Search found 357 matches

by Todd
Thu May 11, 2023 9:25 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: What cavalry officers wanted - circa 1864
Replies: 6
Views: 3409

Re: What cavalry officers wanted - circa 1864

Years later, but that's how attention to details sometimes works - Capt. Ash was attached to the 2nd US Cavalry in April 1861. The 2nd Cavalry - Regulars. Note his mention of a bit attached to the noseband (he calls 'curb strap') of the 2nd US issued bridle. The only thing he could literally be spea...
by Todd
Sun Apr 30, 2023 3:15 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: National Archives War Industries - Saddlery photo collection
Replies: 1
Views: 1643

National Archives War Industries - Saddlery photo collection

If you're interesting in what profanely over-produced saddlery looks like, the National Archives has a great collection of photographs taken during WW1 at various contractors, showing the various steps in making up saddlery, as well as showing the workshops these workers had to endure. https://catal...
by Todd
Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:03 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Leather Treatment Puzzle
Replies: 2
Views: 1460

Re: Leather Treatment Puzzle

Fought with myself for some time, and decided it's just better left as is. Of note - I did some measurements, and the strap is 1 and 1/4" wide, cut and finished to that width, complete with crease from edger tool. But the standing loop and stitching are standard arsenal/contractor grade work - ...
by Todd
Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: How the 1912 Cavalry Board found the perfect saddle fit...
Replies: 2
Views: 1939

Re: How the 1912 Cavalry Board found the perfect saddle fit...

There was some discussion and comparison photos of McClellans and the new 1912 pattern, and they pointed to 'bridging' problem with the McClellan. The odd thing is that they seems to have used a SINGLE HORSE for these measurements and comparisons. Certainly the back form they used was made with a si...
by Todd
Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:28 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: How the 1912 Cavalry Board found the perfect saddle fit...
Replies: 2
Views: 1939

How the 1912 Cavalry Board found the perfect saddle fit...

Here is a collage photo of the plaster casting process that was done for the 1912 Cavalry Board to determine the 'best' shape for saddle sidebars. Not sure they were firing on all statistical cylinders, so to speak.

Plaster_casting_of_normal_horse.jpg
Plaster_casting_of_normal_horse.jpg (245.77 KiB) Viewed 1938 times
by Todd
Sat Jan 07, 2023 10:22 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: 1/6 Scale Ringgold saddle
Replies: 5
Views: 4045

Re: 1/6 Scale Ringgold saddle

Lovely work - appreciate that you showed the actual dragoon issue version, and not the old Duncan repair version.
by Todd
Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:14 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Lyons picket pin marking
Replies: 3
Views: 1739

Re: Lyons picket pin marking

Good question. Would I be correct in assuming that the picket pin production would likely have ceased in that 1910 time frame, with the potential of a new Cavalry Board being seated, along the same lines as the 1910 Infantry Board intent on equipment modernization? These just don't strike me as 'pro...
by Todd
Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:03 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Lyons picket pin marking
Replies: 3
Views: 1739

Re: Lyons picket pin marking

Looks like US Ordnance Dept stamp.

I’ve seen this nearly exact stamp on the very infrequent M1904 saddle stirrup loop - I’m sure others have seen it in other places…
F60044D2-EA49-4073-A30E-F36148C32D26.jpeg
F60044D2-EA49-4073-A30E-F36148C32D26.jpeg (1.47 MiB) Viewed 1713 times
by Todd
Thu May 12, 2022 1:39 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Changing Styles, jumping, May 12, 1922.
Replies: 1
Views: 1969

Re: Changing Styles, jumping, May 12, 1922.

Lady astride - how risque!

Well, by 1922, probably not so much, though I'm sure there was some judgey looks from the oldsters.
by Todd
Mon Apr 25, 2022 4:03 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Military curb bit?
Replies: 4
Views: 1808

Re: Military curb bit?

