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MODEL 1908 SADDLE BLANKET – EXCELLENT SPECIMEN:
As described in the 1908 revision of the Ordnance
Department manual Horse Equipments and Equipments for
Officers and Enlisted Men, the saddle blanket “will
be made of pure wool…[the color] to be a mixture of
olive-drab shade…[with] an olive-brown border of two
stripes…the blanket to be rectangular, 72 by 84
inches…each blanket to have the letters “U.S.” and the
bursting shell”. In spite of the drab colors, the 1908
Saddle Blanket was one of the more distinctive and
decorative saddle blankets issued by the army during the
span of the horse cavalry.
At the time these blankets were issued, while the
bedding blankets were obtained through contract and
issued to the soldiers from the Quartermaster
Department, the saddle blankets were obtained through
separate contracts and issued by the Ordnance
Department.
This specimen has survived the years in excellent
condition, measuring 66” wide and 84” long, very close
to the original dimensions and well within any variances
in the manufacturing process by the civilian contractors
and within the range of shrinkage normally encountered
in these blankets as caused by the aging of the wool and
repeated washings through the years. In as close to
unissued condition as is likely to be encountered in
these saddle blankets, this blanket is clean with bright
colors that show no sign of fading. There are two ¼”
holes as shown in the photographs below. These do not
affect the integrity of the weave nor do they detract
from the quality of the blanket on display. As directed
in the Ordnance manual description, the blanket is
decorated in the center with an embroidered “US” 6”
high, and the Ordnance Department “Flaming Bomb” which
is 5 ½” high. This embroidery is fully intact with no
sign of wear and is plainly visible from both sides of
the blanket.
As you can imagine, these blankets did not survive in
great numbers due to the hard use they experienced in
service and as they passed on as surplus to the
multitude of post-army agencies, charities and retail
stores they were simply used up with little to no regard
for their historical value. These saddle blankets are
difficult to find in any condition, and in this fine
condition are rare indeed. This specimen will certainly
be a significant addition to display with any of the 20th
Century US Army saddles. (C191) $650
NOTE: THE LIGHT STREAKS SHOWING ON THE BLANKET IN
THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE RAYS OF SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE
BLANKET AND NOT FADING, BLEACHED AREAS, OR DISCOLORATION
IN THE MATERIAL.
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