Saddle Cloth pattern

[GeraldTodd]

Anyone know of a pattern for an officer's saddle cloth - not the big shabraque - the smaller saddle cloth that a lieutenant or captain might use?

[Mark Choate]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Gerald,

Have you checked with Charlie Childs on this? Might be worth the time.

crchilds@bright.net


regards,
Mark

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Thanks, I sent him an email.
Looking at the repops, I haven't seen two made or even shaped alike and they all look like mom stayed up all night sewing felt for the school play.

[Mark Choate]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Yeah, and sometimes, I wonder if "mom" even knows what play the school is putting on...........

Good luck.
Mark

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

In Dorsey and Mcpheeters book measurements are given for the 1874 and 1885 Officers Saddlecloths. There are several CW era saddlecloths shown but no good measurements on those, just overall length and width. I don't know if it would be of help, but... Good luck, Z

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Not a peep in response to 3 emails, and no other information's come up.
Searching on line has turned up more trash than anything useful.
Any mid-Atlantic museum have one of these on display?

[Mark Choate]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Gerald,

I just sent you a p.m. on this matter.

regards,
Mark

[GAR]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Gerald,
Could you please share what, if anything, you have found out?
I found this antique auction which gives a little bit of information regarding size. What's really useful is that it's an top view of it laying flat. Click on the pictures for a larger view. http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5387336
The saddle cloths offered here look pretty good to my eye and the pattern is supposedly copied from an original. They offer custom trim as well. For $99, they beat the pants off the $65 one listed on ebay, which definitely looks "High School" quality. They are even located in Gerald, Missouri, lol. http://www.westernartandpoetry.com/c...dleblanket.htm
I hope this helps.
Gary

[TexCavly]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

It seems to me that if a shabraque or saddle blanket was a private purchase item of officers then exact size would not be an issue. By examining original images you can clearly make out the placement of the blanket on the sides of the horse and measure to that location on your horse. Also if you know the regulation length of the Mac saddle tree, you can judge for yourself the length of the blanket by estimating, based on proportions, how far the blanket sticks out in front of and behind the tree. All you need then is a large piece of paper folded in half to draw your swallow tail. Then you sell the pattern ;D

Just my $.02 American which is rapidly falling in value.

[GAR]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

John- Was it a private purchase item? I know uniforms were, but I thought saddles and tack were issued. I agree with your view that the pattern shouldn't be that tough to come up with and I may attempt to make my own. Lord knows, it's going to be expensive enough to change my impression from enlisted to officer, so I'll make what I can to save for that which I can't.

Gary

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Saddle Cloth pattern

Officers were required to provide their own horse accouterments... That's why you see so man variations in officers saddles, Grant and Logan in Grimsleys McClellan in a Mac, Custer in at least one Jennifer and Brown (of NYSV) in an English... Z