karl Report post Posted January 27, 2008 (edited) Hi fellas, I just finished making my 2nd saddle and am now going to attempt to restore a McClellan saddle. There are some of the pieces missing like strap holders, ect and was wondering where I can find them. Another question is, How can I date the McClellan that I have? I am thinking it is a 1904 model but I showed it to my instructor on the last day of the saddle class and he kind of suggested that it was an older model of around 1893 or so. I know that the 1859s had no leather covering other than the skirts nailed or screwed on and the centerfire rigging, so it's not that old I know, but is there any way to ballpark an age on one? Karl Edited January 27, 2008 by karl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Karl, Those are all before my time. Not sure how to age them. A source might the cavalry unit in Oklahoma. a coupe years ago ShopTalk had an article on the cavlary unit at one of the army installations there. Dr. Dan might get you in contact with someone who can age your saddle for you. As far as hardware, Weavers have a few pages of re-enactment hardware in their catalog. Not usre who all else has some. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorsehairBraider Report post Posted January 27, 2008 I've got an old McClellan that I ride, but it's got the date pretty clearly stamped in a couple of places. Go over your saddle with a fine tooth comb and one of those visors jewelers wear and you just may find a date stamp. Mine even says where it was built. On the hardware, I got a reproduction on eBay that seemed to have all the hardware. It was a crappy saddle (the tree sucked!) but it did have all the hardware. I don't know what I am going to do with mine. You sure can't put it on a horse. But you might be able to get one on eBay with the hardware. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don101 Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Hi Karl what color is it if it is brown its 1904 or later as the saddles were black before that date i believe, Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rod and Denise Nikkel Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Karl, We were asked to build a McClellan tree a while back. The customer sent us a few pages from a book called The American Military Saddle 1775-1945 which had very detailed information. I am sure if you got a copy of that book (library maybe?) you could use the information to date your tree more. Our customer got his hardware from Weavers. If you check out the 1858 McClellan Saddle thread, there is a website listed there by someone else as well who said it is good for information on McClellans. All the best with your search. Let us know what you find out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karl Report post Posted January 27, 2008 (edited) Hi Karl what color is it if it is brown its 1904 or later as the saddles were black before that date i believe, Don Hi Don, and evereyone else, I took a good bunch of saddle soap to it and then some neatsfoot oil and after about a half hour of scrubbing and rubbing it doesn't look that bad for as old as it is. and I haven't seen any date or serial number or anything like that yet. As for the color, I can't say that it's black exactly but it's the deepest and darkest brown I've ever seen and in 3 or 4 places the leather has shrunk and stitching broken and the bottom leather on the bars that touch the horse the skirting is normally, has a scratches an wear places or where something has scratched it or gouged slightly where it was thrown over a fence rail or on the ground or something, but the tree is not broken and I bought 3 of these and if the first one works out I'll fix up the other two and sell them. I found a place about military saddles and restoration on line, and it has a couple of thumbnail patterns but when I try to enlarge them even using the portrait style on print setup, it cuts some of the pattern off and the printing is extremely hard to read. Thanks for the Information, and I have read that the 1858 style saddles were black and the instructor (or teacher) in the saddle class thinks its a possibly an 1893 or so model. What he bases his theory on I don't know, that is why I wish I knew if there was a magic or quick was to tell the age. I hope they are older but still think they are 1904's. Karl Edited January 27, 2008 by karl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Hi fellas, I just finished making my 2nd saddle and am now going to attempt to restore a McClellan saddle. There are some of the pieces missing like strap holders, ect and was wondering where I can find them. Another question is, How can I date the McClellan that I have? I am thinking it is a 1904 model but I showed it to my instructor on the last day of the saddle class and he kind of suggested that it was an older model of around 1893 or so. I know that the 1859s had no leather covering other than the skirts nailed or screwed on and the centerfire rigging, so it's not that old I know, but is there any way to ballpark an age on one? Karl Visit www.militaryhorse.org. / old timer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Visit www.militaryhorse.org./ old timer Randy Steffen's books - a four volume set 'The Horse Soldier 1776 - 1943' also has quite a lot of detail on cavalry saddles, as does his 'The Military Saddle'. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karl Report post Posted January 27, 2008 (edited) Visit www.militaryhorse.org./ old timer Hi Fellas, I looked real close at the saddle that is in the worst shape and the leather is coming off, shrunk and stitching broken and the bottom leather on the bars is completely gone and the stitching is broken on some of the rawhide, but is has more of the metal hardware than the other saddle so I am going to rob Peter to pay Paul and should be O.K. but I am going to take my time with it, but still would like to know the age. About 8 years ago a friend of mine, and elderely gentleman had a lot of old west collectables and the paperwork to authenticate them of stirrups, spurs, and a few other things I can't remember right off hand, from Buffalo Bills Wild West Show and the one item he had I would sold my right arm for, was an authenticated cavalrky saddle that was at The Little Big Horn Battle with Custer and it did have a serial number on it and I held it in my hands. Boy! what a thrill, I told his son a few years ago that if his dad ever wanted to get rid of it, to let me know and I would give him whatever wanted for it, somehow. But he told me that his dad, gave it to Nebraska state museum at (I think) the University Of Nebraska and as much as I wanted that saddle, he made the right choice. But what a thrill. there wasn't anything on the saddle just the saddle (or Tree you could say) no leather or straps or riggings or anything, but what a prize to own. Oh well! I can only dream. Karl Edited January 27, 2008 by karl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barra Report post Posted January 27, 2008 (edited) Karl. This is from Militaryhorse.com (the link oldtimer suggested). http://www.militaryhorse.org/studies/mcclellan/ Barra Edited January 27, 2008 by barra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted January 27, 2008 Hi fellas, I just finished making my 2nd saddle and am now going to attempt to restore a McClellan saddle. There are some of the pieces missing like strap holders, ect and was wondering where I can find them. Another question is, How can I date the McClellan that I have? I am thinking it is a 1904 model but I showed it to my instructor on the last day of the saddle class and he kind of suggested that it was an older model of around 1893 or so. I know that the 1859s had no leather covering other than the skirts nailed or screwed on and the centerfire rigging, so it's not that old I know, but is there any way to ballpark an age on one? Karl Weaver Leather carries all the hardware for McClellan Saddles. RC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted January 29, 2008 http://www.borderstates.com/leathergoods.html Might help with the ID Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
