GrampaJoel

It is just two pieces, blood knot braided together, and riveted on each end. It has also been stitched down the center. I blew up the photo size and saw the stitching.

In short, yes the seat can be replaced. As can the fenders. And the other parts of a saddle. But it will take money. Most saddle builders can do it for you. It won't be cheap though.

I think you did a very good job of copying the hat band from the photo. I don't know how authentic it is. Because I just don't know. But it could be that it is very authentic, because a hat band is a personal thing. So all doors are open to those with desires for a certain type of hat band. I do think that most hats from the cowboy era came with just a ribbon for a hat band. So, a different hat band other than the ribbon that came with the hat, would then be a personal item to the wearer. Joel

Very nice. I especially like your use of colors. Joel

Very nice case! I'm impressed with everything about it. I think the fact that you lined it is very nice touch. Nice job! Joel

Ahhhh, I made the picture bigger on my iPad screen, and now I see the basket weave in question. Yes I agree, I, myself, would have brought the weave pattern down closer to the edge also. The size of the camo stamp used does hide the missing strokes well though. Overall, I still like it just as it is. Joel

Ron, maybe just buy some sheet stock metal of your choice. Cut your piece, bend it, and solder it. It doesn't require a lot of strength. I think it would work. Joel

Very nice! Very clean work. I like it just as it is. Joel

When not using a machine to stitch, I have a little trick that helps me keep my stitches matching on both ides. I cut a stitch groove on both sides. Then I use a stitch wheel to roll in my stitching spots on the top side of the project. I then take my awl and push through to the grove on the back side, being very careful to keep the awl perpendicular to the work. Or as close as I can. Once I have a first hole on the front and back side, I put the stitch wheel on the back side, and line up one of the stitch wheel notches with the hole I pushed through from the front. I roll out the stitch wheel and I get pretty evenly matched stitch marks with the front. Then all you do is stitch matching holes and it should turn out darn evenly matched. This works for me on everything from saddles to cell phone cases. It's just a method I use. You milage may vary. Joel

Nice clean work. Very nice job with the stitching. Joel

Rawhide Reinforced Leather Inskirt Rigging On A Crates Saddle. Rawhide replaced where? Horn cap, cantle binding, in the skirt or part of the rigging? Is the rawhide a stiffener in the skirts? Photos of what you want to do? I can't tell you prices in Florida, but I could tell how much I would charge here in SO CAL. But I am not sure what you are wanting to do. No,,, rawhide isn't treated as leather usually. Rawhide = pretty hard unless pretty wet. Think dog chewy toy. But like leather it will have stretchy areas and hard areas,similar to leather. Joel

Hey buck I'm with you. I had left over cherry pie for breakfast. Where's the like button? Ha, ha!

Those are so COOL! I don't usually like these kinds of things, but I must say your monsters caught my eye. I bet you sell a ton of these. Good going! Joel

You did a very nice job on the belt. Your copper pieces were a good choice for the belt color. And I do have to ask, since you brought up the hand stitching. If you didn't line the belt, what was the stitching for? I certainly wouldn't do it by hand or otherwise just for decoration, and I own two sewing machines. Joel

Looks real fine to me. I bet he is real happy with it. I know I would be. How long is it? Is the leather Latigo, perhaps? Joel

Well Frank I gotta say those are the ugliest pieces of leather work I have ever seen. Actually you know that is not true. I'm just jealous. Very nice work, as usual with a quality that speaks for itself. I especially like the Schofield holster. What is up with the canvassed bullet loops ? I don't recall seeing the done before. Are the loops pushed through the belt? Merry Christmas. Joel

Nice work! If the knots are showing on the back side tighten you tension until the knot gets pulled inside the hole. Did you groove your leather before sewing? Or just use the roller for spacing? Joel

Well I think it's great! I really like the color. Excellent execution of the art work. Very fine stitch work. It fits your passport. What more can a person ask for? Nice job! Joel

A closed cell foam retains, and regains its size quickly because the air in the closed cells have no where to go. Hench when used for padding tends to retain its thickness. Adding confortable to the seat.

Oltoot, My friend said he added the taps. He's always buying old saddle stuff. He said he had the taps lying around, and the saddle in question came without sturrips so he added the taps. I guess he was planning on riding it until he put it on a horse and saw how ill fitting it was. He always make me laugh. He comes from a ranching family from Alberta, Canada, so I excuse his follies. It's fun to have another man, besides myself, do silly, somewhat questionable things. Our wives know we are both crazy. Ha! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Joel

The seat was pretty large across. The tilted back seat could help accomadate a bustle I suppose. Did ladies ride in bustle dresses? The saddle looked old, it was dirty and scratched up. Etc.. But it really showed no signs of having been ridden. No burnishing in the seat or thigh area. Joel

Your problem exist because you didn't size the patterns to fit yourself. The trick to making chinks and chaps is learning to size your patterns. Anymore I don't even use patterns. I just take the needed measurements, and lay them out on a x-y grid of large card stock. I take these measurements,,, Waist/hips. Outside leg length. ( to where you want the fringe to end) Inside length ( from just below the crotch)) ( to where the fringe would end) Belt buckle to crotch length ( for the drop in the front of the yoke.) Measure around the upper leg at crotch height around to just below the butt cheek. ( to get the wing piece ) ( I usually plan the concho piece down the leg to be at the seam edge where your outside pant seam runs.) Then I just connect the dots. The trick to a good fitting pair of chinks is measuring. You need to know ahead of time how long you want your fringe, and account for the length in your pattern. There's more to it, but you have one pair made. You should see where I'm trying to lead you here. Joel P.s. You did a real nice job using the cow camp pattern. I used the same pattern once and had the same results you have had. I gave that pair to a friend that they fit and never looked back.

Not to user friendly is a good term. It was mostly put together with tacks. Cantle binding, horn wrap, horn cap, all held on with large headed tacks. Now it might be a reproduction for display, I don't know, and neither did my friend. I just thought it might be a curiosity to talk about. These saddle forums seem slow lately. Joel

I get mine at the auto upholstery shop too, like Bob. There's a great one about 20 minutes from me. I think the last padding I used was 3/4", but it was more like a dash padding firmness. I suggest you go to a shop find the foam you like, sit on it and see how much it compresses. I don't like the foam that compresses down to nothing. If it compresses down to nothing, why have it in the first place?

Denise, The cantle was intact, not broken. The seat just flared out at the center top area and leaned toward the rear. I didn't get a chance to look beneath the leather much but I did peak a little. The tree wood appeared to have a finish on it, but I don't know what with. It didn't look like rawhide though. The saddle was solid feeling, but the tree bars are badly twisted, nothing felt broken or loose. The leather on the horn was real thin. Actually all the leather seemed pretty thin. The leather work seemed good, but not high quality, and the stitching seemed like machine stitching. My friend had no idea where it was made. He took it in trade for monies owed him. He liked the little saddle bag . Joel