Military Saddlery Research

US McClellan Saddles (1904)

Home
The Club Parlor
Primary Sources
Conservation of Saddlery
Saddler's Equipment
Pack Saddles
Grimsley
McClellan
Colonial and Yeomanry
UP Saddles
Household Cavalry Saddlery
Officer's Saddlery
Driver's Saddles
Driving

The 1904 McClellan is still encountered frequently in relatively good condition, especially in the artillery version. Contractor-manufactured 1918-dated McClellans are the most common.

Horse Equipments, etc. - No. 1719 (1905)

1904 Cavalry McClellan (1918 dated)
1904_mcclellan_1918_dated_cavalry.jpg
Click the Photo to Enlarge

Click the Image to Enlarge
dsc00998.jpg
M1904 McClellan for field use

Plate 1 - Horse Equipments 1905
plate_1_horse_equipments_1905.jpg
Click the Photo to Enlarge

Click the Image to Enlarge
dsc00999.jpg
Grip and Saber Knot of M1913 Saber

I attach strap dimensions for originals I have measured over the years:

pommel quarter strap..................15 to 15 1/4 inches long (+6").
cantle quarter strap..................21 to 22 inches long (+6").
side quarter straps...................60 to 62 inches long (+3").
quarter strap safes, lined............5 7/8 inches diameter.
cincha straps.........................50 3/4 inches long (+3").
stirrup straps........................54 to 56 inches long (+14")

The dimension in parenthesis is the length of the return for the
buckle(s).

The artillery cantle quarter strap had the artillery harness dee pre-riveted to the cantle quarter strap, using the same rivet that pre-attached the saddle bag stud. When the cantle quarter strap was then attached to the saddle the assembly already included the artillery harness dee and the saddle bag stud.

Then the second rivet of the saddle bag stud would then be added to center the whole assembly, and attach the dee and stud directly to the saddle.

 

There is a photo below of the "artillery" cantle quarter strap:

Please note how the steel notched d-ring and strap is attached directly to the cantle quarter strap with the same rivet that pre-attaches the saddle bag stud.

Artillery McClellan Cantle Strap
Artillery McClellan Cantle Strap
Click the Photo to Enlarge

MSN Search