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From Mando by the look if it? Charlie

Hermes machine stitch the majority of their small leather goods. Multicoloured top and bottom thread is a dead giveaway, there's no way to do this with saddle stitch Charlie

I do and no, not in my opinion. Dixons are historically the English counterpart to Blanchard though they have had issues in recent years (but seem to be getting better). Barnsley has always been a slightly more budget option. Recent stuff has been really poor (nylon rollers on plough gauges for e.g.), older stuff is better but was still the budget professional choice of its time. Charlie

If all your options are for brand new pricking irons vergez Blanchard is in a totally different league to your other choices. Old dixons or if your very lucky new Dixons on a good day are their only competitors in the same league of quality Charlie

Strudel, My mistake! I thought I recognized the work as that of someone local I know. It was a compliment, he's good! Charlie

Very nice work Strudell. I have a feeling I'm only over the border from you..

Sorry, I don't have anything in that small an spi at all, we start at 8 as a minimum and generally stitch at 10 or higher Charlie

I own some of nearly everything ;-) Modern Barnsley running up to their closing down is crude and built to a price. Modern Dixons less so. They went through a really bad spell and are getting better. Blanchard are more or less the last supplier of good pricking irons where your more or less guaranteed to get something good each time you buy. I have all three brands and use Blanchard more or less exclusively in production Charlie

They might be ok if old, modern Barnsley tools aren't in the Blanchard or Doxons league though Charlie They might be ok if old, modern Barnsley tools aren't in the Blanchard or Doxons league though IMO Charlie

Not at all, happy to help Charlie

Given leather thick enough for the strap to feel substantial enough in the hand it's definitly not vital to have the central layer, and I do make straps without as well. The raised effect you get with it is attractive though and that's its point so I'd only use a thin piece, never the whole width of the strap Hope that helps! Charlie

They are quite slow and often make to order. Give them a ring and they'll be happy to help I'm sure Charlie

Hi, Glad to have been of help! If you have an area that can't be got at when the stitching has been done, like the area around the keeper I finish the edges of that area before the stitching. Its difficult to merge the two areas latter but theres no way I know of dying/finishing the bit around the keeper after you've sewn it in so its the way it has to be done I think, in the same way as the keeper itself is finished before its sewn in. I hope that helps, Charlie

Mart, I wouldn't mind some red. Not a colour a use a lot of so a little would be useful Charlie

Watch buckles? We get the from watch obsession in the uk, there are quite a few sources though Charlie

I have some and like them. My experience is their stuff tends to be as it should be when you get it Charlie

Thanks for the kind words We use bridle leather that we thin down more than anything else, but there are photos of French Calf and Goatskin as well in this thread. Theres never anything wrong with asking questions. This forum is an excellent resource, keep looking at photos of the type of thing you want to make and reading threads from those making that kind of stuff, theres a huge amount of info here if you piece it together. The thing that all the true craftspeople have in common (and there are many better than me here) is attention to detail, patience, and the desire to make the next thong you make better than the last thing you made. If you want to make beautiful things and you have the patience to learn and take the time to make something properly its not beyond anyone capable of operating the tools IMHO. HTH Charlie

That strap used 532 Lin Cable in Marron I think Charlie

Depends which leather, but generally direct from the tannery. We also buy via Abbey in the uk

Thanks John - seen your work as well which is all good stuff. The company is Equus Leather Charlie

These are lovely - very interested to see the making of photos when you have time :-)

Fair enough, you can only speak as you find! I know one of the girls who works for us had to send a 1" 10 spi back 3 times to get a good one, but the good one is really rather nice. Ive always been a Dixons man but their oval hole punches of late have been so awful Im wondering wether to go the Blanchard route as well..

The quality of the Dixons stuff hasn't been great of late - I don't know if you have a recent Dixons iron there Macca but I haven't been impressed with their output recently..

Another one, this time in Gold Barenia Charlie

Exactly that