Can someone explain to me why the older cases often have an inadequate length on the lower flap between the case and the billets loop? I bought one off of eBay like this and although beautiful, it is worthless for actual use. And when I do searches around, I see that many others are, or were, made that way.
I’ve had a couple of old ones and not seen that.
How long is the one you are talking about?
The main problem I’ve seen is that modern saddles can have big knee rolls so getting them to sit flat takes some time. That may be the same cause as your issue.
From the side of the case at the bottom to the loop that the billet fits thru is only 2 1/2". If you look at photos of some new ones on Amazon, this dimension looks to be 6".
I have two at the moment. One is old and the gap for billets is from 3-6" from the flask. It fits for me, but only on the front billet. I have a modern one that has an opening from 5-8". That one works too, but I need to put it on the back strap to hold it far enough back.
My theory is still knee rolls.
If you have a leather offcut it would not take master saddler skills to make a flat piece that sits in there like the buckle guard and gives you a loop in front of the front billet to attach to.
Here’s an answer I got elsewhere (I would say where but am afraid it might violate COTH’s no-advertising rule to do so):
"Years ago men used to ride with ‘an old hunting seat’ (legs thrust forward and leaning back over jumps). If you look at old hunting saddles, the front of the saddle flap is cut very straight - almost like a modern showing saddle. Also no knee pads or rolls, so that short flask strap could easily reach the first girth strap.
“I wouldn’t suggest trying to jump in such a saddle today - not good news for either your horse or your back. Many people put an extension on the girth strap of the flask case which seems to work quite well.”
So you were pretty much right tangledweb! I think I’ll see if I can FIND such an extension first, and if not, then use my mad leather-working skills to make one.
This is interesting. These are the men’s flasks we’re discussing, right?
Correct, the woman’s flask resides in the sandwich case.
The solution I came up with, altho not elegant, works. I attached a plastic cable tie to the top of the back billet, and then ran thin nylon string UNDER the sweat flap up to the front and attached it to the girth strap of the flask holder.
Cable ties are right up there with duct tape in my book!
Rallycairn:
Yes: effective.
