M1875Wagon Drivers Saddle

[Gbrown1]

M 1875 Wagon Driver's Saddle - Latest addition to saddle collection - 23 years ago when Stephen Dorsey and Ken McPheeters were researching their book "The American Military Saddles, 1776-1945" - they were unable to find an example or anyone that knew of the saddle.  They had to use drawings/diagrams of the saddle in the book.  This single example was discovered in an old collection in New York.  Only known example to exist.  The saddle presents in the form dictated by the diagram and specifications detailed by the army when the saddle was adopted in 1875.  The skirt of the saddle is stamped with the contract maker's name and a large "US" confirms that this indeed is one of those purchased and used by the army on the frontier.  No doubt this is a genuine example of the very rare virtually non existent in any other known collection.  To put the saddle in perspective, virtually where ever the soldiers rode the McClellan saddles across the west, these saddles were close at hand used by the teamsters who drove supply wagons that supported the columns.  These saddles were used to move the beans, bacon and bullets on which the Army traveled in all of the campaigns on the frontier.  The rawhide seat, girthing straps and the skirts are original to the saddle.  The stirrups and stirrup straps appear to be original or if not are consistent with the period.  Rare saddle great find for the collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kanemono]

Very nice saddle, historic and unusual.

[Scott B]

Really nice, thanks for posting these pics.