Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

[Ken Knopp]

Anyone know where photos of an original Federal McCelllan pattern lariat could be found? I am aware of the Ord Man. description and requirements but cannot locate any original artifacts. Anyone?

Thanking you in advance.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

Now you are asking for the moon there Ken. I have never seen any more than a small piece of line that supposedly came from a Fed lariat. What specifically are you looking for?
Dave Myrick

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

I was doing some research for a collector who recently purchased a Federal Mac via an auction. It had a riata type lariat with it but was one made of rawhide. I wanted to show him what an original looked like. Like you, I couldn't find one but I thought I had seen one somewhere. Anyway, Thanks for the response. Best,

Ken R Knopp

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

Actually, as much as I hate to say it, the repros are not too bad. 3/8" left laid hemp with an eye spliced in the end cant vary too much. The only difference is in the hemp. Now days we have to deal with the short stranded variety. It is weaker and tends to fray with use easier than the stuff made with the longer strands, but I guess the effect is different if one were to smoke it, hence the short stuff.
Dave Myrick

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

Dave,

Wow!! The repros are 3/8"? I thought the ord. man. called for them to be 1 1/4". Is this intentional or are they made smaller for another reason? Confederate halter-lead ropes were 3/4 inches (as I recall) but lariat ropes do not appear to be an item they concerned themselves with. I am sure we covered this somewhere before. You know more about the hemp too. I had no idea- long vs short in its modern construction. Is that regulated like that because of its substance abuse issues or another reason? Do you know? I dont have a clue.

Ken R Knopp

[Blair]

Re: Federal McCelllan pattern lariats for picket pins.....

Ken,

I believe the measurement you have of 1.250" is based on circumference of the lariat rather than the actual diameter of the rope.

You can do an internet search for Hemp Rope and find a variety of offerings in .375 or 10 mm (.400) diameters in both three and four strand. I would suggest the four strand. Make up several lariats at one time, depending on the footage of the roll. I've seen it offered at .55 cents per foot or in 50 ' @$27. and 200 +' rolls for about $80.