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MODEL 1885
McCLELLAN SADDLE SURCINGLES – A RARE OFFERING OF A
SELECTION OF VERY NICE EXAMPLES:
One of the scarcest, if not rarest, of the US Army
Saddle accessories, the Surcingles from any of the eras
of the US Horse Cavalry survive in extremely low
numbers, with most of the surviving specimens being
found in museum collections. While on occasion a Model
1904 Surcingle appears on the market, offered here is a
small selection of the very few Model 1885 Surcingles I
have seen for sale in over the past 40 years. Possibly
one of those items of horse equipment which were put to
many other uses by the army after the end of the Horse
Cavalry, either these continued alternative uses for the
surcingles or poor storage in commercial surplus houses
explains their absence in today’s collections. This is
rare opportunity to add a regulation Indian War
surcingle to your collection and complete your saddle.
The surcingle was an
important and integral component of the complete issue
of horse equipment for each soldier and was considered a
necessary safety feature. It was the last piece of
equipment placed over the saddle and around the horse to
hold the saddle in place in the event of a girth
failure, intended to hold the saddle upright on the
horse and in place long enough to allow the soldier to
safely dismount.
This photo shows the surcingle displayed over the seat
of a Model 1885 McClellan Saddle:
The specimens offered
here dimensionally and characteristically match the
general description of the Model 1885 Surcingles as
provided in Ordnance Department Horse Equipment Manual,
Ordnance Memoranda No. 29 which described the Model 1885
Horse Equipment. There is variation in the lengths of
the webbing and the leather billets as it was common for
the soldiers and the company saddlers to size the
surcingle to a particular horse. The leather is
definitely black, not oil soaked or aged russet as would
be consistent with the Model 1904. The blue color is
present to one degree or another, albeit somewhat faded
by age and wear depending on the use to which each
specimen was subjected, but the blue color is
discernable in the webbing on these surcingles. Note
that the blue surcingles were issued to the cavalry
troopers while the light artillery were issued red
surcingles.
I am fortunate to have
an embarrassment of riches as I have the following
specimens to offer, each described below with
accompanying photographs.
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NO. 1
MODEL 1885
McCLELLAN SADDLE SURCINGLE – VERY GOOD CONDITION:
A very solid specimen with all the components present.
This surcingle has an overall length of 82” with the web
body measuring 60” long.
The buckle chape is full
form and intact as is the proper functional iron
roller.
The leather billet is
full length with no evidence of having been shortened
and there are no repairs and no weak points. The tip of
the billet has a legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL”
stamp, as well as the inspector's initials,
and the piece worker’s initials on the reverse reinforcement piece.
The swell where the billet is sewn to the webbing is
boldly stamped "87" and the tip of the billet is stamped
"2", both unit applied inventory or regimental
identification numerals. Both leather
keeper straps are intact and present, and all the
stitching is intact and strong.
The buckle chape is full
form and intact as is the proper functional iron roller
buckle and the chape is stamped with the numeral “87”
which was then overstamped with "15" - again, unit inventory numbers.
The leather is all live and supple with no breaks and
overall retains a very stable surface with a bright shiny finish
with no crazing and flaking. The
linen webbing is in remarkably good condition with no
weakening of the weave. There is some minor wear
points typical indicators of use, and a small edge wear
spot adjacent to the leather keeper strap. Overall the surcingle retains its form
and there are no
significant stains. While these surcingles
typically did not retain their original blue color as
they were exposed to wear and the fading effects of
sunlight, this specimen still retains enough of the blue
hue that it is discernable. This is very nice
specimen of a fairly scarce saddle accessory.
SOLD
 
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NO. 2
MODEL 1885
McCLELLAN SADDLE SURCINGLE KIT – GROUPING OF ORIGINAL
PARTS TO ASSEMBLE A VERY REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE:
When I bought these, at the bottom of the box was this
grouping of salvaged parts, probably as these surcingles
were packed by the unit saddler as he cleaned out his
shop of obsolete equipment to send back to the arsenal.
These parts are sufficient to assemble a representative
example of an original Model 1885 Surcingle, requiring
only very minimal stitching skills and a little time
sitting in front of an old movie of your choice.
This grouping includes:
1 – full length
surcingle with an overall length of 79” with the web
body measuring 52” long. The buckle is missing, but an
aged buckle of the correct pattern is provided. The
buckle billet would have to be repaired with epoxy to
close the leather over the buckle. During its service
life, the linen web was folded back on itself and
riveted in order to size the surcingle to a particular
horse. This was a common practice and method as the
surcingles were often too long. The blue linen is
faded and has some evidence of wear and staining, but is
overall solid. The buckle chape is full form with
various unit inventory stamps. The leather billet is
full length with no evidence of having been shortened
and there are no repairs and no weak points. Both
leather keeper straps are intact and present, and all
the stitching is intact and strong. The leather is all
live and supple with no breaks and overall retains a
very good surface with minimal crazing.
1 – 45” length of
surcingle linen webbing, full width and in very good
condition with both leather billet retention straps.
The blue color is more apparent where it was covered by
the leather fittings.
1 – full length leather
billet in very good condition. Supple and in full form
with only minor crazing to the surface.
1 – original surcingle
buckle, showing wear and corrosion but it will clean up
and is functional.
Again, this is a surcingle kit, with all original
components and enough to make at least one presentable
and creditable example of a rare piece of Indian Wars
horse equipment at a very reduced expense. (0208) $80
for the group
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