McClellan WWI Saddle

[Aragorn243]

Tonight I found a blanket once I learned what to look for. I don't think many people know the difference between a human blanket and a horse blanket. One guy did and got $250 for his blanket and $12 shipping. This guy didn't and I got if for $76 and free shipping. Horse blankets aren't all that uncommon, found several on eBay, none listed as such. They were issued and tagged by the ordnance department, people blankets are all tagged by the quartermaster department. They pretty much look the same although the horse blankets look like coarser materials. They are folded four times and placed on the horses back under the saddle. They are to be unfolded and refolded often to prevent them wearing out.

[Aragorn243]

My blanket came today. It's folded in half. My walk isn't big enough to open it up all the way. It's in pretty decent shape, a few small holes and one slightly frayed corner. Tag is faded but in good shape and readable. This is to be folded up so there are four layers between the saddle and the horse.

[Low & Slow]

Nice. This project is really coming together.

[Aragorn243]

I have a serious problem. I've been watching an Artillery saddle for over a week now. Tonight was the auction end. I went way over what I wanted to, but I got it. It's nearly complete with good straps and safes. It has artillery stirrups which is good as when I display these, I will have those for comparison. They are very similar, wood stirrups with no leather covers.

So, the plan is to equip the cavalry saddle with the straps and cavalry stirrups, that will be on the top of the display stand I someday make with sword, picket pin, saddle bags and blanket along with whatever else I manage to find, and the artillery saddle will go under with it's stirrups. It's missing the girth strap which I have and the cinch straps which I don't. Appears to have one large strap to go between the two safes. Not sure this is official; it doesn't look like it from the photos.

I do not plan to fully outfit the artillery saddle. I have the additional strap that goes on the D-ring, I'll probably leave it at that.

The last photo is the telltale difference between an artillery saddle and a cavalry saddle, the additional D ring. There is one in the front also.

I've gotten a little fatalistic the past year or so. I've given up on worrying about money and am spending more than I usually would have. It is losing value faster than I can earn it anyway.

[Aragorn243]

I did a little research and the long coiled strap attached to the right safe might be the cinch strap. Only images I’ve found show this attached to the safe with a leather thong though holes. The other side is wrapped around the girth strap or the other safe. Not clear if I need two of these or this one long one is enough. I wish I could find better photos or diagrams.

[Low & Slow]

Nice rig.
My meager life savings is losing value faster than I can replace it, so I can reconcile spending more than I would have before it's all toilet paper.

[Aragorn243]

This thing sat at $149 with free shipping for 9 days. The first bid came with one hour to go. The second bid came with four seconds to go which I never saw as I was entering my bid with three seconds to go. I was very disappointed to see my win was only $20 less than my max which was $80 more than I wanted to go. I got screwed over on a USMC blanket the other day and I was a little ticked and feeling like my money is just becoming "toilet paper" also so I was going to get it or they were going to pay for it. I almost didn't get it because I had the computer and phone set up for biding and it hit 3 seconds without me realizing it because I was daydreaming on why the computer was 2 seconds behind my phone. It registered with 1 second to go. TOO CLOSE. It still is about $200 less than any other complete and in good shape saddle is being listed at so I'm OK with it. I can complete my Cavalry rig and have the Artillery version and the correct stirrups for it so I feel like I killed two birds with one stone. I now have an extra safe that I can sell, I don't want to watch eBay any longer to complete the artillery rig. I can swap them out for display purposes if need be.

I bid on the phone which is good because had I bid on the computer, I wouldn't have gotten it.

[browningautorifle]

I was entering my bid with three seconds to go. I was very disappointed to see my win was only $20 less than my max which was $80 more than I wanted to go.

Been there, bidding on a couple of knives that should have gone cheaper than they did here...but when I was bidding the bidders with snipe won. Good thing I guess as I was up to my limit.

[Aragorn243]

How do you ship a saddle. I have the answer. When I first saw this box I was like WOW, what a mess. But I was wrong. He had the saddle and stirrups packed extremely well and secure. I should have taken photos of how he had it wrapped but I was anxious to get it open to see what kind of shape it was in. It was wrapped in tissue paper, then several layers of plastic bags packed tight with styrofoam and foam rubber.







I was very happy with it. The leather is strong and flexible with only a few spots of stiffness and dryness. I probably wouldn't want to ride with it but for display, it's perfect.

I found three dates, two on the saddle, 1918. The safes are marked also but can't see them clearly, one is also dated 1918, the other might just be manufacturer.

I got it into the house without the wife knowing I bought a second saddle either. I'll just ease into that; I swapped out the straps already and have it semi-displayed on the guest bed.

[browningautorifle]

Nice piece complete with markings.