1870's Half Seat Saddle

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 12, 2009, 06:08:06 PM

Here is a couple of photos of a 1870's half seat saddle I built about five or six years ago. I'm in the process of building a 1860 Hope Saddle that I hope (no pun intended) to finish this summer. The stirrups are not correct and I need to change them.

This Style of saddle started appearing in the early 1870's and were still being sold in the Sears 1895 catalog.

Bill

1870's Half Seat, 6" Cantle A-fork

Mogorilla · March 12, 2009, 08:34:52 PM

That looks great! That is an item on my bucket list, make a saddle. I have never had the opportunity to do much riding beyond vacation stuff, and considering my size, the SPCA tends to keep an eye on that!

I have Stohlman's three encyclopedia's and a modern/western saddle I bought for a song, Someday soon I will be buying a tree I hope, for a hope as well.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 12, 2009, 08:42:39 PM

That's a beautiful sadle, Bill. I love that color with the black trim. Really makes it look elegant.

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 12, 2009, 09:05:00 PM

Quote from: Marshal Will Wingam on March 12, 2009, 08:42:39 PM
That's a beautiful sadle, Bill. I love that color with the black trim. Really makes it look elegant.

Marshal.......I know its hard to tell in the photo but the saddle is all dark brown, no black.......I'm not sure why it came out that way when I took it, probably the lighting.

Bill

Gun Butcher · March 12, 2009, 09:07:19 PM

Bill, you did a great job on that saddle,no doubt about it. I have an 1880's tree at the house and all the original pieces that go on it to help with the pattern. Looking at yours has given me some ideas, maybe its time to get started.

RollingThunder · March 12, 2009, 09:08:43 PM

I agree. That's some very impressive work you've done there. Can't wait to see the Hope!

Marshal Will Wingam · March 13, 2009, 12:21:17 AM

Quote from: Ottawa Creek Bill on March 12, 2009, 09:05:00 PMMarshal.......I know its hard to tell in the photo but the saddle is all dark brown, no black.......I'm not sure why it came out that way when I took it, probably the lighting.

Cameras can do some odd things depending on the lighting. That saddle is just outstanding. In all brown, all the better.

santee · March 13, 2009, 06:19:55 AM

Wow, that's impressive. Why is it called a "half seat"?

Johnny McCrae · March 13, 2009, 06:58:35 AM

Howdy Bill,

Very nice! Excellent workmanship! Out of curiosity how many hours would a project like this take?

Many thanks for sharing this with us.

David Carrico · March 13, 2009, 08:35:23 AM

That looks good! Very authentic. I am now calling all of my saddles "Hope" saddles. I "hope" to get them built, and I "hope" they sell! I know where you can get a nice pair of Doghouse stirrups to really complete that rig!
DC

Ottawa Creek Bill · March 13, 2009, 09:14:52 AM

David......How are you doing? It's been awhile...Yeah..the dog house stirrups would look much better. I was visiting your site on tuesday and I noticed you had them for sale...do you make them your self?

I've got one of the Hope trees from Bowden saddle tree company down in Texas...I've got all the leather cut, ready to put on the saddle....just other things have taken priority (I have my own Video Production company).

About eight years ago I bought a sheet of sterling silver 1/8" thick x 8 " wide x 3 feet long to make conchos from.

The horn cap on this tree is five inches in diameter. I am going to make an engraved concho large enough to mount on the horn cap fastened with solid head brass tacks of the period.

By the way...with the price of silver going up...that purchase eight years ago was s good investment. Once i get the conchos made that I need from it...I'm gonna melt the rest down into ingots.

Hope (no pun intended) to get together sometime in the near future and work on a film project.

Bill

RollingThunder · March 13, 2009, 06:22:15 PM

Quote from: santee on March 13, 2009, 06:19:55 AM
Wow, that's impressive. Why is it called a "half seat"?

They call it a half seat because only half the seat is there. I know that sounds like a real wise-acre response, but it's true. Half seats were fairly easy to repair in that regard, because the rigging was exposed as were the stirrup leathers. Loop-seat saddles were ones where large squares were cut into the seats exposing the stirrup leathers so they could be inspected and worked on a little more easily, yet be more comfortable to ride, with no seat-pinch. Eventually, around 1910-1920, full seat saddles became deriguerre and Sam Stagg rigs like that one with half seats were considered antiquated, old, bygone relics of the previous century.

Fortunately, though, many beautiful examples survive, and some new ones, like this one and the ones that David makes, are making a comeback.

santee · March 14, 2009, 08:52:44 AM

I see. When you compare them to later saddle pictures, it makes sense. Thanks for the info.