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Authentic, Matched Confederate Saddle Girth and Reins Set
Price: 700
A rare offering is this matched set of Confederate-manufactured web and leather girth and reins set. The girth is 36 inches long and 2 5/8 in. wide with leather chapes holding an iron roller buckle on each end. The reins are of the same construction but are 50 in. long (each) and 1 1/'4 in. wide with leather chapes on each end holding an iron horseshoe buckle and a leather standing loop. The webbing is the same type as shown on the cover of Ken Knopp's CONFEDERATE SADDLES AND HORSE EQUIPMENT as well as page 120 of the same book.
Later research on this webbing leads me to believe this material was imported from England early in the War in bulk and parceled out to arsenals and sub-contractors when leather became scarce - as it did and is chronicled in Knopp's book and any technological history of the War. The cloth is very solid and strong but has now faded to a cream grey. The hand sewn leather chapes are yet another indication of sub-contractor manufacture during the War.
The girth buckles at both ends to depending billets, one on each side of the saddle. The reins are very interesting in that they buckle to leather billets that were folded back on themselves around the rings on the rear of the bridle bit. I'll be happy to sketch out how these are made for the buyer. They are one piece of leather strapping with a standing loop on one end so the billet wraps around the ring and extends to take the horseshoe buckle on one end of the rein. Military bits had four rings and the two reins attached to two each of the rings.
I know of no museum that owns such a set and I have only seen one such in my life - this set. Excellent for display with a Confederate bit and/or saddle.
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