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MODEL 1916 GIRTH FOR THE MODEL 1916 OFFICER’S
TRAINING SADDLE AND THE MODEL 1917 OFFICER’S AND SERVICE
SADDLES: As documented in The American
Military Saddle, 1776-1945 on page 249 of that work,
this Model 1916 Girth was produced for use with the
Model 1916 Officer’s Training Saddle and the Model 1917
Service and Officer’s Saddles. Popular enough, and
found to be serviceable for a number of different
saddles, this girth was still in service when the
cavalry was finally dismounted.
Measuring 44” long and 4” wide, and fashioned of six
straps of webbing, this girth features the correct heavy
leather buckle chapes at each end, each chape securing a
nickel steel buckles. There are four cross bands
of leather strapping which keeps the six web bands in
line. All of the leather is in excellent condition
with a bright shiny surface, with the exception of one
spot on one of the cross straps where the leather was
exposed to something which caused the leather to
discolor and break along the stitching line. The
rest of that strap is intact and this is more of a
cosmetic fault which does not affect the integrity of
the girth. The balance of the leather is smooth
and shiny, with no crazing or other signs of wear, and
all of the other seams are intact.
The six web straps are full length without any weak
spots or separations. There are some bands and
spots of discoloration which probably occurred while in
storage, however the integrity of the webbing is not
affected and the straps remain overall very strong.
One of the buckle chapes is stamped “US” and "JQMD" and
dated 1937, and both chapes on the same end are stamped
with piece worker and inspector initials. The
chape on the opposite end is stamped with unit
identification numerals and letters, indicating this
girth was issued within the
6TH US Cavalry Regiment.
These Model 1916 Girths are not particularly common and
finding a decent example to complete your saddle can be
a challenge. This is a very attractive specimen and one
that would nicely complement your officer’s saddle.
(0135) $225
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