Ok, Rube, I told you I'd let you know some info I have on "old-timey" saddles. Just in case some of the other guys on the forum might be interested, or can add someone they personally know, I'll put the information here that I have.
In Dec, 1995 I had the following article appeared in Western Horseman. I found this on one of my old 3-½" diskettes. One this same diskette, I have a listing of about 45 makers... the seven represented below were kind enough to respond to my inquiry, without any hope of compensation. Interesting story... my saddle, pictured above, was ordered in 1996 after the previous owner saw this article... and when he moved from TX to CA he couldn't take his horses... I bought one horse and this saddle. It is one of my prized possessions! A couple of the makers also said that they had received orders and many, many inquiries about their saddles from this article. Unfortunately, the information is very outdated now. Last I checked even Bridger Creek was not longer in business. However, I have another maker that does really nice work, from Three Forks, MT. Yep, Three Forks Saddlery! Bear with me, this was in the days before folks expected website info for reference, and the publisher didn't requiest any internet data. In fact, at the time, I think only one had any information. It took me about a year to compile the info, and get the article organized... I'm sure a pro could do it better, faster... but I had a blast!
A:\ANTIQUE.STY
2177 Words
© Dennis W. Griffin
Modern Made Antique Saddles
by
Dennis W. Griffin
As a competitor in the sport of "Cowboy Action Shooting" for about 10 years, I became even more excited with the emergence of mounted shooting events almost 3 years ago. After acclimatizing my horses to the sound of gunfire, I began competing. While my clothing and other equipment fit the visual image of an 1880's trail hand, my tack didn't.
I began looking for tack that represented the timeframe the rest of my gear represented. I first looked at tack I already owned. While headstalls, bits and reins were acceptable, the saddles needed to be older(?). My 1980's vintage roping saddle was clearly out; as was my old Bona Allen saddle. Although made in 1929, it is styled a little later than I wanted. It also doesn't really fit my favorite mount, Miss Fits Poco, a 13 year-old AQHA mare. "Missy" has a flat back, low withers, and barrel chest typical of her breed. I tried an original Sam Stagg rigged trail saddle. It looked just like one that a Goodnight & Loving cowboy might have used. It was also in a condition that led me to believe it just might have been! When set up on Missy's back, it didn't fit; here was a sore back waiting to happen.
So I started looking around for an antique styled saddle, but more modern in its fit. I needed to have it as authentic as practicable, fit my horse, and be affordable. What I now knew of original saddles and as I soon learned from others, was that antique saddles won't fit the modern horse properly. With the increase of interest in "thing's cowboy," to use a well-used phrase, there has been an upswing in the number of firms and independent saddle makers in offering antique styled saddles to the public. I grew curious as to their authenticity and what accommodations had been made for the changes in the majority of this country's horses.
These saddlemakers run from the meticulously researched and reconstructed reproduction to the simple changing of the profile of the seat, cantle or another feature to give the "modern" western saddle the look of yesterday's cowboy working office.
The resulting list of makers have answered my questions and are justifiably proud of their products. After sending out almost 50 inquiries out I received just 7 responses from makers. I've capsulized their features and what they offer. If you are in the market for an antique styled saddle, I recommend that you first define the style of the saddle you want, then find out what makers are producing saddles in that style.
The following list will be a good start; and amongst them you should be able to find your dream saddle. Each area of the country also has additional saddlemakers that do not advertise and produce good, quality equipment. I recommend that you locate saddlemakers in your area and visit with them. Look at work they're doing for others and the different types of saddles they've produced in the past. Just like auto body shops, they'll often have photographs of work they've done. Sometimes a local maker will provide you both excellent service and a high quality product that will last for years. As more work is involved in producing antique styled saddles, look for a maker that has produced some already. If you are satisfied with the work they've produced on other antique styled saddles, get them to quote on building yours. If repairs are needed at a future date, you can have them made by the maker, rather that either having someone else work on your saddle or waiting while it's shipped off to the manufacturer, repairs are effected and returned.
This list is presented in no particular order, just the order in which I received responses.
Sawtooth Saddle Co. -- makes several antique saddle reproductions. Included are styles from the 1880's to 1900's. Jerry Stewart has approximately 13 years experience in saddlemaking, first as an apprentice and later in his own shop. Jerry has several family members working in the business with him. Sawtooth is able to produce about 100 saddles a year, of which 15 are antique styled saddles. Sawtooth will add modern conveniences to your saddle, such as Blevins buckles or other features you desire. Prices range from $1,160 to about $2,855 for a Meanea copy with all the fixin's (see photo #1). You can expect to wait from between 3-4 months for a standard modern saddle or between 4-6 months for a Meanea copy.
