Hello everyone! I recently dug my mom’s old saddle out of the garage and cleaned it up - out of curiosity I’m wondering if anyone would be able to identify the maker or age, since there’s no discernible stamp or branding aside from the number (814) on the jockey. 
I’ve given it a good googling and wasn’t able to find anything identical.
It was obtained at a yard sale years ago in Eastern WA, if location helps!
Have not seen one like that before, with that unconventional stitching in place of tooling.
It has a number, so part of a saddler’s inventory?
Will be interesting what others may know about such saddles.
Used to see these out on the West Coast when I showed Western on the old AHSA Open circuit. Horn, swell shape, saddle strings and rigging not built into the skirt plus it’s stitched instead of tooled (tooling adds cost plus wears over time). say its a working saddle and the conchos and cantle lacing point to the West Coast . Seat is built up to narrow the twist as well, can’t tell if it’s just layers of leather or a strainer. My guess is circa 70s vintage based on the style. Bet it’s not on full quarter bars either.
The little tab with the slot where the number is stamped is not the seat jockey, cannot remember the name but it’s where you stow the extra latigo strap after you finish the knot cinching up. Seat Jockey is right below the seat, under your thigh, what the fender goes under to attach to the tree.
I never saw any like this after I left So. Cal. in 1980 for Texas and the Midwest.
I don’t think it’s mass produced, there would be trademarks and brand names deeply carved on it. Frankly it appears much better quality then those anyway. It could be semi custom, limited edition, small batch type thing out of a small saddlery, not built for a specific individual. Some of the saddle makers did that out there. It could also be full custom, no way to tell. Kind of doubt it, little plain for that, even in a ranch saddle.
Is there anything marked on the bottom of the tree right under the seat, swells or under the seat jockeys when you flip it upside down and spread it out like a butterfly? Look right on top of the backside of the fenders, pull 'em down and look where it goes through the tree, the wide part and the strap. Also look carefully on the underside of the bottom of the fender, take the stirrup off. Some of these guys put their marks in out of the way places nobody sees unless they really look and in more then one place. Oh, look up under the cantle too.
Be curious to see what you find out. I suspect it’s local to you there were some small saddlerys in Oregon back then but could be wrong, often am. Could be out of the Sears catalogue…
Latigo holder:
http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/saddle-parts.html
That is where the number is stamped.
Surprising there is no maker’s stamp above.
Generally that is there, if or without stamped number below.
I’ve seen a logo engraved into the concho on tne latigo holder and sometimes a small brass plaque type thing instead of the concho. It’s possible it was stamped somewhere the leather has been replaced or has worn off…but most don’t put it where it will rub off or be lost with replacement. Interesting.
The upper skirt is quite a bit smaller then most, especially right behind the cantle and the saddle strings are anchored way up underneath the cantle close to the centerline, that’s unusual, might help to search out the saddlery.
The lacing on the cantle seems far apart also, not the standard small, many loops steel lacing.
The padded seat and it’s stitching looks standard.
A strange combination and execution of different features.
Seat may not be original. Those do get replaced and often don’t match the original. Had my fancy custom stitched one replaced at about 10 years with a much less fancy one (with fewer stitches to wear out) that did not match the original pattern. The rough out seats lighten with age, the one on OPs saddle has been on it awhile. Probably matched the saddle or was darker at one time.
The silver lacing on tne cantle is priced by the inch, fewer loops, fewer inches. Goes along with the stitching instead of tooling to be attractive but keep price lower. Another reason why I don’t think it’s mass produced, they tool or stamp those and slap silver trim on them to price them up or produce them completely plain as budget models.
Cantle is kind of different, flatter then you usually see laced, very close to the skirt in back.
Thank you for the insightful information guys! I’ve checked it all over unfortunately - under every flap and layer like you mentioned. Doesn’t appear to have a maker’s mark of any kind.
I’m guessing it probably is semi-custom or full-custom like you said, probably locally made in Eastern WA.
Either way, apparently my dad picked it up at that sale for just $50! I’d say that’s a definite lucky find.
Thank you again!
For $50, thats one nice saddle, even if it’s got a few years on it. If you keep your eyes open, you may see another now that you have something to look for. There’s always been some good cow horse type saddle makers down in Oregon too. There’s others out there.
I don’t agree with most of the above. It looks very low quality to me, like the mass produced auction saddles sold at the big tack auctions at hotels. I’m guessing it’s from the mid-90s to 2000 and made to look older.
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