Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2024

[Aragorn243]

Starting off the year with something I've been after for quite a while. A McClellan Saddle. Found just the seat in an antique shop today for well under $100 and it's in pretty decent shape. I need to research it a bit to figure out exactly what I have but initial belief is that it is a WWI 1914 cavalry saddle. I can't find the date as of yet and it may not have one but I found a makers mark and probably an inspectors mark along with a makers symbol on the underside.

My wife isn't impressed but I've wanted one for my Cavalry display.

The cavalry saddles are rarer than the artillery models but this does not have the D rings. Fittings are all brass which dates it to WWI as far as I can tell. I have to try to figure out if it has the 1928 modifications or not. Not quite clear what they are yet but I don't think it does.

In a second nearby shop I found a 1918 garrison web belt with a sword hanger on it. Did not have one of these either. I'll see about getting some photos up tomorrow as we got back in late tonight.

These shops I don't get too often as they are two hours away, but I've had a lot of good luck with military stuff there over the years.

[Aragorn243]

It is a WWI cavalry saddle. I figured out the differences with the 1928 model and it definitely isn't one of those. They have huge leather flaps sewn on the bottom. This would be called a war contract pattern III saddle. Apparently, they were getting rid of the McClellan saddles as they were obsolete but the designs they were trying kept failing and when the war broke out, they went back to the old reliable. They made around 900,000 during two years of production, the majority being artillery saddles. These were the last McClellan's made for the military. The 1928's are all older models with the alterations made to them.

Only markings I've found are WOLF which I believe is the manufacturer and T.M.U. which I believe is the inspectors initials. Then the fancy teardrop swirl on the underside. The yellow "fuzz' on the bottom is the remains of the sheepskin pad. I haven't seen one that has this intact so they must have worn off with use pretty quickly.

















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And here's the web belt. I may have really lucked into this one too as I paid $49 and all one ones on eBay are around $250. The saddle was $79 which I know is a steal. The hard part is now getting the straps and stirrups. I do have the saddle bags already.

[browningautorifle]

I've never seen one of the web belts with sword hanger around here either. They just didn't seem to gravitate here.

[Aragorn243]

One of my rare good days at the auction from hell today. French 1935a pistol which is posted in the handguns thread and at the end of the auction I got two good scores, one off my bucket list. I got two flare pistols I need to research a little but pretty sure they are a French 1917 brass and a British No1 MK5. The French is in good condition, the British is missing the grips, an easy fix if I can find a set. They said it didn’t function but I suspect they just didn’t pull the hammer back hard enough because it works fine for me.

The bucket list item is a M1913 cavalry Sabre commonly known as the Patton Sword. 1913 Springfield Armory. First year of production and in good shape. With last week’s saddle, it’s the last of the big items for my WWI cavalry display. I still need some small things for the saddle and the belts for the sword.

I’ll get some photos up when I get a chance.

[browningautorifle]

The bucket list item is a M1913 cavalry Sabre commonly known as the Patton Sword. 1913 Springfield Armory. First year of production

I think the only ones we see around here are 1918 marked. They do show up though.

[Aragorn243]

Flare Pistols. Still thinking they are a French 1917 model and a British No.1 MK5. The Sword I'll put in blade weapons. The Pistol I posted in handgus earler.

[Aragorn243]

Buying this stuff leads to more spending of money. I hate how that works out. I've now ordered one spare magazine, one book on the Patton Sword and two boxes of ammunition

I started digging out my other stuff and my picket pin scabbard is too deteriorated to mount on to the sword, the leather is soft and I'm afraid the straps will tear, so I'll probably get a reproduction for that. The pin is fine at least.

I'm waiting on the book before I get anything else. There are several variations of frogs/scabbard hangers/straps and I don't want to get the wrong thing.

[browningautorifle]

my picket pin scabbard is too deteriorated to mount on to the sword,

I have had a couple here but they usually don't have straps. They were swapped out as scabbards by Bannerman and then it became gospel that they were right. The one I presently have is almost as ratty as the one you describe, looks like a varmint was gnawing at it.

[Flying10uk]

I've never seen one of the web belts with sword hanger around here either.

But does anyone know the "official designation" for this type of belt with the sword hanger?

[Aragorn243]

I believe the official designation is 1912 Mounted Pistol Belt. Word in collectors circles is that there are no known photographs of an officers sword being worn with this belt but that doesn't mean no one ever did. The web belts were supposed to replace the leather ones but webbing is also considered "work" and the officers sword was not "work" but ornamental.

And another source: americanmilitariareference.com

"The M-1912 Pistol Belt (Mounted)
The M-1912 Pistol Belt is a woven cotton belt with three rows of grommets. The belt is self-adjusting by overlapping itself on one end and using one or two keepers to hold it in place. The belt has three rows of grommets for the belt ends to hook into, as well as attaching equipment such as holsters by means of wire hooks. Early models had no middle grommets on the left side of the belt, but this was changed in 1914. The buckle is the common T post style. Earlier belts were pea green in color but changed to khaki later.

In 1916, a snap was added to the left side of the belt for attaching a .45 caliber magazine pouch. The snap was originally an eagle snap, but was changed to a smooth front snap. The snap clicked into a female snap inside the belt loop of the pouch. Next to the snap on the left side is a small wire D loop saber hanger used by mounted troops to carry a saber. (Example on the right with the magazine pouch attached)"

I also just remembered I have a book on the subject coming. Not sure when it will get here but should be within a week or two. The Patton Sword I would think is too heavy to hang on that little D ring in the normal scabbard but there is an officers scabbard also that is smaller and lighter.