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MODEL 1859 CIVIL
WAR McCLELLAN SADDLE BAGS – MARKED ALLEGHENY ARSENAL
DATED 1864 – AN EXCELLENT SET:
A necessary piece of horse equipment to complete your
saddle, this set of Model 1859 Saddlebags is in
remarkably fine condition, with the added value of being
legibly stamped “ALLEGHENY ARSENAL 1864”.
Both of the bags are
notably in excellent condition with full form outer
flaps complete with the closing billets and buckles, the
interior pouches are complete and intact, and the
gussets, commonly found split or torn, are fully intact,
smooth and pliable. All of the seams are intact. The
interior pocket laces are present and full length, which
is notable as these laces are normally missing entirely.
The leather surfaces of the bags are overall smooth
with a bright finish. The covers and fronts are
particularly nice, showing very little age.
The front flap of the
near side or left, bag is legibly stamped “ALLEGHENY
ARSENAL 1864”, a very nice feature and one not commonly
seen as the majority of these saddle bags were produced
by civilian contractors. That this set was produced at
the famous arsenal is a definite added value.
The seat, or yoke
connecting the two bags that passes across the back of
the saddle, is complete with both leather keys used to
secure the saddlebags to the foot loops on the rear
sidebar extensions of the saddle. The seat had
separated at the saddlebag stud hole, a classic weak
point as age, use and poor storage takes its toll. This
weak point has been professionally restored with a very
nicely executed reinforcement on the inside surface of
the seat. The reinforcement is not visible on the
exterior of the seat and is well placed on the interior
surface so as not to detract from the overall appearance
of this set when on display.
The lower tie down
straps and buckles on both bags are present and full
form – again, unusual, as so many of the surviving sets
of saddle bags are missing these straps, either due to
wear and age, or from being intentionally removed by the
soldiers contemporary to the use of the bags as
unnecessary when the bags were mounted on the saddle and
all of the equipment that made up the cantle roll were
in place secured by the coat straps. This is a very
nice feature which adds significantly to the value of
this set.
Model 1859 Saddlebags in respectable condition are
becoming a very difficult Civil War saddle accessory to
find on the market today and sets with all of the
components intact are outright rare. Overall, this
is an excellent set saddlebags with the added value of
bearing the stamp of a famous arsenal, and having
survived in remarkable condition, they will definitely
enhance the appearance and value of your Civil War or
early Indian War McClellan Saddle.
SOLD
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