Antique WWI M1904 or Later US Army McClellan Cavalry Saddle starts $14.99 NR

This great WWI era M1904 or Later US Army McClellan Calvary Saddle is a beautiful russet color, has iron rivets on saddle sides and has a 12 inch seat, as marked on saddle. Leather is in good shape, but has seen obvious use, as one would expect with its age. Saddle, rigging, rings, cinches, stirrup hoods, stirrups & straps are in good condition as far as I can tell (I had to research saddle parts to even know what they are). The stirrups are wooden, and seem to be in good shape, but there is some damage on the wood surface of these.

I have no knowledge of saddles other than what I have looked up, and do not know what safes are that I have seen listed on other listings. There is some padding on one side underneath the saddle, but not on the opposite side, see photos. Please see all photos to aid and augment description. If photos are more accurate or show something different than description, please rely on photos for description.

I have absolutely no experience with saddles and relying on research for information about the saddle, so please look at photos, ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them if I can. Saddle weighs approximately 20 lbs. I did not try to measure it, but did see what size box it would fit in. This belonged to my late husband, who passed away in October 2015.

It was in his family for years and I believe either his great-grandfather or great-uncle used it in the military in WWI. About the McClellan Saddle (from Wikipedia): The McClellan saddle was a riding saddle designed by George B. McClellan, a career Army officer in the U. Army, after his tour of Europe as the member of a military commission charged with studying the latest developments in engineer and cavalry forces including field equipment. Based on his observations, McClellan proposed a design that was adopted by the Army in 1859. The McClellan saddle was a success and continued in use in various forms until the US Army's last horse cavalry and horse artillery was dismounted in World War II. Today, the McClellan saddle is used by ceremonial mounted units in the US Army. The saddle was used by several other nations, including Rhodesia and Mexico, and to a degree by the British in the Boer War. The McClellan saddle was adopted by the US War Department in 1859 and remained standard issue, in various models, for the remaining history of the horse cavalry. The original M1859 version was the form used during the Civil War, and the design saw subsequent modifications.

The saddle always remained recognizable as McClellan's design, which included cavalry and artillery models. In addition, a model for packers was introduced as the M1913. The design underwent modifications over time, although in many ways it remained remarkably unchanged.

The saddle was simple and less expensive than existing saddles, light enough not to burden the horse, but sturdy enough to give good support to the rider and his gear. It supported a rawhide-covered open seat, a thick leather skirt, wooden stirrups, and a girth strap of woolen yarn. Added accessories to the saddle sometimes included a nose bag for horse feed, a curry comb to groom the horse, a picket pin and lariat to tether the horse while grazing, saddlebags, and a "thimble" that held the muzzle of the cavalryman's carbine. The McClellan saddle was placed on top of a saddlecloth, shabrack, or saddle blanket.

As noted above, the McClellan saddle served, and has continued to serve, for an extraordinarily long time in the U. The saddle has been in uninterrupted use since 1859. The saddle did see some modification over time. Perhaps the most significant alterations occurred in the 20th Century, when the rigging was changed twice.

The first time, an adjustable rigging was adopted, leading to the M1904 McClellan. That pattern is the most common of all McClellan saddles, and continued in use throughout World War I and World War II. However, increased emphasis on equitation in the US Army also lead to the M1928, which was an M1904 with English rigging and fenders. This variant, the final one in US service, fit closer than other McClellan saddles, and is still used by the US Army in ceremonial uses. While the McClellan saddle was not perfect and had critics, it was one of the most enduring military saddles of all time, rivaled only by the British Universal Pattern saddle in its longevity. The saddle was used by every branch of the US Army, the US Marine Corps, and was widely used by mounted police units throughout the US. 2 pages from another site about the history and construction of McClellan 1904 Saddles (as well as other versions). Item Located in Wilkesboro NC. Get it today at an affordable price! ITEM LOCATED IN WILKESBORO NC (ZIP CODE 28697). Photos are to aid description. I will be more than happy to send additional pictures to serious buyers if additional pictures are needed. Please do not assume anything about the item's condition. I have given an honest and accurate assessment of this item. The item "Antique WWI M1904 or Later US Army McClellan Cavalry Saddle starts $14.99 NR" is in sale since Sunday, March 13, 2016. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW I (1914-18)\Original Period Items\United States\Personal, Field Gear". The seller is "gia9299" and is located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

This item can be shipped to United States.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States