Example Stirrup Research

[Harfindel]

Ok, so here are a couple other examples of research into historical saddles, this time into stirrups.

First, here in the first picture is a set of unusual spring-suspension stirrups, listed on Ebay. The base of the stirrups is marked "Patent applied for."

A search of the USPTO database for stirrup patents, pre-1920, yielded an exact match, with US Patent No. 726,534, issued to John Hollicott, Tascosa TX, on April 28, 1903. So based on the marking, that would make the stirrup set no later than the spring of 1903.

As a second example, another listing on Ebay some time ago showed an early California saddle, unmarked with any maker's stamp. (See pic) But the exposed cantle showed the name "MARK WEST", while the stirrups were stamped as patented by Knight, Jan. 30, 1877, and April 10, 1877. A search was able to confirm that the reference on the stirrups was to patent nos. 186,853 and 189363, respectively, and that the construction of the particular stirrup on the saddle corresponded to the second patent. (pics) Even more specifically, Knight received another patent on December 25, 1877, meaning that the particular stirrups on the CA saddle were almost certainly made in 1877. Mark West is listed as an available brand of saddle tree in the 1880 catalog of Main & Winchester. So the saddle is very likely from the late 1870's to the early 1880's.

Edited October 8, 2013 by Harfindel