Sam Stagg Rigging

cowboyjared · September 10, 2014, 09:20:03 PM

I was looking at some saddles online and one mentioned it had a Sam Stagg rigging. Im not sure what that exactly is and was hoping one of you fine fellows might know.

Camano Ridge · September 10, 2014, 10:16:45 PM

You actually asked a controversial question. Historians cannot all agree on the origin of Sam Stag Riggings or who the saddle maker was. You will also find saddle maker some who will say it has to be a one pice rigging and some will say that it has to be a two piece riggin. There is also a variant called a Sam Stagg Spanish rigging. It is believed that the actual saddle maker's last name was Samstagg.

"With this type of construction the front rigging leather is looped around the horn and extended down each side of the slick fork to the cinch ring and is made from one piece of leather. The saddle maker who came up with this design was Joseph Alexander Samstag who came to California from the east during the Gold Rush."

Here is a link regarding Sam Stagg Rigging history and construction. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=621 over on Leatherworker.net There are several threads there on Sam Stagg Rigging including pictures of one and two piece construction.

Also if you do a general forum search on cascity for Sam Stag Rigging you will find several threads with pictures.

yahoody · August 30, 2015, 02:49:24 AM

This one is my Sam Stagg half seat. Under 25# fully rigged. Love it.

and using it...

"Sam Stagg Rigging - With this type of construction the front rigging leather is looped around the horn and extended down each side of the slick fork to the cinch ring and is made from one piece of leather. The saddle maker who came up with this design was Joseph Alexander Samstag who came to California from the east during the Gold Rush."

Mike · August 30, 2015, 04:38:45 PM

Thats a nice saddle,

Biscuit Joe · August 30, 2015, 05:59:16 PM

Sam Stag rigging is where the saddle chinch ring is attached to a divided strap that wraps around the saddle horn.
Note the ring for the front cinch hooked to a split leather strap around the saddle horn.

yahoody · August 30, 2015, 10:44:17 PM

Thanks Mike!

Another look at the Sam Stagg rigging. Besides the additional leather covering the tree in Joe's picture, a major differences between these two saddles, mine is single rigged, Joe's photo is a double rigged.

Another double rigged saddle(two big brass rings for cinchas).

Horseapples · September 04, 2015, 02:01:08 AM

Here's another Sam Stagg if you use the link and look for post 151 in the thread http://shootists.websitetoolbox.com/post/saddle-trees-6957650?&trail=165

This is the one piece kind of Sam Stagg holding a leather bound steel rigging ring. I would have uploaded pictures directly to the site but for some time now I just haven't been able to do so, no matter how small I make the pictures.

Red Cent · September 04, 2015, 09:46:17 AM

Very nice 1866, yahoody.

Skeeter Lewis · September 05, 2015, 03:47:40 AM

Great work, Horseapples.

yahoody · September 05, 2015, 04:12:03 AM

Quote from: Red Cent on September 04, 2015, 09:46:17 AM
Very nice 1866, yahoody.

Thank you Sir! She's a shooter for sure

Photo from 25 yards with the '66 in 44 Special and 13 rounds . Then I used it to qualify on a 200 yard gong at our club last week. Went 6 shots for 6 hits @ 100 and again @ 200. She is a sweetie! I've been lucky on that one.

More here on that '66.
http://pistolsmith.blogspot.com/2015/05/cimarron-engraved-66-short-rifle.html

Biscuit Joe · September 14, 2015, 02:03:01 PM

The picture I displayed is just one I got off the web.
I used it because it shows the Sam stag rigging well. I didn't make.
I'm guessing yahoody made his.
A very nice looking saddle, buy the way.

Yahoody, if possible could you explain how you covered the horn?
Does it have a screw on the top?

Thanks

yahoody · September 14, 2015, 06:44:18 PM

Thanks Joe, but no I didn't make mine or have the skill. I did how ever "design" if from a bunch of 1/2 seat Sam Stagg rigged saddles. Jeff Morrow in Niarada, Montana built it for me. He is a real artist.

The tree is from Ben Swanke. Rawhide covered tree with a Wade style wood post (Wade style tree actually). Horn cap is covered and sewn and wrapped, Sam Stagg rigging goes over the horn wrap and if finished with a brass screw down through the top of the horn. Very traditional. (the 2nd saddle pictured I snagged off the Internet has the same wrap and screw set in a much smaller horn) NOT the way I would do it again simply because of the cosmetics...it sure works and feels good as is. Absolutely love this saddle. Ridden up to 40+ miles in a day on it. 20+ miles many many times. But having another saddle made by Jeff just like it except the horn, which will be a lower horn and bigger cap more like a Charro saddle and a trim, 7/8th, dbl rigged Sam Stagg this time. That one I'll rawhide trim and cover traditionally in leather with a horn wrap as well. But no screw this time. This one is a single rigged 7/8th. Makes for virtually no rigging bulk under your leg, so easy on you and the horse. But it could be more stable I think dbl rigged..which isn't traditional at all (most early rigs were center fire or 5/8th for the early Sam Stagg rigs, and adds weight which kinda defeats the purpose of a half seat & Sam Stagg IMO.

I suspect one learned right quick to dally with a centerfire and forward rigs and rawhide reata. Must have caused some good wrecks! Gives new meaning to the "hurricane deck". The later double rigs allowed even more force to go on the reata. But at least the saddle generally stayed in place.