime age. a slick fork sometimes called an "A" fork, this is the shape of the swells or the front of the saddle, the stirrup leathers being seperate and outside of the fenders( this is the wide part that hangs down and protects your leg), also an 8 string, meaning thats how many individual strings are on one side. all these together would indicate a western saddle made before1910 but after about 1885. now however a pony saddle all that goes out the wondow because many commercial manufactures would just copy that style in the post war 1950's thru the 70's. It looks tooled and carved very nicely. I don't think the strings are original because they look too long and new. as for maker, who knows.. Simco made pony saddles, Sears, Wards, JC Penny, all had saddles made or purchased without their makes names. as for the 601 it would be a model number or production number of some kind. These are my thoughts about it, perhaps some else may have a different idea or shed some light... how much did you pay?

[Blake]

Hi Renee

That is a neat little saddle and I'm almost inclined to think it came off of or was intended for a $.10 cent mechanical horse like you used to see in front of the grocery stores.

What is the size of the floor tiles where it was photographed so we can get an idea of the actual size?

The number is nothing more than a model number and more than likely it was made as a contract saddle since it has no company or maker stamp.

It sure appears to be in nice shape. Some of those were made by J.C.Higgins and some by Bona Allen Co.

Blake

[ReneeCanady]

I paid $80 bucks for it so no matter what the worth it was worth it for my western room I have never seen a saddle around my area for any less than $200.00 because I live pretty close to the Cowtown Rodeo. I have been looking for one to use as a decoration so this works great! I may eventually try the tandy mini kit and see if I like the process or not.

The tiles on the floor are 12x12. The the strings had a lot of mildew on them before I cleaned it up. These pics were taken after my sad attempt of cleaning it lol. It does look much better than it did. The wool underneath is in GREAT shape. Usually when I find a decent priced saddle that is the first thing to look really beat up.

Thanks guys for your input!

[ReneeCanady]

It is 12 inches in length from the front of the seat to the back of the seat....just the part where you sit.