Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2008
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The Early Champ and RR
saddles have pointed tapaderos. Following the Champ
Saddles, Hartland created a series of more plain western saddles
that many collector like to call the “plain western saddle”
and sometimes the “blunt tipped saddle”—for the
lack of a more proper name. By the time these saddles were produced,
Hartland had stopped production of the Larger 900 series Champ
sets so this is the only size available. I included the Tonto
saddle here but it is more of a hybrid of the regular saddle. |
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Blunt Tipped Saddles |
  Black Western Saddle
This is a fairly common saddle
since it was used with one of the most common figures—the
later style Lone Ranger. That set was made almost from the beginning
to the end of production of 800 series horse and riders. Early
Ward Bonds also got this saddle until he seems to have been given
a rifle at which point they would have shitched to the saddle
with the rifle hole or boot. Some have cinch holes.
Clayton Moore style Lone Ranger #801
Ward Bond — Seth Adams #824* |
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 Black Western Saddle with Tie Rings
This the only saddle used by
Matt Dillon and it is unique to him. No other rider uses it!
It is almost identical to the Lone Ranger saddle except for the
addition of the small ring at the edge of the fender.
The only exception for Dillon might
be when he was temporarily placed on a Semi-Rearing horse where
he might have had a rifle holed saddle?
Matt Dillon #822 |
 Black Western Saddle with Rifle Hole
Quite a few riders share this saddle, probably as
a cost saving measure. Maybe they just thought it looked great!
It appears that Hartland included an optional rifle with some
of these sets on occasions. This is the same saddle used by Hoby
Gilman except his is brown.
Brett Maverick #862
Johnny Yuma, The Rebel #832
Jim Hardie #864
Paladin #866
Gil Favor #831
Lucas McCain—The Rifleman #826
Bill Longley — The Texan #827
Tom Jeffords # 821
Ward Bond — Seth Adams #824* |
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 Brown Saddle with Silver Stripes
As far as I know, this is the
only saddle Tonto ever had. It resembles the later Lone Ranger
saddles, except for the design of the tapaderos, plus it is brown
instead of black. I believe a few of them have the punch holes
in the fenders probably a result of the Semi-Rearing horse he
rode temporarily.
Tonto: #805 |
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 Brown Western Saddle with Rifle Hole
This is the same as the standard black saddle with
the rifle hole, common to a lot of other riders. This was Hoby
Gilman’s standard saddle, however a few Josh Randall sets
appear to have it. This saddle was also recast by Stevens Plastics
in 1993 and 1994 for use with Dale Evans and Wyatt Earp, but
originals are usually a shade darker in color.
Hoby Gilman #825
Josh Randall #828 |
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 Brown Western Saddle with Rifle Hole
This set was recast by Stevens Plastics in 1993 and
1994 using the same molds as Hartland did earlier. The color
is slightly lighter but it is still a good look alike without
something to compare. Stevens put this saddle with Dale Evans
and Wyatt Earp, historically incorrect saddles for both.
Stevens Plastics Dale Evans
Stevens Plastics Wyatt Earp |
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 Brown Western Saddle
Using the same mold as they
created for the later style Lone Ranger, Hartland changed the
color to a nice russett brown and gave it to the new version
of Dale Evans. It was later used again for Josh Randall.
Green Dale Evans #802 (DE)
Purple Dale Evans #802
Josh Randall #828 |
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 Plain Blue RR Saddle - Stenciled RR
This saddle is a bit of a mystery. It is an original factory
piece with several collectors owning one. Whether it was a very
early RR saddle, or just one used temporarily while waiting for
more regular saddles to be produced, we’ll probably never
know. It does seem to go with the walking version of the horse
based on the style of saddle (without the cinch holes). Mine
came with a walking Trigger set.
V-Fringe Roy Rogers #806 |
 Brown and Yellow Plain Saddle
Wyatt was one of Hartland’s first characters
and remained in production almost to the end. This saddle is
fairly common. It is the only figure using this exact style of
saddle and I’ve never seen a factory piece with a different
color scheme. Stevens plastics recast Earp in 1994 but used the
brown rifle holed saddle on the shipping sets. Some of the white
blanks created during production show up on eBay once in a while,
often painted solid black or brown.
Wyatt Earp #809 |
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 Blue Western Saddle with Cinch Holes
While this saddle looks quite a bit like some of the
other black saddles, it is molded quite different. It is made
for a Rearing Horse mold for Annie Oakley. With the exception
of the red saddle used with some Black Beauties, none of the
other riders used this saddle which matches the martingale used
with all Oakley horses.
Annie Oakley #823 |
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 Blue Western Saddle / Punched Holes
This is a very rare saddle. I purchased it in a GEM
Mint in the box Annie Oakley set from the original owner. The
saddle is molded in black exactly like the standard Lone Ranger
saddle and then painted blue with silver trim.
Annie Oakley #823 |
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 Red Western Saddle with Cinch Holes
The red western saddles are actually fairly hard to
find. This one is created from the same mold as the Annie Oakley
saddle shown above. It was used with the Semi-Rearing and Rearing
versions of Black Beauty.
Black Beauty |
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 Red Western Saddle with Rifle Hole
I believe this saddle is even more rare than the red western
saddle above. It is molded just like some of the Black style
western saddles with rifle holes, but painted red. This one was
actually marbelized red, blac, and white plastic.
Black Beauty |
