"Saddles of Gold Rush California" Topic

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Tango01

06 Sep 2025 4:19 p.m. PST

"The market for new saddles in Gold Rush California was great, much too great to be satisfied by the just the Californio craftsmen who were found in some pueblos and ranchos during the late Mexican era – that is, before 1847. And while some of those same local saddle makers probably kept working during the early American era, or even found employment in the new American-owned workshops such as Main & Winchester, it is hard for me to see how the demand for riding gear could have been met in any other way than by using immigrant craftsmen, including Anglos. After all, mochila type saddles had been made in the United States, especially Missouri, since the 1820s…"

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