French saddle, bridle, and French 75
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:44 pm
Couvi, this is your milieu, not mine -- a French -language site based in France, which seems to be mostly about the French 75 field gun. That gets you coming and going, my Francophone, artillery-expert friend.
http://canonde75modele1897.blogspot.com ... selle.html
I got there by tracking down images of the bridle on that page. Years ago I picked up a military looking bridle. No idea where I got it. Anyway, nobody I know including the worthies who frequent this website, could identify it. I nearly gave up and called it civilian, but the construction, and the presence of that spare curb chain convinced me that it was for someone with long field service in mind. Today I figured it out -- it is the French M 1874.
Now, as if we needed further confirmation of the French influence on the US cavalry, look at two things: a) the little D-ring attachment points that allow for conversion from curb bridle to double bridle, a la the US M 1909; and b) the pommel pockets on that saddle.
It is fun to finally break through on an ID like this. Now I am sure it is French military i need to blindly feel my way to see if it cold be a later odel (sure looks the same as the drawing, though).
http://canonde75modele1897.blogspot.com ... selle.html
I got there by tracking down images of the bridle on that page. Years ago I picked up a military looking bridle. No idea where I got it. Anyway, nobody I know including the worthies who frequent this website, could identify it. I nearly gave up and called it civilian, but the construction, and the presence of that spare curb chain convinced me that it was for someone with long field service in mind. Today I figured it out -- it is the French M 1874.
Now, as if we needed further confirmation of the French influence on the US cavalry, look at two things: a) the little D-ring attachment points that allow for conversion from curb bridle to double bridle, a la the US M 1909; and b) the pommel pockets on that saddle.
It is fun to finally break through on an ID like this. Now I am sure it is French military i need to blindly feel my way to see if it cold be a later odel (sure looks the same as the drawing, though).