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MODEL 1904 SECOND PATTERN McCLELLAN SADDLE – VERY
ATTRACTIVE COMPLETE EXAMPLE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:
This Model 1904 2ND Pattern McClellan Saddle
is a very attractive specimen, having survived with all
the components intact as it was issued, to include all
six original coat straps.
The overall condition of
this saddle is excellent, with the clear, bright russet
leather featuring a smooth shiny surface and a light
caramel color, with no sign of heavy use or oil
soaking. While bearing inspector’s initials in several
places, indicating it was accepted into the army supply
system, it is very likely this saddle was never issued
at the unit level. There is no evidence this saddle has
ever been on a horse or has been ridden, and other than
some minor scuffs to the leather surface due to storage
and handling, this saddle has not been abused nor
subjected to hard use. There is no crazing to the
leather, all of the seams are secure and intact, and the
surface of the seat is particularly nice with little, if
any, evidence of age.
The rear extension of the
right side bar and the adjacent upper cantle quarter
strap is legibly stamped with the saddle maker’s name,
“W.S.” and dated “1918”, identifying this saddle to one
of the civilian saddle maker firms which manufactured
these saddles under contract with the U.S. Army.
Beneath the maker’s initials are stamped the inspector’s
initials, “P.P.F.”. The tips of both lower
quarterstraps are stamped “W.S. 18”, again the maker’s
stamp and date with accompanying inspectors’ initials.
These stamps indicate this saddle was manufactured as
part of the mobilization as the United States prepared
for our participation in World War One.
A truly notable feature
which sets this saddle apart from the majority available
on the market today, all six of the original coat straps
are present – their originality confirmed by the
presence of all six straps retaining the riveted “donut”
stops which kept the straps from being removed from the
slots and foot loops. The six straps are still coiled
in the original “self roll” as the saddles were shipped
from the maker. All six straps are full length, intact
with no breaks. Of course, all six straps retain the
original buckles. The color of all six straps matches
the color of the saddle. Several of the straps are
stamped with a two digit numeral, indicating the length
as the coat straps on the pommel were not as long as
those on the cantle and the stamped size facilitated the
proper assembly of the saddle as it reached the end of
the manufacturing process. Original coat straps
are now almost nonexistent, whether found on a saddle or
on the loose, and they are almost never encountered
still on a saddle as a complete set. The straps were
relatively fragile, given to wear out and break, or were
separated from the saddles when they passed into the
surplus market. Finding a single original coat strap
present on a saddle is very notable – finding all six as
in this case, is truly rare.
The quarter straps are
complete, full length and have not been trimmed. As
mentioned above, the ends of both lower quarter straps
are maker stamped and dated “18” indicating 1918. Both
girth safes and the respective girthing straps are
present – an added plus as these girthing straps are
normally missing and are impossible to find on the
loose. The girthing straps are full length with no weak
spots. The girth safes still retain the original sheep
wool lining. All of the fittings – foot loops, saddle
bag stud, equipment rings, and coat strap mortise plates
– are present and in likewise excellent condition. The
lamb’s wool lining is intact on the underneath surface
of the sidebars. That this lining is present on the
sidebars and girth safes is remarkable as it is normally
missing, in most cases having fallen victim to insects
and poor storage. The wool was just too much of a
temptation for the vermin that infest warehouses and
barns, and it seldom survives intact. The presence of
the wool certainly adds to the display quality of this
saddle.
This
saddle is fitted with the standard Model 1904 Leather
Hooded Stirrups and both are in like new condition,
showing no wear or abuse. Both stirrup hoods retain a
bright, legible “US” in the oval and both are stamped on
the inside of the hood with the same maker’s initials
“W.S.” with the date “18”, and inspector’s or piece
worker’s initials. This maker’s mark on the inside of
the stirrup hood is an unusual feature and is another
added value of this saddle.
The bottoms of both stirrup
treads are stamped with the maker’s name and date of
manufacture, “SPALDING 1918”.
The stirrups are attached
with original Model 1904 Stirrup Straps that are full
length with no breaks or tears, and the color of the
straps is commensurate with the balance of this saddle.
Interestingly, one stirrup strap is stamped with a large
“V”, possibly the piece worker’s patriotic expression of
“Victory”.
This is a very attractive,
complete specimen of the Model 1904 McClellan Saddle
which has survived the years in remarkably excellent
condition. Once fairly common, specimens such as this
saddle that have not been oil soaked and retain the
lighter caramel russet color, that are still complete
with all of the original fittings and straps, and have
not been reconfigured by the army or modified through
civilian use, are becoming increasingly difficult to
find, and they seldom appear on the market. This early
20TH Century US Army saddle would be a fine
addition to your collection and one which would be
difficult to upgrade.
(0445) $975
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