Note in the QMD specification drawings from 1920 show the measurement being taken from the top of the bit branches. This was ALWAYS the method used to measure 1909 bits, as shown in this Nov 1911 Rock Island specification drawing. It can be a bit confusing as people assume that it refers to the widt...
by Todd
Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:43 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Military curb bit?
Replies: 4
Views: 1808

Re: Military curb bit?

Here is best shot of those you sent - something was odd with those images so that forum wouldn't post - I'll have to investigate that. This is definitely a Weymouth bit, nearly identical to military bits - although it might be nickel and not steel. However, it is not a military issue bit. Note there...
by Todd
Sun Apr 24, 2022 3:33 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Military curb bit?
Replies: 4
Views: 1808

Re: Military curb bit?

Guessing it looks a lot like this one: The 'BTC' are contractor marks for 'Bridgeport Tool Company' , iirc , a prominent WW1 US contractor. The 'US' marking shows US military issue, and numeric mark is the size code ( 1 to 4 ). The contractor mark is usually found on the outer surface where the mout...
by Todd
Mon Feb 28, 2022 5:19 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: 1830's-40's US Dragoon Saddle
Replies: 49
Views: 24323

Re: 1830's-40's US Dragoon Saddle

Steffens supposition isn't supported by his own evidence - and to be truthful, it wasn't even his own assumption! He was trying to find an artifact that was similar to the 1834 drawing example discussed by Stanley J. Olsen, in 1955. [https://www.militaryhorse.org/1833-dragoon-saddle/steffens-dragoo...
by Todd
Tue Feb 01, 2022 10:00 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Leather Treatment Puzzle
Replies: 2
Views: 1460

Leather Treatment Puzzle

Hello all! I thought I would present a leather treatment puzzle to everyone, and see what sorts of ideas and possible solutions others might have for this particular dilemma. This dry leather issue seems common enough that many people have had to deal with it, or will deal with it in some future opp...
by Todd
Sat Oct 16, 2021 11:26 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Capt. R.R. Allen, 10/14/21
Replies: 5
Views: 3609

Re: Capt. R.R. Allen, 10/14/21

All the more interesting as it looks like he's riding a stock saddle, fitted with hooded stirrups. Looks like a BIG horse too.
by Todd
Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:38 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Nelson Miles, May 30, 1921
Replies: 9
Views: 3870

Re: Nelson Miles, May 30, 1921

Plus these are static poses - this might be an affectation, rather than a reasonable depiction of the person's actual riding form.
by Todd
Sat May 22, 2021 7:29 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Notice on Passing of Dallas Freeborn
Replies: 2
Views: 1840

Notice on Passing of Dallas Freeborn

For everyone's information, our old friend Dallas Freeborn passed away on April 8th. Here is one of the published obituaries:

https://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/Obit ... /Topeka-KS
by Todd
Tue May 18, 2021 9:18 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Marquis Saddle?
Replies: 52
Views: 17502

Re: Marquis Saddle?

I'm going to make an assumption that you're (quite naturally!) confusing the Officers 1917 with the ENLISTED 1917 - M1917 OFFICERS saddles were made in large numbers, by a variety of makers. Rock Island Arsenal made their version, Jeffersonville QMD made them from about the mid-20s, and many, MANY w...
by Todd
Sat May 15, 2021 9:20 pm
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Marquis Saddle?
Replies: 52
Views: 17502

Re: Marquis Saddle?

Nice saddle! As you've determined, this is a French-made Model of 1917 officers saddle, which were made and imported into this country by officers returning from WW1, and later directly ordered from the firms in France through the '20s and '30s. The various tags/markings show that it was likely owne...
by Todd
Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:09 am
Forum: Public Forum - General Topics
Topic: Recently found - a Trial Model Hope Saddle
Replies: 3
Views: 1256

Re: Recently found - a Trial Model Hope Saddle

1880-90s vintage commercial Texas saddletree with a collar leather cover, perhaps to give it a martial air. The rings seem to be identical to first pattern M1885 McClellans, so I look to that to assist in date range. More interesting is that this is nearly a spitting image of the leather covered Tex...