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19TH CENTURY SADDLE GIRTH – PRIVATE
PURCHASE FOR AN OFFICER’S SADDLE, PLANTATION, OR MORGAN
STYLE SADDLES: This interesting girth was
originally found with a selection of U.S. Army
regulation pattern girths - Models 1859 through 1885 -
that were recovered with the final treasures removed
from Bannerman’s Island prior to the property being
turned over to the state of New York. No doubt, this is
not a regulation US Army girth, rather it was the
product of a civilian saddle shop and was either a girth
which was supplied with private purchase officer’s
saddles or one of the several civilian pattern saddles
available in the 19TH Century such as the
Plantation or Morgan Saddles.
Measuring 49” long and 3 ¾” wide, this girth is
fashioned from a woven cotton corded band to which
substantial leather chape is sewn at each of the band.
Each chape is fitted with two large iron frame roller
buckles. The buckles are fully functional and still
retain some of the original black lacquer japanned
finish. The woven band is full form with no wear or
weak points and there are still traces of what must have
been red colored lines running the length of the girth.
The leather chapes are live and flexible with no weak
points or damage that affect the integrity of the
leather.
This girth could have been a field replacement made at a
frontier post by a company or regimental level saddler,
or made by a commercial saddle shop to complete a
private purchase officer’s saddle. Whatever the history
of this girth may be, complete solid girths from the 19TH
Century do not appear often on the market, and as it is
certainly of the period this one would be a nice
addition to complete an early saddle. (0214) $175
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