anyone know anything about them? I bought, for a song, a used Barnsby Raven this weekend. I think the saddle is about 20 years old - serial number starts with an “M”. Thanks!
M serial numbers are a 1997. I just got a used Milton with an M serial number and confirmed with Barnsby that it’s a 97 model. I got mine for a song too!
[QUOTE=Snowflake;6371530]
M serial numbers are a 1997. I just got a used Milton with an M serial number and confirmed with Barnsby that it’s a 97 model. I got mine for a song too![/QUOTE]
Thanks so much! Aren’t we lucky? I can’t believe the workmanship or the comfort of this saddle. Happy riding!
We are lucky! Mine was actually a custom order with a buffalo leather seat and plain, forward, long flap. I got it for $140 and it feels like a saddle that costs at least 10 times that!
[QUOTE=Snowflake;6371572]
We are lucky! Mine was actually a custom order with a buffalo leather seat and plain, forward, long flap. I got it for $140 and it feels like a saddle that costs at least 10 times that![/QUOTE]
I got mine for $200 and I agree it feels really expensive. I can’t believe they aren’t more popular . . .
Hmmm, mine starts with an M too. Are you sure it’s not the tree size?
Nope. Mine’s a wide tree and the tree size on mine is stamped on the stirrup bar. The serial numbers all start with letters.
I think that info is on one of the stirrup bars - at least I think that’s what I read somewhere today. Haven’t had a chance to check that on mine yet. How about you Snowflake? (We should start a “Barnsby Clique”!)
[QUOTE=Tiger Horse;6371643]
I think that info is on one of the stirrup bars - at least I think that’s what I read somewhere today. Haven’t had a chance to check that on mine yet. How about you Snowflake? (We should start a “Barnsby Clique”!)[/QUOTE]
Yep, mine’s on the stirrup bar. Marked with a W for wide tree.
Interesting - checked both stirrup bars on my Raven and there are no markings at all. Hopefully, I will hear back from Barnsby.
I’m piggybacking because I’m new-thread-shy…
Went to the tack shop yesterday and sat in just about every saddle on the floor. The only one that didn’t feel incredibly uncomfortable was the Barnsby. It was Heaven on my bottom. I thought it was a “Marlin”, but in doing research, it appears it must have been a “Merlin”.
Anyway, very comfortable saddle, although the price tag, $2899, stopped me dead. Especially since the saddle seemed discolored. It was a reddish brown but with severe, rather uneven fading across the seat and flaps.
Pointed it out to the retailer, who told me it had been out on trial, so they’d make me a deal on it: $1999.
So I make the appointment to see if it’ll fit my horse, come home, look at ebay and quickly see that $1999 is no deal on what is basically a used Barnsby.
The saddle fitter made a comment that “it’ll happen anyway”, meaning if I bought a brand new Barnsby, it too would discolor quickly, as well.
Is this true?
Mine appears to be about 20 years old, so it does have some discoloration; however, it is even and where you would expect it to be - the knee pads, back of the cantle, etc. I can’t speak to how the new saddles wear, but I do agree that $1999is no deal. Maybe keep an eye out on ebay or the used saddle sites for the same model . . .
I have a relatively new Barnsby with a bit of discoloration, but it was a very light “natural” to start with (and the leather seems to have some natural variation in it) so I’m not sure it’s representative. I’ve owned several other Barnsby saddles that did not have any discoloration at all.
But since I’ve seen several new Merlins advertised for less than 1999 (pelham saddlery is selling one brand new for 1399, though it’s a 16") I would definitely look around a bit 
I am looking at an old barnsby with the serial number starting with L. Does anyone know what year that would be?
If M is 1997, it follows that L would be 1996?
Just piping in to say I love my very old Barnsby Raven dressage saddle. I think it has an M serial number too. So comfy. Fingers crossed my near-future saddle fitter appt. confirms that it just needs some tweaking to fit my new, round, witherless pony.
I am a Barnsby girl and like the idea of a Barnsby clique. I’ve got 3 of them, in different widths, and hope these will last me! Sorry, I can’t help with the serial number question.
