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MODEL 1868
McCLELLAN CAVALRY SADDLE – EXCELLENT SPECIMEN OF A
SCARCE EARLY INDIAN WAR PATTERN: This is an
excellent example of the scarce early Indian Wars Model
1868 McClellan Saddle. The first Indian War period
modification of the McClellan Saddle following the Civil
War, this saddle features the correct brass molding that
was added to the top edges of both the pommel and cantle
as described in the Ordnance Department regulations.
Complete with original quarter straps, girth straps,
stirrup straps, sweat leathers, hooded stirrups, and
with all of the iron and brass hardware intact, the
condition of this saddle is remarkable.
While showing some signs of issue and use, the rawhide
covering the seat is complete and has remained bright
with very little discoloration due to age. The only
seam separation is under the cantle arc, notable as most
of these early saddles show considerably more open seams
due to the nature of the rawhide and from use and age as
the rawhide was subjected to moisture and repeated
dryings - one of the common characteristics of these
early saddles. This one section of the seam is open,
however the rawhide lays solid against the tree without
being loose or curling. There are three stress cracks
in the rawhide on the interior face of the pommel, again
the result of repeated exposure to moisture and drying
and the aging of the rawhide. These are all stable with
no curling and they do not detract from the appearance
of the saddle. Overall, the seat is very attractive and
presents far better than is normally encountered on
these early Indian War frontier saddles.
The black leather components are all in excellent
condition with no breaks or tears, are still supple with
no weak points, and generally retain a bright shiny
surface.
The skirts are in full form and supple, and the saddle
bag retaining straps are present on both of the skirts.
The leather surface is overall smooth with very little
sign of wear or aging.
The quarter straps are full length and are properly
joined at the original unspaded “D” rings, from which
depend both full length girth straps. It is not unusual
to find the quarter straps shortened on these saddles,
an adjustment applied by the unit saddler in order to
properly fit the saddle to a particular horse. Keeping
in mind that the quarterstraps on these early saddles
were fixed and had no provision for adjustable
quarterstraps that would be incorporated with later
models, this was the only means of properly fitting the
saddle to a horse whose confirmation was dictated more
by its use and exertion on the frontier, and less by a
standard of confirmation established at an arsenal in
the east. That these quarter straps survive in their
original length is therefore notable and worthy of
mention.
Often missing from these saddles, and almost impossible
to find on the loose, the two original sweat leathers
are present and they are both in excellent condition
with both stirrup strap loops present on each one. The
original full length stirrup straps are in very good
condition with no weak points.
The stirrups are particularly nice, with strong wooden
frames that have no splits or damage and full form
leather hoods which retain a bright smooth shiny
surface. The standard Civil War McClellan Saddle
Hooded Stirrups featured a narrow tread and a closely
fitted leather hood, both of which served to provide the
soldier with a very short space to fit his shoe or boot,
making it difficult to “keep” his stirrups. In response
to the soldier’s complaints, as are featured on this
pair of stirrups, the depth of the front bell of the
hoods was increased to provide a better purchase on the
stirrup.
This saddle includes a notable feature which adds to the
collector value. The Civil War era McClellans, both the
early pattern Model 1859 and the later war pattern Model
1864 Saddles, were chosen from those in the available
post-war inventory to execute the upgrade of adding the
brass molding to the pommel and cantle. The army had
plenty to choose from as the stocks of Civil War horse
equipment, including saddles, would be counted in the
tens of thousands as late as 1880. I am quite certain
that the saddles chosen for the upgrade were selected on
the basis of condition rather than Model 1864’s over
Model 1859’s, and this saddle presents as an example of
that selection. This saddle was manufactured as a Model
1859, identifiable by several characteristics – the
pommel shield bears the numeral “2”, a size indicator
rather than the later format designation such as “11 ˝
INCH SEAT” which was used on the post-1863 saddles; the
“unspaded D rings” at the bottom of the quarter straps;
the sewn saddlebag retention straps on the skirts which
were attached with rivets on the Model 1864 Saddle; and
the absence of the brass maker’s tag which was not
required until after 1863. These early characteristics
all serve to present this particular Model 1868 Saddle
as an interesting study specimen.
Overall this is an excellent and
complete example of the early Indian War Model 1868
McClellan Saddle, difficult to find available on the
market and seldom found in even the most advanced Indian
War collections.
SOLD
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