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ca. WORLD WAR ONE -1930’S OFFICERS PRIVATE
PURCHASE SADDLE SABRE CARRIER – A VERY NICE EXAMPLE IN
ALMOST “NEW” CONDITION: While not a regulation
officer’s saddle sabre carrier, this particular pattern
is well known to have been used by US Army officers
during the period spanned by World War One and on
through the Inter-War years. The origin of the pattern
is unknown; however it bears a strong resemblance to the
French Army officer’s saddle sabre carrier from the same
period. The French military riding school in Saumur,
France influenced the development of training, and the
choices of saddles and equipment among US Army officers,
so it is of little surprise that this carrier would
resemble its counterpart in the French Army.
This Sabre Carrier would have been used on the Models
1916, 1926 and 1930 Officer Training Saddles, the M1917
Service Saddle, M1917 Officer’s Field Saddle, the Models
1936 and 1941 Phillips Military Saddle, and on many of
the French “Saumur” Pattern Military Saddles officers
brought home from service during World War One or
returning from attaché or advisory duty in Europe. I
have included period photographs of the Model 1922 Sabre
Carrier attached to two saddles in order to illustrate
the concept of how this carrier would have been attached
to the saddle and how it would carry the sabre.
This carrier has no maker stamps, however there is at
least one known example which is stamped by the maker,
“Richard Kingdom, Newark New Jersey”, confirming that
this pattern was available to US Army officers serving
at home. These carriers were also made with
pigskin-textured leather, depending on the officer’s
preference.
The offset straps which attach the carrier to the saddle
are offset in length to accommodate the offset
positioning of the small “D” rings along the curved edge
of the cantle. Based on the orientation of the straps –
shorter strap to the left and longer strap on the right
– this particular carrier was intended to be attached to
the near (left) side of the saddle. Other specimens of
this same sabre carrier are known which have the
opposite orientation of the straps – shorter on the
right and longer on the left – which were intended to be
worn on the off (right) side of the saddle, so
apparently how these sabre carriers were mounted on the
saddles was a choice subject to the preference of the
individual officer.
It is interesting that when the regulation Model 1922
Officer’s Sabre Carrier (see photograph below) was
designed, it featured equal length straps for attaching
the carrier to the saddle, and by adjusting the length
of the straps depending on where on the straps the
officer set the buckles, he could mount the carrier on
either side of the saddle.
This specimen presents in almost “like new” unused
condition. There is no indication of wear or staining
on the leather from either the horse or from the sabre
and scabbard, and the billets are all full form with no
signs of ever having been buckled. There is some minor
bug damage in isolated spots to the surface of the long
suspension strap, but it is not particularly
noticeable. All four original brass buckles are present
and all of the leather keeper loops are present and
intact.
Overall this is an excellent specimen which would never
need to be upgraded and it would be a very attractive
addition to your 20TH Century US Army
officer’s saddle. (0317) $325
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