F.A. Meanea Saddle Company -- is again producing saddles. The firm is partially owned by the Meanea family and its offerings are cut from the original patterns of Frank Meanea. The original F.A. Meanea Company was in the saddle business for approximately 45 years, from the 1880's to about 1928, while the new company has been in business for about 1-1/2 years. The firm offers 6 original F.A. Meanea designs. The earliest dates from the 1860's, and latest from the early 1900's. They have redesigned the original trees to fit the changed back structure of the more modern horse. Meanea produces about 50 saddles per year with 3 employees. Robert Nelson is the President of this venture and told me that the firm's saddlemakers have almost 40 years of experience. In redesigning their trees to fit modern horses, they have retained the original Meanea saddle profiles. There are also gunbelts, holsters, rifle scabbards, bits, spurs, chaps and headstalls offered of F.A. Meanea designs from the late 1800's. For the fanatical re-enactor of the cowboy era, here is a unique opportunity to own a modern-made saddle and accouterments with an original maker's mark of the timeframe being re-enacted. Additionally, the F.A. Meanea Catalog No. 1 also includes a reprint of their 1912 saddle catalog and their 1914 saddletree catalog. Both can be important documents to collectors. The basic F.A. Meanea #2 (see photo #2) is $2,200 while a fully tooled and customized Model 14F will set you back $3,500. The #2 isn't a "plain Jane" saddle; but rather, is a very nice, traditionally finished and furnished saddle. Delivery is estimated at between 4-8 weeks depending on the number of orders in the shop and the custom features you want.
Borderstates Leather Works -- produces military and civilian reproduction saddles. Doug Kidd provides copies of issue military saddles and accouterments for the purist from the 1840's through to the 1940's cavalry. Borderstates has changed the shape of the bars from original saddles and modified their trees to fit today's size and shape of horse. Saddles are available that are completely handmade, including stitching (if requested by customer), or may be machine stitched. As handstitching increases the time to produce a finished saddle, it also increases the price. However, Borderstates produces the most reasonably priced reproduction saddles I found in the survey. Doug is their principal saddlemaker and has about 30 years of experience. Doug developed his antique saddles through repairing original antiques and researching museums and books on antique saddles. An 1859 McClellan will set you back $750 (enlisted man's version) for a machine stitched copy; add about $200 for a totally handstitched copy. Their "Hope-Morgan" saddle will run about $850. But add $240 for underskirts and wool underbars. (These will add to the comfort of your horse.) Borderstates also carries a full line of leathergear and harness for the civil war re-enactor. Some re-enactor gear will also add to the authenticity of the cowboy of the 1870-1890 era, as it is well documented that many western cowboys carried home their gear from the then recent conflict between the states for use in their future activities.
Langerud's Saddles -- offers 2 antique styled saddles. A Sam Stagg rigged Texas Trail Saddle and a Slick Fork "Californio" styled saddle. Cliff Langerud has been making saddles full time for 10 years and produces about 30 saddles per year. Cliff studied pictures and old saddles to design his "old-timey" saddles. Saddles can run from $1,100 for a complete saddle upwards to $2,000 for pictured work sent as examples.
Bridger Creek Outfitters -- makes both antique reproductions and saddles with the "old time" look, and features of more modern designs to enhance the comfort of both horse and rider. BCO produces about 25 saddles per year of which 10 are antique styled saddles. BCO offers 6 antique styles. BCO is a completely custom shop; they build what their customer wants. Therefore, they have produced both historically accurate saddles and antique styled saddles that incorporate more modern features, such as flat-plate rigging and Blevins buckles. BCO's catalog offers many additional items such as headstalls, reins, breastplates and other gear including tents, slickers and custom packer boots. Saddles range from $1,595 base price for a standard rig, upwards of $3,000 for fully carved and decked out rigs.
Sherer Custom Saddles, Inc. -- can build any type saddle a customer wants. Dick Sherer has built many antique saddles and has written numerous articles on antique saddles and makers. With over 35 years experience and in business for himself for 22 years, Dick has repaired numerous antique saddles. During such repairs, Dick has made notes on the techniques used by "old time" saddlemakers. Dick has stamping tools to duplicate old pattern geometric work. Dick uses the techniques and materials appropriate to the era saddle being built, but generally uses new trees to conform to modern horses. Unless the customer wants the old style bar patterns. Dick produces 25-30 saddles per year. Only 1 or 2 of these will be antique styled.
