WTB Cavalry Bridle With Bit

[7thhorsesoldier]

I am looking for a Civil war cavalry bridle. Would like it to be a complete setup with six buckle Bridle, bit, and reins. Also would like it to have CS rosettes but that doesn't matter too much. Price range is around $100.00 . Thank you, 7thhorsesoldier@gmail.com

[sbeneke1]

I can guide you to where you can get good new U.S. bits for $20. Contact Turning 3 Ranch out of Steelville, Mo.
Jamie DeClue
www.turning3ranch.com
573-259-5470
jldeclue@misn.com
They are not on the webpage but she can get them within a few days.

I have never seen a set of CS rosettes. Usually a civilian style was used, if at all. By late war they were almost unheard of.

For the bridle Contact:
1. Andrew Verdon on this Fourm a.k.a. Forrestcavalryman
2. Snellen Saddles or Border States Leather, but you won't be under $100.

OR I just found a used rig on ebay. I sent them a message to get the maker.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Repro-civil-war-Cavalry-bridle-and-1859-bit-Mcclellan-saddle-/200685270158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb9c6348e

[Greenjacket]

Nick Duvall makes an awesome 6-buckle bridle, and its under $100, or very close. Have to come up with your own bit, but this is miles ahead of the Border States leather stuff. Well worth it, and if you can score one of those $20 bits mentioned above (if its a proper curb bit, I haven't seen them personally), you'd be well off. I don't think Nick has them listed on his site, but he'll make one if you call and order. He'll add sewn on reins to your bit for a reasonable price too. The whole kit and caboodle, would be very close to the price range you are looking for, and you'd have some of the best stuff out there. You can email me if you want some pics of his work. yankee1865 AT msn.com (replace AT with @, saving myself from spambots.)
Mike Pearson

[cmshooter]

What I did as far as a bit was to go through many buckets of old rusted bits and found a hang forged loose ring snaffle. I took it home and took it to the grinding wheel to remove the rust, and it looks great. Cost me like $2. Any cavalry curb I found my horse absolutely turned up his nose at, all very harsh bits compared to what my horses are used to, and I wasn't going to pay over $200 to have Myler make me one. So I did some studying and found that loose ring snaffles were often used as well at the curbs. so it might be another option for you. Something you can try as far as a bridle goes is to get a good photo or something of the sort and take it to a leather crafter. Hardware shouldn't be too hard to come by, and the stitching on the bridle is fairly simple. I'm lucky to have my favorite tack shop that can make me anything, and my captain also makes most of the leather accouterments for our regiment.

[7thhorsesoldier]

Thanks for the info. I agree that the cavalry curbs are very harsh. I was able to wisk away a special literally one of a kind Myler Cavalry shank bit on ebay for $20.00 . It has a Myler comfortable mouth piece that my horse loves and the shanks are gun blued and has the "US" on each side and you can hardly tell the difference from a distance. My horse even turns his nose up to a simple snaffle because the joint in the middle of the bit pinches his tongue and makes him toss his head. I can't stand horses tossing their head. I like them to be soft and giving to the bit instead if running from it. Thanks for the advice!

[cmshooter]

Yes anything with a single joint should be melted down into canon balls, it's certainly not made for a horse. WHAT A DEAL on that Myler! If only I could be so lucky! I was lucky enough to find a snaffle with a french, or "dog bone" mouth piece, the hard part was finding one with a 5 1/2 inch mouth piece. Most were going to be too narrow. I'm a competition mounted shooting most of the time and shoot with Bob Myler quite a lot, so I have gotten to have a few long talks about their bits including cav, and I use one of their bits on my shooting horse. Another big problem I've had getting into reenacting is finding a MC saddle to fit any of my big geldings. I just joined up last last season so all winter and to this point I've been trying to get my equipment together. Luckily I have joined a fantastic group that has offered to loan me some of the things I don't have yet, but a saddle has been hard to find. I've tried several so far including Hope, originals(way too narrow) and more modern ones supposed to be made for modern day horses, and all are way too narrow for my 16h appendix types. I'm about ready to just break down and buy a smaller boned horse for cav work. :)