Interesting detail that caught my eye with a 1913 mule saddles project - have two relic trees with horns and a separate horn.
One of the tree's horns has a "2" stamped on the front surface, just above where the front cantle leather cover would be (so it would be visible). The other tree's horn is stamped with a "3" in the same location, about the same size.
So, out comes the tape measure, and sure enough - just like CW period tree sizing - the '2' tree has 11 1/2" seat size, and the '3' is a 12" tree size.
Looking through all the RIA and JQMD drawings for 1913 mule saddle, and find no mention whatsoever of different sized - sidebars are 11 1/2", and no notations for % of different sizes (like other McClellan drawings).
Oddly, the separate horn is in excellent condition, has no size marking.
Interesting details for M1913 McClellan mule riding saddle
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Interesting. That numeral "2", is reminiscent of the italic type face found in the period leather marking kit. I wonder if someone was trying to mark it as unit property using that kit.
I'd have thought so, except I was able to have another example with a corresponding different number, and bare sidebars that allowed precise measurement of the tree sizes.
Plus, I'd think they would have marked the leather cover in a more prominent way for unit markings.
Numbers are very similar to stamp sets being made today.
Curiosity for me that I can find no official confirmation of 1913s having multiple sizes.
Plus, I'd think they would have marked the leather cover in a more prominent way for unit markings.
Numbers are very similar to stamp sets being made today.
Curiosity for me that I can find no official confirmation of 1913s having multiple sizes.
Found a photo from when I was taking this old relic down - the 'size' stamping was located underneath the welting of the pommel seam, hence the polished band where this rubbed on the darkened bronze/brass horn over time. I would suspect that this was mostly for tracking different sizes through the manufacturing process - the difference between a 11 1/2" tree and 12" tree is pretty small, until you'd try to stuff the larger into a smaller leather cover.