Saddle Serial Numbers

This information was taken from the Circle Y web site at: http://www.circley.com/faq.shtml

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I read my serial number?

A. In the 50 years of Circle Y, there have been many configurations of serial numbers. (Actually is the ‘model’ number. The ‘serial’ number is the date code of the current saddles).

In older saddles, less information is coded in the numbers. Additionally, standardization of the numbers in some years is not reliable.

To help you decipher your number, we have attempted to provide some guidance here. Please remember the saddle could be a discontinued style, and no information for tree sizing, pricing, and category of the saddle will be found.

Other names used by Circle Y that may appear on your saddle
Circle Y had several locations that made saddles for them in and around Yoakum. Here are a few names that may appear on the saddle.
-Sweet Home
-Shiner
-Cow Country
-Rebel
but are all genuine Circle Y brand.

Circle Y also made saddles for some of it's dealers which will have a ‘J’ as its first numeral.
'SP' in front of the model means Special for special makeup.

Current numbers: May 2006 to present

Note: a date code will be included on the plate, along with the long number, which will tell the year of manufacture and the unique number for that saddle (example 20090001- which is 2009 and 0001 the unique number for the saddle)

Lets take an fake serial number example: 1551-7601-0604

Number positions 1, 2, 3, 4 = Style or model =(1551)
The 5th number position = Seat Color=(7)=Chocolate Suede
The 6th and 7th number positions = Seat Size=(60)=16"
The 8th number position = Saddle Color =(1) = Walnut
The 9th and 10 number positions = Bar size (04) = Semi Quarter Bars

The year and day will also be stated on the tag as show as: 20090001

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th numbers positions = The serial (model) number in our example it is 1551-7601-0604

5th number = Seat Leather/color codes: 1551-7601-04
0- Buckskin or other custom seats like ostrich
1- Grainout padded
2- Black suede
4- Rust suede
5- Toast suede
6- Beige/Sand suede
7- Chocolate Suede
8- Apache (distressed brown)
9- Hardseat
A- Amethyst suede
B- Blue
L- Lime Green
P- Pink
T- Turquoise
V- Violet

6th and 7th number = Seat Size: 1551-7601-04
Seat Sizes are:
30=13”
35=13.5”
40=14”
45=14.5”
50=15”
55= 15.5"
60=16"
65=16.5"
70=17"
75=17.5"
80=18"

8th number = Saddle Color : 1551-7601-04
Saddle Colors are:
0- Dark Oil antique- DOA
1- Walnut
2- Ultra White
4- Regular Oil
5- Mahogany/Latigo/Cherrywood
7- Ultra Lite
8- Pecan
18- Black

9th and 10th number = tree code: 1551-7601-04
04-Regular bar;
05-Wide bar;
06- Draft Seat

For Saddles between 1990s to April 2006

Fake Serial Number Example: 1551-5601-0197
1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th number positions = Saddle style = 1551
5th number position = Tree size = (5) =Full Quarter
6th and 7th number positions=Seat =(60) = 16" Seat
8th number position= Saddle Color =(1) = Walnut
9th and 10th number position = Month made (01) =January
11th and 12th number positions or the AB positions= Year made (97) or 1997
This saddle was the only one made with this serial number that day so it has no CD position number

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th number positions = style number of saddle or 1551

5th number = Tree size 1551-5601-0197
1- or any other number other then 5 = Semi Quarter Tree
5- Full Quarter Horse

6th and 7th number positions = Seat Size 1551-5601-0197

Seat Sizes are:
30=13”
35=13.5”
40=14”
45=14.5”
50=15”
55= 15.5"
60=16"
65=16.5"
70=17"
75=17.5"
80=18"

8th number position = Saddle color 1551-5601-0197

Saddle Colors are:
0- Dark Oil antique- DOA
1- Walnut
2- Ultra White
4- Regular Oil
5- Mahogany/Latigo/Cherrywood
7- Ultra Lite
8- Pecan
18- Black

9th and 10th position =the month of completion 1551-5601-0197
01- January
02- February
03- March
04-April
05-May
06-June
07-July
08-August
09-September
10- October
11-November
12-December

A and B positions or the 11th and 12th number positions = Year of completion (97 =1997, 98 =1998 etc.) 1551-5601-0197

The C and D position = a possible extra number here means that more than one of these was made that day so it received a unique number of 1, 2, or 10, for example.

1234-5678-90AB-CD

For older saddles-1970s & 1980s
These numbers vary greatly. The first three would be reliable as the style number of the saddle. Beyond that, it could be different. Serial number example: 1234-4567 123= style number of saddle
4= could be seat size number on some saddles. Measure for best information. The rest are unclear.