UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS 1ST PATTERN MODEL 1904 McCLELLAN SADDLE
– A RARE SPECIMEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEARING “USMC”
MARKINGS: Discovered
in an old Connecticut collection, this United States
Marine Corps McClellan Saddle bears two sets of
definitive identifying stamps on the permanently
attached, and from all appearances original,
quarterstrap safes, each legibly stamped “USMC”.
Prior to the discovery of
this particular saddle, no McClellan saddle was known
that had any stamps or marks on the integral components
of the saddle – the seat, quarterstraps or girth safes,
all pieces which could not be or didn’t appear to have
been, removed or replaced - which would identify the
saddle as a “Marine Corps McClellan”.
As discussed in The
American Military Saddle, 1775-1945,
it has been
generally accepted that the United States Marine Corps
procured McClellan Saddles from Rock Island Arsenal.
The only appreciable difference between the saddles
issued to the US Army and those used by the US Marine
Corps were the use of hooded stirrups bearing “USMC”
rather than “US” in the oval embossed on the front
center of the leather hood.
From known examples of
these “USMC” embossed stirrups, it appears the Marines
either procured the finished stirrups through civilian
contractors or procured the components and assembled the
stirrups themselves after applying the embossed "USMC".
The samples of “USMC” embossed stirrups studied by the
authors of the above referenced work revealed two
distinct variations in the style of the embossing (pages
305-306), but all of the examples lacked any
manufacturer's stamps - either arsenal or civilian
contractor.
In the absence of any known
surviving Marine Corps documentation, correspondence, or
records regarding their saddles, many of the details
which have been readily available for US Army saddles
remain unknown about the saddles used by the Marines, as
those details continue to be shrouded in the shadows of
history. It is exactly this lack of definitive
information that makes this US Marine Corps McClellan
Saddle so significant, in that it provides a heretofore
unknown example which features hard evidence of use by
the Marines.
Made of russet leather,
this saddle features the Godfrey rigging, and in general
overall appearance is consistent with the First Pattern
Model 1904 US Army McClellan Saddles, with the exception
of the unique characteristics described below. The
overall condition of this saddle is excellent, the
clear, bright leather featuring a smooth shiny surface
and holding a light caramel color, with no sign of abuse
or oil soaking. There is no crazing to the leather, the
quarterstraps show evidence of only light use, and all
of the seams are secure and intact. All of the fittings
– foot loops, equipment rings, and coat strap mortise
plates – are present and in likewise excellent
condition. All of these fittings are made of brass,
and appear to originally have had an applied subdued
finish, however now many of the pieces, particularly the
coat strap mortises, are polished bright.
Several features set this
saddle apart as a very unique specimen. The Godfrey
quarterstraps drop below the lower edge of the sidebar
approximately 10” – note that during an early, pre–1903
trial the quarterstraps were reduced in length to 11”
then later increased to 12”. The quarterstraps in
every way – color, condition and attachment points -
appear to be original to the seat.
The quarterstraps depend to
round, single layer girth safes, of the pattern found on
Second Pattern M1904 McClellan Saddles except that these
safes show no evidence of ever having been backed with
sheep skin. The center of both of these permanently
attached quarterstrap safes are stamped with 1/4"
letters "U.S.M.C.". The style of the stamping on both
safes is identical. This stamping was certainly applied
after the Marine Corps acquired the saddle.
The pommel shield is
shorter and wider than the standard shield found on
Model 1904 Saddles, as noted above is made of brass, and
is plain, having no embossed or stamped size or maker’s
information.
The wooden frame stirrups
are not the standard regulation pattern associated with
the US Army or USMC saddles. These stirrups are shorter
and wider, presenting a considerably more "squat"
profile - more like a western “cowboy” stirrup - and
they are not fitted with hoods nor is there any evidence
of ever having had hoods. However, arguing for the
stirrups having been issued within the U.S. Military
procurement system and likely original to this saddle,
both stirrups retain approximately 98% of a coat of
brown lacquer paint, the same color and finish as the
brown japanned enamel paint found on the metal fittings
on the early 1904 horse equipment such as lariat
hardware, picket pins, snaps, and buckles. These
stirrups were with this saddle at the time it was first
collected in the Connecticut area, having been found in
the attic of one of the area’s old homes. I know the
original buyer personally and given his buying and
collecting habits, I have no reason to doubt that this
is exactly the way he purchased the saddle. I believe
this is the configuration the saddle was in when it left
the Marine Corps' inventory. The stirrups are attached
with original M1904 stirrup straps, both full length
with no breaks or tears, each having a smooth shiny
surface, and showing a minimal amount of wear or aging,
commensurate with the condition of the balance of this
saddle.
This
McClellan Saddle is the only United States Marine Corps
McClellan Saddle known to exist with definitive USMC
identification stampings on an integral component of the
saddle which positively identify the saddle as having
been issued within the Corps. This saddle would be the
penultimate addition to a display or collection of early
20th Century USMC equipment, highlighting the
deployment of the Horse Marines to such far shores and
exotic stations such as China, Haiti, Nicaragua, and the
Philippines.
(0125)
$1550
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