JC Higgins Western Stock Saddle, 14" Seat — Full Floral Tooled Leather

A well-built mid-century Western stock saddle carrying the JC Higgins brand — Sears Roebuck's celebrated sporting goods label, sold through the catalog from the early 1900s through the early 1960s. The saddle is covered front to back in dense floral and acanthus scroll tooling across the skirts, fenders, swells, and cantle, all in dark chocolate brown top grain leather. The 14" smooth seat is structurally sound, the rounded horn retains its braided rope wrap at the base, and the JC Higgins bucking bronco circular stamp is cleanly pressed into the swells. Aluminum stirrup loops and wool underpadding complete the original working configuration.

The latigo keeper carries three stamped identifiers: 6 (gullet width), 1225 (Sears catalog model number), and 5979 (serial number) — consistent with mid-century JC Higgins production dating to approximately the 1940s–early 1960s.

CONDITION Good. Honest signs of use throughout — the leather body is solid and the tooling is crisp, with age-appropriate darkening and surface wear across the skirts and fenders. The latigo straps and several tie strings are dried, cracked, and splitting, and will need replacement before any working use. Wool padding shows compression and light soil consistent with extended service.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Seat Size: 14"
• Gullet Width: 6"
• Skirt Length: Pending
• Horn Height: Pending
• Overall Width (stirrup to stirrup): Pending
• Leather: Top Grain
• Stirrup Loops: Aluminum
• Padding: Wool
• Maker: JC Higgins — Sears Roebuck house brand, ca. 1940s–early 1960s
• Maker's Stamp: Bucking bronco circular stamp, pressed into swells
• Catalog Model No.: 1225
• Serial No.: 5979