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MODEL 1859 CIVIL
WAR McCLELLAN SADDLE BAGS – w/ MODIFICATION FOR USE WITH
THE MODEL 1868 McCLELLAN SADDLE:
A necessary piece of horse equipment to complete your
saddle, this set of Model 1859 Saddlebags is in very
good condition and exhibits evidence of continued use on
the frontier after the Civil War on the Model 1868
McClellan Saddles It has been noted that a number of
the extant specimens of the Model 1868 Saddle do not
have the saddle bag stud behind the cantle, and the
absence of this stud appears to have been an intentional
omission when the saddle was being refurbished with new
quarterstraps and the brass molding was added. It is
believed that perhaps the brass molding reduced the
clearance between the cantle and the saddle bag stud
making it inaccessible, and was therefore omitted as
unnecessary. In order to compensate for the absence of
the stud, and probably because it was easier than
wrestling with lining up the foot loops on the saddle
with the slots and retaining tabs on the saddlebag yoke,
the soldiers simply made a cross shaped pair of cuts on
each side of the yoke in line with the round equipment
rings on the cantle. The bags were then placed across
the cantle, the rings easily pulled through the cuts and
the cantle roll was then strapped in place over the
saddle bag yoke securing the entire assembly in place.
This set of bags feature these cut on the yoke and they
show evidence of use. This modification has been noted
in a few other existing sets of saddle bags, and is
desirable evidence of frontier use, however it is a
feature far from commonly found.
In spite of this obvious
evidence of issue and use, both of the bags are in
notably very good condition with full outer flaps
complete with the closing billets and buckles, the
interior pouches are complete and intact, and the
gussets, commonly found split or torn, are fully intact,
smooth and very pliable. The interior pocket laces are
present in one bag, a plus as these laces are normally
missing entirely. The seat, or yoke connecting the two
bags that passes across the back of the saddle, is
complete with both leather keys used to secure the
saddlebags to the foot loops on the rear sidebar
extensions of the saddle. The seat is intact with no
tears or repairs which is unusual as this is a classic
weak point. The lower tie down straps and lower buckles
are present and intact, again an unusual feature as
these are normally broken off or removed entirely. As
can be seen in the photographs, the leather surfaces are
overall smooth and shiny and this is a very presentable
set of saddle bags.
Model 1859 Saddlebags in
respectable condition are becoming a very difficult
Civil War saddle accessory to find on the market today,
and those showing any evidence of field use that remain
intact and worth owning are scarce indeed. Overall,
this is a very nice, attractive set of saddlebags with
the added value of showing post Civil War frontier use,
that has survived in remarkable condition and will
definitely enhance the appearance and value of your
Civil War or early Indian War McClellan Saddle. (C 131)
$1500
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