For Sale Nice Western Saddle Gently Used

I have a very nice, beautifully tooled Western Saddle for sale that is gently used. This is an Amish made saddle which I bought in November. I ride English and wanted to give Western a try, but just haven’t gotten around to doing so, or making use of this saddle. The tie strap holder says “Congress Leather 1353” but I think this is just something the Amish man added when he made this saddle. (Because I looked it up and this saddle looks nothing like the one online.)

There is a small stain like area on the right outside portion of the seat, right about where the back of my thigh makes contact with the seat. It was there when I bought it and I still bought it because it’s not all that big or noticeable.

Also this saddle needs a nice oiling, especially the ends of the billet straps, the fender, and the back housing. Those areas are getting a little stiff.

This saddle has a 15 inch seat, skirt is about 27 inches, and cantle is about 3-1/4 to 3-7/16 inches. (I'm not sure I'm measuring that right.)

I’m asking $375 for this saddle, which is a bit less than what I paid, but I will take reasonable offers. If you’d like specific areas photographed or want more measurements please let me know.

Nice looking saddle.

This saddle is actually a bit darker than how it has photographed. I'm guessing the lighting in the tack room is too much. The seat especially is NOT as light colored as it seems in the photos.

I just looked up Congress Leather and the number. The tree is identical. Yours is an older saddle and I'm pretty sure it was made by Congress. Because of the time involved in making a saddle most individual saddlemakers create high end saddles to increase their profit margin. It doesn't pay to make an economy saddle. The big outfits can cut out a hundred saddles in the time it takes a maker to cut out one. The tooling is pressed into damp leather using machines known as clickers. One of the easiest ways to detect hand tooling vs clicker is on the forks. A saddlemaker will stamp/tool the forks after the leather has been applied. The clicker stamped saddle is stamped before it is applied, thus the impression isn't as distinct as on the skirts.

@Saddlebag you lost me. I'm not very experienced with Western Saddles as I ride English. Are you saying this is not Amish made and is in fact a Congress 1353?

I'm not 100% certain but it's a nice saddle and worth what you are asking for it. Like everything else, saddles change style to attract buyers.

How wide is the gullet?