Collectors Concerns - Another "Civil War McClellan Saddle"

This little gem showed up at a popular online auction website, fully described as an actual Civil War cavalry saddle, and later confirmed in an addition notation that that was the intent of the seller.

This view is one of the more difficult ones to most to see the difference, but an eye to the form and placement of certain features, this is CLEARLY a post-1897 saddletree. The front end of the sidebars exposed in front of the leather strap is not nearly as prominent as actual cw trees (note how the ring hangs over the side of the tree?), the pommel shape is very refined, with smooth constant curves versus the flat edges and relatively tight-radius curves of Civil War trees. The edge of the sidebar is one of the big things to notice in all these pictures, as it is prominently curved to form to the rider's leg. This was not a feature of Civil War tree sidebars, which had fairly straight outside edges. You may also see an unusual "rippling" or "ribbing" in the top surface of the tree. This a characteristic of machine-made McClellan saddletrees, where the sidebar shaping machine left grooves in the wood as the piece was turned while in contact with the cutter. In this second photo, you can really see the smooth slightly convex curve of the outer edge of the pommel, which is very UN-"civil war", and very "post-1900" shaped.

A different look that shows good angle on various shapes, as well as the round wire staples holding the saddlerings, and the BRASS saddlebag stud. In all of these pictures, notice the "patina", which is especially apparent on the rawhide cover, which shows the characteristic staining from a leather cover, identical in appearance to what the tree on a M1904/WWI saddle looks like when the leather is removed.
This view pretty much seals the deal - the exposed rawhide stay-thong at the base of the cantle is primarily a post-1897 feature (although I do have a photo in the image archives of an exception to this rule!), and you can most clearly see the rippling in the wood of the sidebars that shows it was machine made. It's unusual that there was no photo included of the bottom view, which would have been the clincher in terms of showing what I believe would have been the curved sidebars of an M1904 McClellan, and perhaps even brass stirrup hangers, which would prove it as a WWI surplus saddle. The perfect circular section that forms the top shape of the cantle is something that you'd never see in a civil war McClellan. Note that the two coatstrap buckles visible in this photo are clearly the post-CW brass frame type.

Overall, from looking at all the indicators, this saddle's features are completely indicative of a M1904 McClellan that has been converted for use by a reenactor at some time in the past. It has received some actual wear-and-tear through usage, so the leather looks old and distressed.

The fact that the seller insisted that this was a genuine civil war saddle is only further motivation for serious collectors to know their stuff. This was an easy fake to spot, but with the near perfect reproductions now in use in the reenacting and living history field, there is a huge crop of future fakes and frauds in the "weathering stage" right this minute. I think it's safe to say that they represent the biggest threat that collectors will face in years to come.

"A very nice Example of the well known McClellan saddle Beautiful Civil war McClellan saddle It is 'Rich' in deep patina that is only found on saddles in Museums.The saddle tree is in very good condition is has the leather straps and the girth & stirrups.The saddle Shield is plain with a very nice patina.This outfit has a pleasant overall beauty about it one that will set well in you dend or Your Relic room.So don't miss out on this one.for they are almost extinct in this condition.

NOTE. I HAVE HAD TWO EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAIDS THAT THIS SADDLE A FAKE OR A 1904 SADDLE.THIS SADDLE IS FULLY 100% GUANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC SADDLE AND NOT A FAKE OR A REENACTMENT SADDLE.I EMAIL ALL THE BIDDERS ON THIS SADDLE AND IF THEY WOULD LIKE PULL THE BIDS THATS IS FINE.AND ALL OF THEM SAID THE SAME THING.NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE SADDLE.THANK YOU"