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**csabugler** · 01-28-2009, 10:45 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Hi Larry. The jennifer had a comment attached, but you have to open e-bay to read it. The comment starts out talking about Ken's confederate saddle book...
Was that you?

**ButtermilkRanger** · 01-28-2009, 01:39 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

Patrick,

Nope, wasn't me. I didn't even see that until you mentioned it. Come on, man, you should have known it wasn't me... I don't know anyone who rides a Jenifer and I don't have any good friends. :)

**csabugler** · 01-28-2009, 06:28 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

What the HELL was I thinking....

**RJSamp** · 01-28-2009, 10:07 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

Originally posted by ButtermilkRanger View Post

Patrick,

Nope, wasn't me. I didn't even see that until you mentioned it. Come on, man, you should have known it wasn't me... I don't know anyone who rides a Jenifer and I don't have any good friends. :)

You know me, and I rode a Jenifer once.....down off the Intercoastal across the straits from Galveston in Gilchrist, TX. 1976.

**csabugler** · 01-29-2009, 09:08 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Well, I did know this girl named Jennifer once....

**Mike Nickerson** · 01-29-2009, 11:47 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Get back to saddles boys, even Forrest Gump rode a "Jenny"!

Mike Nickerson

**csabugler** · 01-29-2009, 01:39 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

Thanks for the out-loud laugh, Mike. Now back to saddles...

**J.H.Berger** · 01-30-2009, 03:20 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Jennifer saddle?? I dont know but the other is definetely a Grimsley artillery valise saddle, not a dragoon saddle.

**ButtermilkRanger** · 02-04-2009, 01:26 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

Here's yet another. Comments anyone? Ken, are you out there?

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-ARMY-CIVIL-WAR-ERA-ARTILLERY-DRIVERS-WAGON-SADDLE_W0QQitemZ120371680170QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120371680170&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

**Ken Knopp** · 02-05-2009, 12:56 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Hey Larry,

It is fun to see what emerges on ebay and our discussion of them here is, I suppose, a very excellent way to learn about saddles and other military artifacts. Maybe this should be a regular feature on this forum.
As for Ebay well, it NEVER ceases to amaze me! Its really is a unique place. One can often find some really rare items and often at real bargains but for sure, �buyer beware�. Unfortunately, alotta �krap� gets slyly passed off as legit too. You gotta love the descriptions. Like the one for this �Confederate McClellan Cavalry Saddle, Civil War�. The seller says, �I am by no means a saddle expert but this looks to me to be a rare Confederate Jenifer Artillery Drivers Saddle.� That�s like me saying �I am no expert geologist but that rock on the ground looks to me like the rare Hope Diamond!� .....and people buy it (figuratively and literally)! Amazing.
I do a lot of buying and selling on Ebay but make it a point to as accurately as possible, describe an item with all of its faults and available information. I often lead with information describing what an item is �NOT� (i.e. this is not a Civil War McClellan saddle) before detailing it so people don�t jump to conclusions or assume anything. Part of the problem is that humans are naturally gullible, naive or just plain stupid. Most want to be lead or to believe whatever they are told. Which is why groups like the Nazi�s, radical muslims, NAACP, liberal democrats and kool-aid drinking religious nuts do such good business. I am often tempted but never act on the impulse to blast some of this ebay garbage. Sadly, it�s a waste of my time and just creates animosity.....besides it is none of �my� business.....anyway I digress.
The above so called �Confederate Jenifer� is not Confederate nor a Jenifer. It is most likely a Kilgore tree catalog saddle. This pattern was a popular �Park� riding or Police saddle from the 1890's through 1920's. It is NOT a McClellan although some Kilgore�s had very similar trees. I enclose a drawing of a similar saddle from Moseman & Brothers Catalog. I have seen very similar saddles in other catalogs.
The knobby pommel saddle you just noted is another Kilgore tree but of the Wagon Saddle pattern. This knobby pattern pommel on a Kilgore tree was common from just prior to the WBTS to the turn of the century. The long skirts are common to all wagon saddles. This particular saddle was more than likely a catalog make.
NOTE: I have not examined these saddles and I am only making cursory comments based upon very little information so don�t hold me to these opinions.
However, for more information on the basics of common 19th century civilian saddles I might suggest one pick up the most recent issue of NORTH SOUTH TRADER�S CIVIL WAR. My article, �COMMERCIAL AND CATALOG SADDLES OF THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY�S was just published there and would be very helpful in identifying these type saddles. Call them at 540 672 4845 to order a copy or visit www.nstcivilwar.com and/or check out my web site for more information.

Ken R Knopp

Confederate Saddles & Horse Equipment

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

Confederate saddles and horse equipment

Attached Files

**csabugler** · 02-05-2009, 08:44 AM

Re: More ebay wonders

Sort of like the E-bay "confederate bugle found in the attic at an estate sale in N. Carolina with the blood stains still visible" that is actually a W.W.I vintage worth a couple bucks. Caveat emptor!!
Thanks to the generosity of knowledge from people like you, some buyers are saved a major blunder.

**ButtermilkRanger** · 02-05-2009, 01:25 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

I rarely buy anything from ebay and never buy anything billed as a rare collectible unless I know enough about what I'm getting to know if I'm getting a good deal or not. On the other hand, I like posting these ebay cavalry finds because I think they go a long way towards historical education, which is (I hope) our goal on forums such as this.

I normally find myself laughing at what people claim about a particular item and I usually feel compelled to challenge some of their claims (like the recent MODERN with chrome accents knock off of a '04 mac that they claimed was a "genuine civil war reproduction"). Mostly, though, I'm a good boy and just keep my mouth shut and my keyboard to myself.

When I post an ebay wonder on here, what I'd really like to know more than anything, is if similar styled saddles were clearly of the period (despite what their owners claim) or more likely late 19th or 20th Century styles.

**csabugler** · 02-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

hey larry, lots of those ebay ads are like many of the plumbers I worked with over the years. The only thing I learned from them was how NOT to do it!

**Outrider** · 02-05-2009, 03:02 PM

Re: More ebay wonders

Not tack but once in awhile something interesting pops up like these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil-War-U-S-Officers-Boots_W0QQitemZ160307252724QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0

and these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-19thC-Antiqu...3A1%7C294%3A50

I also notice some nice original civilian bits, spurs and other little nuggets from time to time. Not long ago I got a very good deal on some very nice original gutta percha civilian market bridle rosettes. What can I say , I am into the little things.