Romey

Id like to add a side note, I work alot of horses, Iv come to specialize in obviously ranch horses but alot of remedial horses often times i have been the last stop from the buckin horse sale or them sent off to become french beef. Several time I have found poorly fitting saddle to be the cause of mental if not physical trauma to our equine friends and was the root cause of certain problimatic horses. Compound that on owner caused issues ,as remedial horses are much like a onion, lots of layers of problems. Horses have one main behavior, being a horse, we, put the other behaviors into them, the good and the bad. So I stress KNOW HOW TO FIT A SADDLE. I have seen it enough actually its first thing I look at when a problimatic horse is brought to me, just to get that out of the way. Im interested in seeing the various opinions here with the saddle makers we have here. Good topic Bruce

Very nice work

WHOOO HOOO Daddy likes. Your giving me G.A.S> (gear acquisition syndrom)

Great job Bruce!

Got this one done finally and about 10 more on the bench,sigh.. At anyrate I tried making a skinner that could work well for a bird knife as well and the false edge sure makes for intricate cutting. Forged Steel Handsanded blade with false edge Nickle silver guard and pin Afziela burl Sorry for bad pics but its busy time of year and not alot of time to set of my photo gear. Sheath to follow... I need about 6 more hours in the day. Lemme know what you think

From what i have been told Cali tap water is a hazardous chemical

I likes

I think thats awesome and deserving of a good wage!

Brandon , I had same trouble posting the pic, i just clicked the mouse oat bottom of my posy and it added it there.

Thanks Bruce, yes thats the style I am talking aboutand the issues you describe is exactly the trouble I was having. Alining the curve, matching the previous stamp ect was so screwed up I began to wonder if i was doing somthing wrong as I was assuming it was applied like a standard basket stamp. I wasnt sure if a fella was supposed to match the edges or slightly run into each other, either was looked like whats on my boots. Ill probably play with it somemore and maybe grid some leather and see if that helps. Holly this would be the stamp I beleive altho i think mine is even more arched, perhaps not. I called it a bow tie for lack of better term, now I have a MUCH better and more suited name for it but we arent in the adult section so ill keep it to my self.

I got some of those bowtie basket stamps, should they be patterned like a standard rectangled stamp? I tried sampling peices and anyway i went looked goofy so im trying to figure out if its my skills or how im laying it out

That’s exactly the way it should be and the problem people have with edges, thinking that changing the geometry with honing stones is sharpening when in fact a stropping is all that’s needed. A quick way to ruin an edge is an inexperienced person going at an edge with stones, grinder or what not and changing the geometry. Good on you Mike Bruce knows what he is talking about; you want to maintain that geometry at all costs. For that very reason for instance on a flat ground edge I actually use real stiff leather grain side up. One strop board I have has sole leather on it and another has leather impregnated with zip ca, which stabilized the leather and makes it extremely hard. Other edges like a convex I will use flesh side up for the flex. Sharpening is a pretty vast subject and there is no one way to do it, there are common rules to follow to do it correctly. I am all the time trying different things.

I use several 2x2 boards with leather epoxied to each so that i can vise it up. The leather I use is dependant on the edge geometry. A convex grind requires less a hard surface then say a flat ground edge. At any rate a small amount of oil with your polishing compound will help. I go clear down to charging paper on a hard marble surface at times. At any rate ill touch on it within the article.

Used best if live badger is removed.

Real cool Holly

Stephanie, here is a link shows how and where to measure Measurements As one makes a few sets i have no doubt youll figure out the best fit. Few (none) working cowhands that I know buy store bought chaps or much else for that matter,weekend warriors not included. From hat to saddle to boots custom is the way to go for serious rigors of cowboyin and a real good maker of chaps and chinks that understands where buckles should be or how a set should fit to prevent crippling a fella from wearing a hole in your leg is invaluable.

I have had several pairs of chaps and a couple sets of chinks custom made and if I remeber I was always measured around the waist, upper thigh, lower thigh and hip to boot or ground depending on the style like if it was Rough stock chaps, riding chaps ect Anyway somewhere in there like that.

My pleasure Bill

No doubt he will love em

Excellent question cant wait to hear some replies

I wanted to add something, I sort of dismissed the chisel grind as unimportant to the article due to it being geared towards leather tools, I completely forgot about a really important tool with a chisel grind, most Skivers are a chisel ground blade unless of course one uses a head knife or something. And even the throw away blades can be worked up more to get a little extra life out of them. Should I touch on that in the article as well? If anyone has specific questions just ask.

But, But, But there aint no Prairie in Illinios

Now thats a tip!

Your very welcome, if anyone has comments or questions feel free to speak up

I can’t tell in pictures what secondary edge your knife is, would need a straight on macro shot to tell via picture. Id like to add something, knives are meant to be used. And Skip is a perfect example due to fact that he worries about the edge that each style has an intended use. For everyday office type guy who just likes to do simple stuff like open letters or what not a gentleman’s folder like that is fine AND if used for what its intended for no harm would come of it ever. Would I quarter an elk with it, no likely not unless I had to but for less hard use it’s a fine knife to carry. Point is this, don’t use a blade as a screw driver or a jack handle and expect it to still work like a blade. Proper tool for proper Job. With some TLC and you can USE that knife everyday for 2 or 3 generations or more and it will still do the job its intended for. One thing I want to clear up is the articles are about the SECONDARY bevel (edge). The primary bevel is the sides of knife which again can also be Flat, Convex, or Hollow ground. For instance if indeed skips blade is hollow ground on the edge, it looks like a flat grind on the primary as it looks to me like it is, so it would be known as a flat grind with hollow ground edge. Important to understand when using and especially sharpening.