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MODEL 1916 CANTLE BAGS – COMPLETE WITH LINERS - EXCELLENT PAIR TO DISPLAY WITH THE MODEL 1916, 1917, 1926, 1930 AND MODEL 1936 OFFICER’S SADDLES:  Introduced with the variety of officer’s saddles developed beginning in 1916, these Model 1916 Cantle Bags were a departure in design from the traditional US Army saddlebags as they had no connecting seat or yoke between them.  These bags hung separately from the “D” rings mounted on the rear of the side bars, one to each side of the saddle.  Although found with dates as early as 1916, it appears that the majority of these bags that are seen today are dated in the 1940’s, however the style and pattern of the bags had not changed during the intervening years. 

This matched pair is in excellent condition, showing little use, with a smooth medium russet color overall.  The pebble grain leather is pliable and retains its bright finish overall.  All of the buckles, billets, standing loops and rings are present and intact.  The billets are all full length, with no breaks tears or weak points.  The gussets on both bags are complete and intact with none of the wear or tearing often found in the softer gusset leather on these bags, and the gusset leather still retains much of the light “pink” color to the leather.  The back of both bags is stamped “US”, “MILWAUKEE SADDLERY Co.”, and “1940”.  This is a particularly nice set as neither bag shows any of the characteristic structural wear and tear often evident on these bags.  The upper seam and outside corners of the cover flaps seem to have been a weak point on the M1916 Cantle Bags, perhaps too much strain and too many points of stitching and attachment in a small area to be supported for any length of time by the light weight pebble grained leather, and they often tore out in this area.  This set of bags show no evidence of this type of wear and all of the seams, rivet points and edges are strong, intact and in full form.     

The liners are present in both bags, a very unusual added value.  Normally missing, both of these liners appear to have seen little if any use and retain the bright green color.  The liner in the right side bag is in excellent condition, showing no wear or age.  The liner in the left side bag has a worn spot on the upper front edge, but otherwise the liner is in very good condition.    

Matched pairs of the M1916 Cantle Bags are not easily found on the market and most are found with serious structural and condition problems due to heavy use and poor storage.  This is a very nice pair with the added value of retaining both liners, which will enhance your display of early 20th Century US Army officer’s saddles.  SOLD

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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