Rawhide

[Longrope]

Can someone explain to me why bleached rawhide is used to cover repro McClellan saddle trees? I couldn't find anything in the OM that suggests the type of rawhide used.

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Rawhide

I cant speculate on the rational behind the material choices of those reproducing articles for reenactor's. I can tell you that the Ordnance Manual calls for the trees to be wrapped in green rawhide. It is not in the section relating to cavalry equipments, rather in the section relating to artillery saddles.

Dave Myrick

[Mark Choate]

Re: Rawhide

Dave,

Most of the modern trees that I have seen have been painted white. I was once told by a reputable saddle maker that it was "spec" for the tree to be painted or whitewashed. Do you know if that is factual or have you ever seen such formally stated?

thanks,
Mark

[Longrope]

Re: Rawhide

Mark,

I'm not Dave, but here is what the the Ordinance Manual states;

"The tree is painted with one coat of white lead. It is covered with raw hide, put on wet and and sewed with thongs of the same, and held in place by stitches through the wood along the junction of the pommel and cantle with the side bars."

This gets to the point I was making with my question.

Shouldn't saddles be painted white, rather than bleached white?

[Old-South]

Re: Rawhide

Would the tree be painted prior to applying the rawhide as to protect the wood?

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Rawhide

White Lead is a paint used to seal and preserve the wooden sub-components of the tree as well as to prevent insect damage. IF you look at surviving saddles, you can see the white lead paint ONLY if the rawhide has been torn, revealing the wooden tree beneath it. Green rawhide, when dry takes on a fuzzy tan color, not greatly different from the "bleached" white appearance of modern saddles. Paint on the rawhide would have a difficult staying as well as be detrimental to the rawhide, negating any reason for its application.

Dave Myrick

[Longrope]

Re: Rawhide

I see my wording has caused some confusion.

It should read;

Shouldn't the WOOD be painted white, rather than the RAWHIDE bleached white.

I didn't mean to imply that the white lead was put on over the rawhide cover.

[Longrope]

Re: Rawhide

Green rawhide, when dry takes on a fuzzy tan color, not greatly different from the "bleached" white appearance of modern saddles.

Dave Myrick

"Green" rawhide will dry to a variety of colors; brown, tan, and even clear.

[MustangGray]

Re: Rawhide

I'd have to agree with Mr. Mott... the green rawhide I've used tends to dry a variety of colors, chiefly tans and browns and usually with some degree of transparency. The only time I've seen the "fuzzy" finish to rawhide is on skins that have been roughed up in some manner either prior to being used or as a direct result of use.

But then I'm not a professional tanner so what do I know?

[malachi]

Re: Rawhide

I found this thread only after posting my earlier question. Sorry about that. Can anyone tell me if the rawhide was varnished at the arsenal once it was sewn to the tree. Do current Mcclellan saddle makers varnish them today? I need to know to finish mine up!
Thanks,
John Tucker

[ButtermilkRanger]

Re: Rawhide

I don't see a reason to varnish rawhide like a lot of the modern makers do, but maybe someone who has torn more saddles apart than me can answer that. In my opinion, if the OMs don't call for varnish, then it likely wasn't used... at least on Federal McClellan saddle trees. Painting the wood preserves it from moisture and bugs that will inevitably get under the rawhide. Rawhide in itself is a great resource, but what purpose would bleaching it serve, except to incur more expense to the government? I agree with Scott about the rawhide drying to different colors. I'm not really into Federal saddles and haven't examined many originals. What color are they? Does rawhide change color with age?