Interesting details for M1913 McClellan mule riding saddle

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Todd
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Last Name: Holmes

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.
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, no number
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, no number
1913_horn_nonumber.jpg (99.37 KiB) Viewed 3387 times
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, '2' number
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, '2' number
1913_horn_size2.jpg (92.28 KiB) Viewed 3387 times
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, '3' number
M1913 mule riding saddle horn, '3' number
1913_horn_size3.jpg (94.67 KiB) Viewed 3387 times
Rick Throckmorton
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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.
Todd
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Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2000 4:10 pm
Last Name: Holmes

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.
Todd
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Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2000 4:10 pm
Last Name: Holmes

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.
Number3_12inch_1913_horn_detail.jpg
Number3_12inch_1913_horn_detail.jpg (47.71 KiB) Viewed 3337 times
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