|
MODEL 1885 1ST
PATTERN McCLELLAN CAVALRY SADDLE –
EXCELLENT SPECIMEN OF A RARE AND VERY DESIRABLE INDIAN
WAR SADDLE: This is an excellent example of the
very desirable and comparatively rare Indian Wars era
Model 1885 First Pattern McClellan Saddle. Well
documented in Ordnance Memoranda No. 29, and one of the
most familiar of the series of McClellan Saddles issued
during the Western Indian Wars period, the First Pattern
Model 1885 McClellan is closely associated with the
historic Apache campaigns in the American Southwest.
Manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal for a relatively
short period of time, these First Pattern Model 1885
McClellans saw extensive service on the frontier and
eventually in the Spanish American War, and both
conflicts accounted for a high rate of consumption with
few decent specimens surviving to enter the surplus and
eventual collector’s market. Adding to the scarcity of
the First Pattern saddles, within a very few years of
introducing this saddle the army adopted a series of
modifications and introduced the Second Pattern Model
1885 Saddles, and the application of these modifications
eclipsed any further manufacture of the earlier pattern
saddles.
This specimen shows minimal evidence of use and has
survived in excellent condition. Well marked in several
places, the saddle is stamped on the off side girth safe
“ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” and on the near side safe with the
piece worker’s initials. The tip of the girth strap is
stamped with a piece worker’s initials, and the tips of
both stirrup straps are stamped “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” as
is one of the stirrup hoods.
The seat features smooth, bright shiny leather overall
and all of the seams are intact. With none of the
surface crazing or flaking of the surface of the leather
that is so commonly seen on these Indian War era
veterans, this saddle presents as an exceptional
specimen.
The original quarterstraps are all intact and unbroken,
connecting at the full form girth safes on both sides
and complete with one of the original girthing straps.
As mentioned above, both safes are stamped with the
arsenal identification and piece worker’s initials.
All of the brass hardware to include the coat strap
mortise plates, foot loops, staples and rings are
present and intact. It is noteworthy that the brass
ring on the front of the off side sidebar shows the
characteristic elongating where it was pulled out of
round by the suspension of the heavy equipment carried
by the soldiers – testimony of this saddle’s use on
campaign.
The stirrups are both full form, have complete solid
leather hoods, and full form unbroken wooden frames.
Showing minimal evidence of use, the stirrups are both
full form, have complete solid leather hoods, and full
form unbroken wooden frames.
The leather hoods
retain a very nice appearance, both
featuring a legible “US” embossed on the front center,
and one still
retains a legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp. The
stirrups are a matched pair and have been together
forever. The stirrup straps are full length originals
with the correct iron buckles, with no weak points and
retaining a very nice finish, and an especially rare
feature, they still retain the “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL”
stamp on the tip of each strap.
Years ago I
had the opportunity to pick up an old set of
reproduction coat straps and I had them finished with
original Model 1874-1885 Coat Strap Buckles. Like the
saddles, the original brass hardware from these Indian
War saddles is very difficult to find, and the
opportunity to finish off this saddle with the full set
of six coat straps with original buckles is a nice added
value
While considering this saddle, it is worth keeping in
mind that examples of Indian War era saddles are quite
scarce in any condition. The combination of the
relatively short periods of manufacture, the limited
quantities of saddles originally produced, the severe
terrain and conditions to which they were exposed during
their service life, subsequent modifications at the
hands of company level saddlers, arsenal employees, and
later civilian owners, and finally the poor conditions
in which they were stored after the relatively few
survivors passed into the surplus market all contributed
to a very low survival rate and very limited numbers in
the collector market today. To find an example of a
First Pattern Model 1885 Saddle in any condition is
worthy of note. That this saddle has survived in the
condition that it has is nothing shy of remarkable and
without doubt, it is a rare offering – one that is
seldom encountered.
As one of the primary saddles in use at the height of
the Western Indian Wars, these First Pattern Model 1885
McClellan Saddles have an air of historical magic all
their own, and are still one of the most sought after
pieces of cavalry equipment by serious Indian War
collectors. Overall this is a high grade, well arsenal
marked, complete specimen of the First Pattern Model
1885 McClellan Saddle in excellent condition - one that
is very difficult to find available on the market, and
seldom found in even the most advanced Indian War
collections. It is unlikely that you would ever have the
opportunity to upgrade this one.
SOLD
|
