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MODEL 1904 OFFICER’S SERVICE SADDLE CLOTH – 2ND
CAVALRY - ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED:
As
described in the Ordnance
Department Manual No. 1719, Horse Equipments and
Equipments for Officers and Enlisted Men, dated
1905, this Model 1904 Officer’s Service Saddle Cloth has
survived in very nice
condition.
Manufactured by the Ordnance
Department, the cloth is ink stamped on the underside of
the pommel, “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, 1919”.
The olive drab duck material, still retaining the rigid,
sized nature of the fabric when it was new, is not
misshapen nor is the fabric weakened as seen on many
heavily used saddle cloths. Normally found with heavy
stains from the saddle leather and weak or wear spots
through the weave, this cloth shows only minor soiling
and no wear to the fabric. The russet leather spine is
fully intact and all the seams are intact and strong.
The russet leather trim around the edge of the cloth
shows some isolated areas of wear to the edges as are
shown in the photos – those areas with the greatest wear
being shown to give you a fair idea of the extent of
these areas – however, the great majority of the trim is
in very good condition.
Of particular interest are the regimental numbers
attached to both of the trailing lower corners and the
unique yellow color of the underside of the cloth where
it was not exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light and
subsequently faded. Each trailing corner of the saddle
cloth is decorated by a triangular field of russet
leather mounted by a brass numeral “2” measuring 2” by 1
¼”. The officer apparently changed assignments,
evidenced by the outline of previously attached insignia
that is visible on the underside of the cloth, and in
order to cover the marks left by the insignia he
removed, he attached the 2ND Regiment numeral
s to the leather triangles and had them sewn in place.
The standard color of these Model 1904 Service Saddle
Cloths was olive drab (in many cases more khaki colored
than olive), however the underside of this cloth is
decidedly yellow – the color indicated for facings and
decorations for the cavalry. Given the latitude allowed
– and absent permission, nonetheless tolerated –
officers in their uniforming and equipment, it is not
particularly surprising that an officer would special
order a saddle cloth with colored cloth to match his
branch of service, or simply have the cloth dyed at his
own expense. An example of one of these dyed
saddlecloths is shown in Figure 17, on page 347 of
The American Military Saddle 1776-1945. No doubt
proud of his assignment to one of the oldest mounted
units in the US Army tracing its heritage back to the 2ND
Dragoons, this officer must have cut quite a figure on
the parade field.
Having handled dozens of these saddle cloths held in
museum collections in the course of the research for
The American Military Saddle 1776-1945, it was quite
apparent that these cloths were subjected to heavy use
and wear. Understandably, the thorough soaking due to
horse sweat and the continued and concentrated deposits
of body salts from the horse, these cloths were
especially prone to deterioration and eventual
disposal. Hence, surviving examples of these cloths in
any condition are not common today, making examples in
this condition relatively scarce. With the added value
of not only being unit identified, but with the
indication of being used by a cavalry officer, this
Model 1904 Saddle Cloth will be a key piece that will
set your saddle display apart as truly special. $695
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