hand forged hardware in civilian saddles

[malachi]

If arsenals were chronically short of buckles, rings etc, and purchased from civilian sources to continue saddle production, is it logical to assume the civilian sources were equally challenged? If so, were those sources also employing hand forged hardware in their saddle production? Would it be authentic to feature hand forged pieces on a civilian made saddle?

God bless,
Greg Tucker

[IowaYank]

Re: hand forged hardware in civilian saddles

Hand forged hardware absolutely would have been seen on civilian saddlery. I'll do some searching and find you some examples.

One thing I've noticed is that lots of civilian saddles didn't have lots of rings, footman loops, etc. Adding hardware was done in attempts to militarize saddles.

[malachi]

Re: hand forged hardware in civilian saddles

Thank you sir. Thank you very much!
Greg Tucker

[JLH]

Re: hand forged hardware in civilian saddles

I have Draft Horse Harness dating back to the 1930's which employs hand forged hardware. So it would be common to see this hardware in the 1860's.