Sprenger stirrup iron owners - a quick question

georgiegirl

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Hi all,

Could anyone tell me if the actual metal part of sprenger irons is stamped or marked in anyway? Is there any other way of telling you have the real mcCoy? (haven't purchased yet but would like to make sure they haven't just had a set of sprenger treads put on)

Thanks!!
 
its the system 4 ones - the ones with the black rubber sides. Practiclly unused - the stirrups themselves still look very new and shiny and the treads are immaculate. The rubber treads certainly say sprenger on but just wondered if there was any other way of telling? (Im going off photos here as looking to buy second hand but want to be sure they are the real deal)
 
My Sprengers are marked on the metal. The writing is almost invisible, like shadow writing on the vertical side of the bit that goes under your foot. Someone showed me long ago and you have to hold it in the right light or it cant be read. I think mine says HS SPRENGER. You do not need to remove the rubbers to find this (which I just stupidly did) and I now see that the lettering is on both sides of this stirrup. I have two pairs in different sizes and kept the boxes. If you are buying second hand new ones there could be a box with them?
 
I did email and ask if they could see any other stamps anywhere and they said no? but like you say if its hard to see they may not have looked properly? Will email and ask if there is any packaging with them...they are a very reasonable price - too good to be true perhaps?? or perhaps worth taking a punt on and seeing what they are like when they arrive Im not sure?!
 
My sprengers say it on the foot part as other posters have said. Also the rubber tube is bulgy over the lumps of the multiple links. My non sprenger flexi stirrups are smooth tubed as there is only one link inside
 
My sprengers say it on the treat and both sides of the iron at the bottom. Mine are the older style not the ones with the blue tread. I'm thinking of converting to the free jump.
 
She said they don't have a stamp on the metal part and that she has had them a fair few years by they have been in storage practically unused. The black rubber tube parts are bobbly rather than the cheaper smooth looking ones - hmmm not sure what to do!
 
The tubes on mine are smooth (if it's the bendy part you mean). Mine are about 6years old and are used everyday and they still say 'Sprenger' on both sides.
 
This them....

stirrups_zpse343f951.jpg


the rubber seems to go down to the bottom of the stirrups whereas I know on others it doesnt. What do you think? Worth a punt?
 
The rubber tread doesn't look like it covers all of the metal and cuts slightly short. If you look at this photo from the sprenger website you can see the rubber tread covers all of the metal.

ScreenShot2013-09-03at133648.png


It's hard to tell really though, I find it hard to believe that the stamp has rubbed off, I'm pretty sure it's engraved (could be wrong without looking at them) as mine have been used daily for the past 6+ years and still look good as new.
 
She didnt say it had rubbed off she said they just didnt have any.....

Ive since emailed a couple of people on ebay and it seems to be a real mixed bag with some being marked and others not (these are all ones with the boxes etc I have asked) so think I will take a chance on them - for the money she wants I could easily sell them on again as flexi irons anyway. I guess I'll know when they come wether or not they do the 4 way movement thing as to wether they are the real deal or not as am I correct in thinking the others just go two way?

Thanks for your help by the way everyone your all fab! :)
 
I have had mine 8 years or more. I would ask the seller to look at the metal very carefully because the writing should still be there. It is very hard to make out. And in capital letters, the word about an inch long. You need patience and to tip them in every direction. On one side of one of mine which have been scratched and rubbed, I cant make it out, but then my stirrups have been worn a lot and are constantly transported in my bag, as I put them on any horse I ride.
The side rubbers on mind end marginally above the flat rubbers, which these dont seem to, as you say.
I too once bought a less expensive look alike brand just to have a larger size. There is a difference in the feel when you ride. Meaning that with the Sprengers, I dont notice I am using them; it feels like there is solidity like conventional stirrups. I keep the cheaper one's in case OH needs safety stirrups when hacking. But my cheaper ones too were a known brand. If someone is trying to pass something off as Sprengers which are not, there might be a safety issue to consider?
 
Another thing to look for, mine are also stamped 'L' for the left side stirrup - and 'R' for the right side stirrup on the metal shoulders. But mine are quite new, so I am not sure if that would apply to older Sprengers.
 
Skib - I meant the sprengers rubber seems to go down to the bottom of the treads (see frosty's pic) whereas the copies tend to end above it.

Thanks mrs Jingle - I know the bow balance certainly have left and right stamped on them - not sure about the system 4's.

They are cheap enough that if they are not the 'real' thing I will be able to sell them on simply as bendy/flexi irons so think they will be worth a shot - collection in person too so if they are obviously knock offs they wont be coming home :)
 
Quick update for those looking to buy second hand sprengers - picked mine up today and the metal on the stirrup bar is not stamped but if you wiggle the black rubber sides up to expose the links each and every one of these is stamped with the herm sprenger logo so the ones I have bought are definitely the real deal - very happy bunny indeed :D
 
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