Western Saddle..It's a Simco..Update post 11

[Sansena]

ETA: I’ve found the Simco logo. Can anyone tell me if the year of manufacture is 1986 or 2004? Also any further information on this model… Thanks. I’ve already emailed Simco directly but am quite sure I won’t hear back for a week or so.
…
“804 12 86” is printed on the underside of the… skirt? There’s also very small print above it that I cannot decipher. The number on the piece of leather off the swell is 1409 I believe.

Can anyone give me any clues about this saddle’s make? I bought it off eBay. The seller said it was a No-Name saddle, but I believe if they bothered to number it, it’s probably of some value to someone. It’s on the cheaper side… the fender is bolted to the… stirrup leather? instead of it being one continuous piece of leather. And there’s an actual buckle underneath for length adjustment. I’m used to seeing Blevins buckles here, so obviously, it’s not a fancy saddle… all the same…

I love it. Fits my horse & me just great. I’d just like to know if anyone can suggest saddle manufacturer based upon the spacing of the serial number/s.
I’ve determined what some of the text says under the skirt… “For xxxxxx riding only. Not recommended for roping”.

The xxx’s represent a word I’m unable to decipher because it’s worn off.

Anybody?

[Sansena]

…Or if anyone can suggest a western forum where I can pose this question.

[sk_pacer]

Fenders rivetted to the leathers really doesn’t mean much as to quality nor do the buckles for length adjustment - was pretty common on trail and pleasure saddles for years, even higher end ones because the buckles are easier for many to deal with and rivets are easy to pop out. Even my slightly high end roping saddle has rivets on the fenders although the leathers are a full loop. On light saddles, that arrangement you mentioned just reduces bulk and weight.

If it has numbers and a warning stamped, it certainly isn’t a no-name saddle, there should be a maker’s mark somewhere on a latigo loop, or under the cheyenne roll on the cantle and rarely, in the gullet. If they stamped it on the fenders, you may be SOL BUT a good cleaning may raise it enough you can see the difference in the leather from stamped to unstamped.

First number looks like the actual saddle number of a particular line with the last digits being the month and year, and the number on the latigo loop being model number. A few makers stamp that way, so it is a matter of looking through the ‘low end’ saddles of good makers - a daunting task.

pics might help.

[Sansena]

What is a latigo loop? And… I’m going to search under the cantle & in the gullet now…

Thank you for the advice so far. I’m going to try to post photos sometime this week, too.
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I think it says Aamco or Simco… on the flap under the swell with a number… 3140? And there seems to be a horse head profile as well… with that same Amco/ Simco logo behind the cantle.

[sk_pacer]

Latigo loop is that slotted piece of leather hanging just below the fork on the near side - you run excess latigo through it after you tie your butterfly

[Bluey]

Found this for you on Google:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090516093828AA2RxOX

[Sansena]

Thanks Bluey… any Simco website I’ve found doesnt’ have this model saddle. It must be older.

Anyone else?

[Melelio]

Contact Simco Longhorn. They’ll tell you about the saddle (which was made in 1986) and might even have the original ad to send you a jpg of, as they did my saddle from81…

[system]

No idea about this, but i have a western saddle it has a logo batch and manufacturing year is written.

[Melelio]

My Simco has the number 229 4 81 on the tree under the stirrup fender. Simco told me that means it’s a 1981 model. What does yours say?

Call Simco.

[Sansena]

I got an email back from Simco.

Yes, it is a 1986 model, and they supplied me with 2 catalog ad copies including picture and specs (that match). The one from '86 was priced at $295, and the one from 1997 --same model-- had an advertised sale price of $895!!

I bought this saddle for $53 off eBay. Although I dont’ have before & after photos, the thorough cleaning & conditioning makes it look fabulous. I’m tickled pink.

[ESG]

I would be, too, in your shoes. You got a heck of a deal. Congrats! :yes: