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MODEL 1904
OFFICER’S WHITMAN SADDLE STIRRUPS – EXCELLENT MATCHED
PAIR:
The first in a series of regulation officer’s saddles
that would be introduced through the first quarter of
the 20Th Century, the Model 1904 Whitman
Saddle made its first known appearance in official US
Army records in a Rock Island Arsenal blueprint drawing
dated May 19, 1904. Closely following the pattern of
the Experimental Model 1879 Whitman Saddle which was
recommended during the Indian War era and manufactured
in limited numbers, the introduction of the Model 1904
Whitman Saddle after the turn of the century is
testimony that it was a well respected pattern and must
have had a significant following among the officer
corps.
The Rock
Island Arsenal manufactured the Model 1904 Whitman in
limited quantities for several years and at the same
time the Whitman Saddle Company and later the Melbach
Saddle Company, manufactured the same pattern saddle, in
identical quality, and were offering the saddles for
sale to officers just as Rock Island did.
As with all
the equipment and uniforms used by officers, it is
important to keep in mind that the officers were
financially responsible for outfitting themselves, so
unlike the equipment issued to the enlisted men, there
was an active and competitive market for the officers’
dollars. The officers were also free to incorporate
different features that appealed to them. Where the
regulation Model 1904 Whitman Saddle manufactured by
Rock Island Arsenal was fitted with the Model 1904
German Silver Stirrups, the Whitman and Melbach
companies offered the option of leather hooded, wood
frame stirrups such as the pair offered here.
This is a
matched pair and they are covered with leather hoods
made of pigskin, a characteristic known to have been
offered by the Melbach Company with their Whitman
Saddles. Due to the distinctive and obvious hair
follicle and grain pattern of pigskin, it was favored by
officers in much of their leather accoutrements and a
number of the commercially produced Whitman saddles were
covered in pigskin to cater this preference. The wood
frames are very solid with no breaks and the leather
hoods are full form with a smooth shiny surface.
Both stirrups incorporate a
toe guard fashioned of the same pigskin, attached to the
hood and to the bottom of the tread in order to keep the
rider’s foot from slipping forward between the bottom
edge of the hood and the leading edge of the frame.
Overall, this is a very attractive matched pair.
The first of the early 20Th Century officer
regulation saddles, the Model 1904 Officer’s Whitman
Saddles saw significant use along the Texas-Mexican
Border and those scarce examples that survive today are
often found in very rough condition, to include missing
their stirrups. This pair will add significantly to
complete your saddle and dramatically improve its
display quality. (0233) $275
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