Steve Brewer

Traveller,Use light coats of any oil.When you get your desired feel stop.Neatsfoot and olive oil will both darken leather.It comes down to a little is good and a lot isn't.Once had a fellow over oil,It took all the temper out of the leather.Saddle wore out pretty fast. Steve

Steve,I like to use olive oil to oil saddles.Even out with light coats,then use tan coat.Like to use RM Williams on sturrip leathers and insides of fenders. Steve

Bruce,Nice job on both items.I know how it is to work when your hands hurt.This spring I had tendon problems in my left hand,took 6 weeks to heal.

Gary The ground seat is not cut out.I nail my skirts by turning the saddle up side down.Works well on regular seats as well. Thank you Steve

I can see the double rawhidecover,But rawhide is tougher than fiberglass.I would think that the Two layers of rawhide will make the tree strong enough.With that said,you have to go with what the customer wants

Every couple of yrs.we have someone who has trouble getting their saddle paid for.For quite a few yrs. I have had a sign posted that deposits are non refundable,it also is on the order.My price list says final payment is due on saddle completion.Most people make arrangements to pay .Some make it with payments ,but the saddle stay here until paid for. Thankyou Steve

I took a saddle order last year for a full carved saddle.The saddle is finished and the person has no money to pay for it.They have known for 14 mos.what they owed.We get a third up front,and the rest at the time of completion. How do others deal with people who do this? I usually hold the saddle for 30 days,then put it up for sale.

Tosch,The first saddles I saw with no hand hole was in Idaho.It was first done to stop juniper needles getting against your horses back and also keeping the cold from coming up their.As to do we need to cut them? I think that is the customers preference. Steve

I built this saddle on a 3/b tree,17"seat,loopseat,5x12x1 1/4"dish cantle.NO hand hole.Pointed skirts,3/4 ring rigged.The silver is old Visalia conchos.

Traveler,I personally don't ride a back cinch.If your rigging is put in right and the tree fits your horse it will be fine.We build 4 or 5 single rigged saddles a year.Most go to ranches were they roped off of a lot. Steve

I have been watching this topic for a while ,most orders I take are from working cowboys.They are riding 7 to 10 head of horses.It is almost impossible to fit all.Over the years you get bar measurements that will work on most horses.Most orders I never see what they are riding,just ask a few Questions.So far it has worked for me. Steve

Tooling will make the leather wear better.A lot of ruff outs chaff you more than a carved saddle,when you first get them.If your seat is right the tooling should not sore you.

A butch cassidy tree is a A fork . the fork slopes ahead about 1"

Cost of materials plus % of mark up plus your time(shop rate) should give you a price.

I Built this saddle on a Butch Cassidy tree.See what you think?

Jon,Nice job.The thing that pops out is the horn could be carved,over all real good job. Steve

I cut the hole out after the seat is put in and dry.Build a few that we don"t cut the hole at all.

I had a youth saddle order that I thought production tree, would work on.I got it,The horn cap was 3/8s smaller than i ordered.So this morning was spent putting a new cap on it.Could have sent it back but fixed it myself.Kind of ate up any savings I had in the tree.After 35 yrs. I should have known better.Buy a Quality Product and you will be money ahead. Steve

Art,I don't have a pic. right now.You can get them from Weavers.I buy them direct from Quality Mfg.

Steve,thanks.The Buckles are Superior Buckles ,no bulk under your leg. Steve

Here is a half breed saddle shipped today .It is the mate to the ladies a fork posted a week ago.

Andy, 20yrs ago I worked in a 6 man shop that sent all of their carving out .We fit up saddles ,I mean the whole package,sent to carver.Had as many as 4 ahead of what we working on at the time. Most were Bowmans ,some a forks and some Cutters.Then we carved the swells and cantle bindings.It works pretty well. Steve

Greg I fit every thing from cutters to low moose without the rig in or fork cover on .Also I don't cut the gullet hole out until the seat has been stamped.It is just my way, yrs. agoi I did just as you dobut found that this works better for me. Everyone has there own way of doing things.What works for one person might not work for another.That's what makes this site so good. Thanks Steve

Bruce,Got a saddle to repair from Smokey Pritchart today that changed my mind about half leathers.The top of one fender is torn into.the other is roke just above the finder.They tell me the saddle is 6 yrs. old.It is a good repair for me ,but should last longer than that.The rest of the saddle is in good shape. Steve

How do You fit seats?I fit the seat before I set my riggings.That lets you cut your seat without cutting into the fork cover or riggings