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MODEL 1885 SADDLE
BAGS – VERY GOOD SOLID SET OF A SCARCE PATTERN – MARKED
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL:
A necessary piece of horse equipment to complete your
Indian Wars saddle display, this set of Model 1885
Saddlebags has survived in very good condition.
Introduced during the height of the active campaigns in
the desert southwest, and continued in service through
the years of the Spanish American War, the Model 1885
McClellan Saddle equipment was exposed to severe field
use and decent specimens of the true, narrow gusset top
Model 1885 saddlebags are considerably scarcer and more
difficult to locate than are other patterns of bags.
Both of the bags are in notably very good condition with
full pliable outer flaps complete with all of the full
length closing billets and buckles, and the gussets,
commonly found split or torn, are fully intact, smooth
and very pliable. The
flaps are both embossed with a legible "US" in the oval.
The interior liners are
present and intact, and are the correct pattern – that
is, the near side liner has the internal pockets for the
mess utensils and off side liner is properly without
these pockets. The liners are a matched pair and are
made of the brown cotton duck material similar to that
of the Indian War haversacks, and not the white
canvas liners used in the
later Model 1904 Saddlebags.
The single piece seat,
or yoke connecting the two bags that passes across the
back of the saddle, is strong with no weakness, breaks
or tearing, and is complete with both leather keys used
to secure the saddlebags to the foot loops on the rear
sidebar extensions of the saddle, and both footloop
reinforcement plates. The yoke is legibly stamped “ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL” below the off side, or right, foot loop
slot. The near side, or left, side of the yoke is
stamped “A 248”, likely a unit inventory number.
Overall, the leather
surfaces are bright and shiny, and the leather is
supple. The surface of the yoke has some minor crazing
with no surface loss, and the balance of the leather
surfaces are smooth. There is some minor wear to the
front edge of the near side bag body, but this point is
very small and not notably unsightly. The near side bag
is missing the two iron buttons to which the liner
buttoned and there are two matching holes on the back
panel of the bag body where these buttons were
attached. The off side bag is missing one of the liner
button on the front panel. These buttons likely pulled
through during the use and life of the bags and are not
visible when the bags are displayed, do not detract from
the overall nice appearance of this set, and are not
particularly important given the overall quality of this
set. All of the seams are intact and this set is
strong, very clean and will display very well.
Any of the Indian War era saddlebags are becoming
difficult to find, particularly in the solid, complete
condition of this set. True Model 1885 Saddlebags
consistently have been one of the patterns most
difficult to find due to the extensive service to which
they were subjected, particularly a set with all of the
important components intact – liners, straps, the
gussets and a solid yoke. Overall, this is a very nice,
attractive set of saddlebags that has survived service
in the field in remarkable condition and will definitely
enhance the appearance and value of your Indian War
Model 1885 McClellan saddle. (0502)
$2250
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