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Fine Civil War Model 1859 McClellan Cavalry Saddle, Saddlebags and Blanket

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Fine Civil War Model 1859 McClellan Cavalry Saddle, Saddlebags and Blanket
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Fine Civil War Model 1859 McClellan Cavalry Saddle, Saddlebags and Blanket

Regulation Model 1859 McClellan saddle manufactured by C. Prudden of Philadelphia, c. 1863. The saddle has the distinctive rawhide covered wooden seat, black leather saddle skirts, wooden stirrups with leather hoods, detachable sweatleathers and six coat straps. A brass shield of the pommel is embossed with the saddle size: "12 INCH/SEAT". A small brass tag on the left front saddle bar is stamped with the manufacturer's name: "C. PRUDDEN/MAKER/PHILADA". The saddle has staple-fastened, black, japanned, iron rings on the front and rear bars and black, iron, japanned coat strap foot staples on the pommel and cantle. In addition to the coat straps the saddle is complete with a regulation pair black leather Model 1859 Saddlebags, a regulation black leather crupper, a period black leather breast band with heart-shaped leather center-piece and part of a period halter. Included with the saddle is a high quality reproduction blue wool Federal cavalry blanket with woven orange stripes and a wooden saddle stand. The Model 1859 McClellan saddle was the standard Federal saddle during the Civil War and remained in service with the U.S. Cavalry until the late 1870s. The Model 1859 saddles were popular civilian work and riding saddles for many years following the war. As a result, unaltered Model 1859 McClellan saddles in the original Civil War configuration with the Model 1859 Saddlebags and coat straps, like this example, are scarce and very desirable.

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Fine. The rawhide seat has a very attractive age patina. The black leather side skirts and sweat leathers have minimal cracking and flaking. The stirrups are in very good condition with solid straps and un-altered covers. The rawhide seat has the usual splitting on the edges of the pommel and cantle; this wear is typical of Model 1859 saddles and frequently occurred within a few months of service. The quarterstraps have some old repairs at the front saddle bars. The girth straps are solid but the girth is missing. The six coat straps appear original to the saddle and are in good condition; coat straps were nearly always removed from surplus Model 1859 saddles and are very scarce. The Model 1859 saddle bags are in fair-good condition. The pouch covers have minimal cracking and the closure straps and foot staple tabs are present. The front of the left pouch is split at the gusset. The longer straps that attach the saddlebags to the quarterstraps are both partially missing. The seat between the two saddlebag pouches has several additional openings and the footstaple slots are worn. The crupper and breast strap are in very good condition. The halter is in relic condition. The hard-to-find reproduction cavalry blanket is in very good condition. This is a good looking and relatively complete example of the regulation saddle used by the Federal cavalry during the Civil War and the U.S. Cavalry for most of the Indian Wars, including the Battle of Little Bighorn. Model 1859 McClellan saddles are scarce in this condition; it would be hard to find a better example of this important and historic saddle.