OUR STORY
Hussar Saddlery is a custom order leather business owned and operated by Ken and Jan Hall of Lordstown, Ohio. We are dedicated to creating the finest products for reenactors who want only the best in their equipment, tack and accoutrements.
Ken has been in the hobby since 1973 and have done multiple impressions in
the black powder era, beginning with the long hunter, mountain man and coureur de bois. Military personas, both mounted and on foot, from the French and Indian War through the Civil War, were later additions. Now riding as a trail hand in the 1880's he has, as was said in the era, "seen the Elephant!"
Ken has ridden at Gettysburg 135, was on the field at Waterloo, went as John Forsyth to the Alamo and was an outlaw in Turkey Foot canyon in New Mexico. He is past president of Brigade Napoleon and founder of the 15th King's Light Dragoons (Hussars) reenactment unit in North America.
The men, horses and the ladies of John Payne's Company of Kentucky Light Dragoons, which Ken founded, were constant attendees at events through the Midwest, the East coast and Canada from 1983 to 2008. They were, as 18th century civilians, the Quarter Path Racers at Colonial Williamsburg for 12 years. They rode at the BAR's Grand Tactical as 4th Continental Light Dragoons, shot Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario and charged British regulars at Mississinewa 1812, Fort Niagara and Penetangushene. The company has fought in many a French and Indian War battle as either Rangers or 2nd Pennsylvania Light Horse.
With the retirement of the John Payne's Company, Ken has continued in the hobby as supplier of goods for fellow reenactors. Apprenticing under Eli Miller of Mesopotamia, OH as a leather smith and saddler, he has been producing leather goods and related products to the reenactment community for the past 20 years.
We have completed work for:
Valley Forge National Historical Park
USS Constitution
US Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
Jefferson's Monticello
The Alamo
The US Border Patrol
Fort Ross and Fort Tejon State Historic Parks, California
Fort Vancouver, Washington State
Windsor Historical Society, Windsor, Connecticut
Louisiana National Guard Museum, New Orleans
Custis - Lee Mansion, Arlington, Virginia
USMC Light Horse Exhibit, Quantico, Virginia
Virginia Tech Mounted Drill Team, Virginia
Governor General's Horse Guard, Ottawa, Canada
Fort Garry Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, Texas
US Cavalry Museum, Fort Riley, Kansas
Historical Artist Keith Rocco
We have also completed projects for several movie prop companies.
Hussar Saddlery also has available a variety of other services - machine embroidery, custom hand cut metal work, woodworking for military needs and gold/silver/brass plating.
Ken creates items from the mid-18th century through 1815 because that is his area of expertise. However, if you have a special project outside that time frame, talk to us and we will see if we can help solve your problem.
The website is a series of examples of the more than 350 items produced over the 20 years of making reenacting equipment for both man and horse.
Please note, the pictures on this website are only examples of previously commissioned items. We would be happy to work with you on any new project. If you have pictures of a specific item in mind, contact us and we will see if we can reproduce it. Our only real restriction is complicated metal work.
Take a look and see what Hussar Saddlery has done and what it could do for you.
Hours of operation: We are usually in the shop Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, and Saturday 9 A.M. to Noon EST. If you wish to visit us in person, please call first to make sure we are available.
Ken and Jan Hall
Email - khall1207@neo.rr.com
Phone - 330-360-8640