|
The Mystery Saddle - Steffen's Dragoon
by: Todd Holmes
It was quite a thrill recently to be allowed to view and photograph one of the more
controversial pieces of 'military' saddlery in the country recently, and here are some
photographs of that actual piece. Many thanks to the staff at the U.S. Cavalry Museum at Ft. Riley, Kansas
for their kind assistance!
 |
This shows the two mail style features of this otherwise
non-descript flat saddle, and that is the extremely thin and tall square cantle, and the
lobe-like skirt (not the larger flap below it, but the piece that covers the stirrup
bar). |
 |
Here is the pommel, with minor separation of the bottom half
from the top. Note that there are absolutely no hardware items (other than four
pommel head nails) or any evidence (marks, impressions, holes, etc.) to show that there
ever was any hardware on front edge/pommel area of saddle. |
 |
A view of the central underside channel from the gullet -
you can just make out the seat straining webbing that the rest of the top half of seat is
built on. |
 |
A rear view of the tall cantle, which is exceptionally thin
from front to back, which would be very susceptible to damage. You can just make out
the stitched leather loop or ring that is let into the body seam between the near side
cantle edge and the crupper loop. There is evidence that another loop was on the
other side, opposite this one. |
 |
A slightly closer look at the crupper loop - this is a
fairly light gauge iron wire, formed in one piece. The ends appear to come together
inside the seam, and attach with one fastener, which the loop can pivot slightly
with. It's a very lightly rendered piece, that would not take much abuse. |
 |
The saddle sports a full underskirt, made with a leather
top, and a canvas lining. Long looped stitches in vertical rows give this the
quilted look. |
 |
The near side stirrup bar is a hand-forged iron wire,
flattened at the ends to allow it to be screwed into the tree. This near side piece
has been repaired or reinstalled at some point. |
 |
The off side stirrup bar is in very good condition, with the
leather tree covering piece intact. |
 |
A look at the top of the off side inner flap, with the tip
of the saddletree head leg or tip tucked into it's pocket. You can just make out
the single billet slightly behind it. It is very difficult to see if there was ever
a second billet per side, as only these singles remain. The is a place that is
logical for a second billet just ahead of these, but no readily apparent evidence that one
was ever mounted there. |
|