Croft's Saddlery -- has been building "old time" looking saddles for more than 20 years. Jerry says people told him he couldn't sell those old-time high backed saddles; he guesses they've changed their minds since then. Jerry builds saddles using the old time methods, but to fit the modern horse and rider. Horses' backs have changed over the past 100 years. What are being bred into horses now are flatter backs and lower withers. That changes how a saddle must fit to work properly. Croft's Saddlery has two employees and can build a number of old time saddle styles. 1/2 & 3/4 loop seats, squaw saddles and Santa Fe Macheas (with or without ground seats). Jerry's saddles start at a base price of $1,650 and work up from there. Changes in leather pricing may change the base price at the time you order, but as of 9/95 the above is accurate. Jerry can add any feature you want in your saddle. He has developed and is the predominate user (from my research) of a rawhide braiding to dress of a saddle without being gaudy. (See photo #3.) If you liked the looks of the leather gear and saddles used by Tom Selleck in "Quigley, Down Under" you already like the looks of Jerry's work.
One common thread among all the builders of "old-timey" saddles included in this survey, was their desire to present a saddle that contained the visual elements of the early saddles, yet fit a modern horse's back to keep from harming the horse. Those that said what changes they've made, the shape of the bars is the most common change. Other changes are common in custom saddles, gullet depth, spread and angle of bars. Each of these is important if your saddle is to fit your horse. A sore back makes for a sore attitude.
Firms that responded to my requests for information as profiled above, may be contacted at the address or phone numbers below. As with any business endeavors, serious inquiries will receive serious attention. Their time and expertise are their most valuable assets; neither are gained cheaply, neither should they be given away. I trust that you will find them courteous and helpful in picking the "old time" saddle that is right for you and your horse.
The End.
I know of some others, but haven't either talked to, or personally seen their work to be able to recommend. One guy, whose work I love, (I have his chaps, gun leather and some other small stuff, does fanastic work, when you can get in line and he's interested in completing a project. He likes working for working cowhands, shuns some work in order to keep his regulars supplied. But, his stuff is well researched, totally hand stitched and worth a lifetime of memories.
The following list is of those makers referenced in the article.
1.
Sawtooth Saddle Co. Jerry Stewart 8962 W. Castle Cove Rd. Vernal, Utah 84078 Phone: 435-789-5400 (see note 1)
2. F.A. Meanea Saddle Co. Robert Nelson 218 W. 17th St. Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 635-5573 (307) 778-3926(fax) no longer in business (see note 2)
3.
Borderstates Leather Works Doug Kidd 1158 Apple Blossom Lane, Springdale, Arkansas 72762
Phone: (479) 361-2642 (see note 4)
4. Langerud's Cliff Langerud 803 5th St. S. E. Barnesville, MN 56514 (218) 354-7157 (see note 6)
5. Bridger Creek Outfitters Ron Ratcliffe P.O. Box 126 Alder, MT 59710 (406) 842-5044 (see note 7)
6.
Sherer Custom Saddles, Inc. Dick Sherer P.O. Box 385W Franktown, CO 80116 (303) 841-0751 (see note 5)
7.
Croft's Saddlery J.J. Croft HC73, Box 1243 Deadwood, Dakota Terr. (SD) 57732 (605) 578-3228 (see note 3)
Notes:
1. Sawtooth still appears to be in business.
2. F.A. Meanea copies now possibly available from
Carrico Leather
3. Croft's Saddlery appears to still be active, don't have new contact info, just the facebook page.
4. Borderstates Saddlery, if you contact him, mention my name... I really enjoyed talkin' horses and ridin' with Doug
5. Sherer's also appears to be making saddles.
6. Langerud's Saddlery still appears to be in business, but no website.
7. Bridger Creek Outfitters might still be around, might be these folks: Bridger Creek Outfitters, Box 3576, Bozeman, Mont. 58715; (406) 586-7764. Custom saddles, chaps, slickers, belts.
Do me a favor though..... Take that lead line off his halter, if he steps on it he will pin his head to the ground and freak 
Never thought I would be a small dog person but that little dog is my buddy. Which is why he is named buddy.