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MODEL 1912 ENLISTED MAN’S TRIAL SADDLE – AN
EXCELLENT COMPLETE SPECIMEN OF A RARE US ARMY SADDLE:
It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to offer
an uncommon and especially historic piece of US Army
Ordnance equipment, and that is certainly true in this
instance. This Model 1912 Enlisted Man’s Trial Service
Saddle is a rare offering, one that is seldom available
on the open market, and certainly will be a notable
addition to even the most advanced collection.
As one of the evolutions in the series of saddle trials
and development undertaken by the Ordnance Department
during the early 20th Century, the timely approval and
issue of the Model 1912 Trial Saddles to a number of
regular army cavalry units for testing in the field
coincidently as the deteriorating political situation in
Mexico threatened the security of the southern border of
the United States, guaranteed the trial equipments’
place in US military history. Designated in 1912 as the
model name suggests, and developed, manufactured and
made available for issue by 1916, the majority of the
cavalry units that Gen. Black Jack Pershing led south
across the border in March of that year on his “Punitive
Expedition” were mounted on the Model 1912 Trial
Saddles. The months spent in Mexico provided the
opportunity for such personalities as Pershing, Patton,
Eisenhower and a host of others to not only hone their
military skills, but unknowingly begin their assent onto
the world stage to fulfill the roles they would play
during the following thirty to forty years. This
happenstance of timing, and the association with such
famous personalities, secured for the Model 1912 Horse
Equipments what may have been an otherwise unattainable
niche in Ordnance Department history. It is with no
small sense of pride that I tell you that my paternal
grandfather, then a 1st Sergeant in the 7th Cavalry
Regiment, very likely sat a Model 1912 Service Saddle as
he rode with Pershing’s column south across the border.
This Model 1912 Service Saddle has survived the years in
remarkable condition. The leather surfaces retain an
overall smooth, polished finish, with a minimum of wear
visible, and all of the seams are intact. The seat and
skirts have an even finish and color with no
discoloration or stains. There are a few points of
wear, primarily on the crest of the edge of the cantle
and on the lower reaches of the skirts – both places
were equipment and buckles wore against the saddle
leather, but nothing that affects the structure,
integrity, or the overall appearance of the saddle.
Both sets of skirts and jockeys are full form with no
loss along the edges as is so often seen on saddles
having been exposed to heavy use or the elements. The
seat size brass plate is present on the crest of the
cantle, the three foot loops are present on the
underside of the cantle shelf, and both box rings are
present on the pommel.
Of particular note, both of the unique Girth-strap
Adjuster pads are present and intact, and are of the
correct configuration with the adjuster on the off side
having the additional strap in place, used for anchoring
the Entrenching Tool Cover/Horseshoe Pouch. Both of the
adjusters are faintly, but legibly stamped “ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL 1916”. These Girth-strap adjusters are quite
often missing, victims of the passage of time or
subsequent owner’s lack of understanding of their
purpose, and when missing are almost impossible to
replace. The four original girth straps are present and
supple. Three are full length, with the fourth strap
missing its tip below the girth adjuster.
The side bar hinges are all intact and function
properly. The sidebars both retain the original leather
end caps and all four still have a bright, smooth finish
to the leather. The sidebar pads are fully intact, and
while they show some of the expected signs of use, they
are fully intact. The Ground (or under) seat shows some
wear, but the leather is solid and intact, and given
that this area is not visible when the saddle is on
display, this evidence of aging does not detract from
the saddle’s appearance.
The special stirrup hangers, introduced with this model,
are both intact and both safety catches function
properly. The stirrup straps are exacting replacements
made with original buckles and with detailed attention
to the regulation specifications, with the rough side of
the leather out, the proper number of holes spaced
exactly as they were on the originals, and the holes
numbered as they were on the original straps. The
original Model 1912 Stirrups retain their proper
darkened finished as is correct for the Enlisted Man’s
saddle and both are maker marked and stamped “US”.
Courtesy of the Society of the Military Horse, I have
been made aware of a document authored by a Colonel of
Ordnance at the Rock Island Arsenal. While undated,
based on the content, the document is believed to have
been written circa 1918 and the colonel reported the
total manufacture of Model 1912 Service Saddles was
limited to 8983. It is not an overstatement to regard
this listing of a complete and original Model 1912
Enlisted Man’s Saddle as a rare offering. Saddles of
this rarity and condition quite often pass quietly from
one collection into another, never reaching the open
market. (0442) $2995
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