Tell age of old Stübben saddles - a summary

I have a few more rolled bridles in my collection (Crosby, Lemetex, probably some others) just because I think they’re cool! :slight_smile:

I agree about the leather quality, and find it a real shame that it’s so hard to find a good quality bridle these days, and even more so at a reasonable price. There are a select few I still like, but I’ll never part with my old school bridles, either!

1 Like

The Irish saddle years were either 68 & 69, or 69 & 70. I bought that Siegfried around 2001 or so. At that time Stubborn had no records but could tell me it was only 2 years. Some characteristic of my saddle, and I can’t remember what, made them think mine was a 69. I sold it later, after somebody made me an attractive offer. But I kept the stirrups. They are Stegalite (sp?) with Prussian sides but a slim knife edge bottom. I have never seen any others like them. The only treads I could make fit them were the stainless cheese grater style. I’m sure whatever was originally made for them is long discontinued.

1 Like

I have a very old Stubben that I’d like to put up on Craigslist, but I don’t have much info on it. It was made in Germany.

Nail is plain silver.
No suede
No chrome on the stirrup bars
No logo plate on the cantle
No logo on the flaps

I can’t find a serial number. Nothing stamped on the leather anywhere that I can find.

I don’t recall the name of the saddle model. Siegfried??? Or is the Krefeld on the plate the name of the model?

Anyone know anything about this metal plate?

Krefeld is the name of the city in Germany where Stubben is/was located.

An old Siegfied would have suede on it and the saddle in the photo does appear to have suede on the flap - it’s just worn down so it’s now smooth.

I have a Stubben from the early 1970’s that has the same plate, but I’m not sure when they started using the newer plates.

Does it still have the billet guards under the flap? They are smaller leather “flaps” that originally would have been sewn to the webbing the billets are attached to. On even ancient Stubbens, the model name, tree size and seat size (I think) were stamped on the billet guard.

If you posted a photo of the entire saddle as well as the billet guards, it would help.

Thank you!

Nope, no suede. The front of the flap where suede would be has pretty much the same look and texture as the rest of the flap.

Nope, no billet guards either. :thinking: :woman_shrugging:



Very different in a good or bad way?! I’m considering a newer Stübben for my tall-withered, straighter-backed OTTB for the open head plate and long tree points (if approved by a saddle fitter).

I know I won’t get the same leather, but I’m hoping the current Stubbens are still durable.

From your photos, I’m pretty sure that’s suede on that saddle. You’d be surprised how smooth and shiny it gets as it ages. The nap gets worn down and the leather reverts to it’s original configuration, especially if it wasn’t the flesh side of the hide and was mechanically roughed up. Many, many modern suede items, especially if lower quality leather was used, are just split hide. A full hide has the skin side which is smooth and shows the grain, and the flesh side which is rough. But both will wear smooth over time and use. (Stubben back when this saddle was made used top quality materials. I can’t say if the modern ones would hold up the same way. They certainly aren’t made the same way with respect to the manufacturing process.)

If you really wanted to, you can bring the nap back up with careful use of a wire brush, And that saddle is in desperate need of some TLC!

Too bad the billet guards are gone, but I would say it was a Siegfried.

3 Likes

Maybe it is suede. It’s hard to see any sign of suede, even in the seams and edges, but who knows.

You should have seen it when I got it! It’s been rehabbed considerably. :wink:

That’s what I recall, but wasn’t sure.

Looks like an old Siegfried, '60s or '70s most likely. I agree that the knee rolls are either worn down or oiled over suede (though oil isn’t supposed to be used on suede, I’ve seen people oil them anyway to make them mimic the look of smooth leather). Those are great quality older saddles, and IMO extremely comfortable as well! Though it looks like it’s been well used, the leather still looks intact and in good shape from what I can tell from the pictures.

1 Like

Yes, it’s an old '60s to early '70s Siegfried. You can absolutely clean this up and restore the suede. I just did one that I picked up and it looks fantastic.

I restored mine using both liquid saddle soap and the pH stubben saddle soap and then for the suede I used a sanding block and it came out almost like new. I finished it with light coats of Liederbalm and Stubben conditioner. I used just the soap and a sanding block and a small wire brush on the suede. I did not condition the suede at all.

If you’re interested in selling this one, might be interested depending on seat size and price. These wear like iron and are fantastic.

3 Likes

Thanks all for the input on this saddle! Based on your comments regarding the suede panels, I pulled out my suede brush and did some work on the panels. I think it came out well.

Yes, I’d definitely like to find this saddle a new home! Please send me a PM.

5 Likes

Wow, that looks great! I need to try that with my saddles with worn down suede. Those look like brand new knee rolls!