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MODEL 1857 McCLELLAN SADDLE STIRRUP – ONLY KNOWN
SPECIMEN IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP: An excellent
example of the Model 1857 McClellan Saddle Stirrup, this
is the exact stirrup pictured in Figures 1 and 2, on
page 272 of American Military Saddles, 1776-1945,
and is direct from the author’s research collection.
As
discussed in that reference, the Model 1857 McClellan
Saddle and related equipment was produced in limited
numbers for trial upon approval by a board of officers.
As recommended by the board, the hooded stirrups on the
pattern sample saddle submitted to the board by Capt.
McClellan were replaced by these leather covered, wooden
frame stirrups for the saddles produced for issue in the
trial.
Since none of the M1857 McClellan Trial Saddles are
known to have survived in private or public collections
in the United States, we are indeed fortunate that as
the result of an exchange program of military equipment
that was conducted in the 1850’s the sole surviving
example of the M1857 McClellan now resides in the Tojhusmuseet in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the original
configuration, and in like new, unissued condition, that
example documents the details of construction of the
Trial Saddle.
This M1857 Stirrup, identical to the
stirrups on the saddle in Denmark, is the only known
specimen held in private hands. The wooden frame is
completely and tightly covered in black bridle leather,
sewn with finely welted seam on one edge of the frame.
The seam is entirely intact and the leather is complete
with the exception of a minor wear spot on the edge of
the tread, likely wear from the soldier’s foot. The
bottom of the tread is stamped “BOSQUET”, likely the
name of the civilian contractor involved in the
production of these saddles.
This is a rare opportunity
to obtain a piece of trial equipment related to the
development of the most prominent military saddle in our
Nation’s history. (C-64) $550
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