Identifying a weird saddle

[pinkspore]

I bought this at a thrift store a couple of years ago and have yet to figure out exactly what it is. At first glance it looks like a McClellan, until you get a good look. It has a rawhide tree and handmade iron hardware. No makers marks on it anywhere. I'd like to get it appraised, but everybody I've taken it to just scratches their head. Hazard a guess?

[litl rooster]

I'd give you $50 for it






I am not sure just from pictures would like to see some other details.....It appears to be what some call a "Cheyene" saddle, however it may be a half breed or some ones modifcated rig.  Hopefully Ottaw Bill and some of the other will see this post.  Behind the Cantle the seat's back where the two halfs come together are there any numbers stamped there?

[Delmonico]

I sent Bill a PM, I got a dollar that says he can identify it, if not he owes me a dollar.

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[pinkspore]

I'd give you $50 for it

I wouldn't take it, I'm kind of attached to it.

No numbers stamped anywhere. It's maddening.

[litl rooster]

  This type saddle would have been used by the Frontier types. It could pack panniers or mantied loads or some one in the seat.  It's double rigged for stability on the horse or mule.  Solid wood stirrups and appears to be roller buckles on the stirrup leather. There's no fenders on this one, It may have never had them.  What's really got my attention is it has some border stamping yet the edges of the seat have exposed tacks.< Was this a repair or from modifing?


I've sent link and photo off to saddlemaker in Montana who works on antique saddles.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Well,
It looks like a an early McClellan tree that the owner had recovered by a local saddle shop, it definitely has a military appearance to it & could hve been a military saddle that had be recoverd....my best guess. I would forawrd the photos to the Snellen saddle company, they are experts in Military saddles.

Bill

[Nolan Sackett]

With all due respect to others I would judge that it is none of the above but is rather one makers version of the style known as a plantation saddle, which was/is (they are still being built and often used by Tennessee Walking horse enthusiasts) a variation on the English riding saddle, they were first built during the 18th Century along the eastern seaboard for plantation owner's/overseers. The fenders appear to have been removed, (that's why the exposed nail heads?) and the stirrups are most likely replacements as the don't appear to fit the straps. Also although not clear enough to see in the picture the rear girth rigging looks to me as to have been added on?
Do a search on-line for plantation saddle and you will find examples that are very close to this but with fenders. etc.......

to see some examples of original plantation saddles:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rebel7tn/plantation.htm

http://www.caravanwest.com/saddles.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Plantation-Saddle_W0QQitemZ260012968999QQcmdZViewItem

[litl rooster]

Nolan, you might be right, about Tennesse Walkers folks.......Most the Plantation Saddle I come a cross here, are much like the english saddles of today, with more padding and small fenders and Irons.>at least that's how they are advertised<



The one at the ebay site is closer to what I find here as "Plantation saddles"