Mike Craw

I'm glad I read all the way down to the last post, Johann! I had exactly the same question after reading the first couple of posts and I would have asked the same question. I don't have any trouble gettin it ON the board, but all the stretch I avoided by using the board seems to happen getting it OFF the board. Mike

Manuel, PM sent re the .45 cases. Mike

Hey Manuel! How soon do you need the fired shell casings? Do they have to be Winchester? You only need 20? Mike

Hey Rusty! That's great news! I'm pretty sure it was the "smell" that got me hooked on leatherwork 100 years ago... Mike

Hey Guys! I know the transition is ongoing, and this may be something you are already aware of, but some of the individual postings have pages of blank spaces between them. The Civitello and Sons post in the Gallery is the one I was reading when I noticed it. Other than that, this new set up looks nice! Mike

Thanks guys! Mike

After removing the leather from the backing (whichever method you use) does the piece have to be lined because of discoloration from the rubber cement or tape? Mike

If they send you the August 2009 issue, be sure to read the profile on Shelly in the "Women in Saddlemaking" article. It's a really nice interview with some photos of her saddles. Mike

Hey Guys, There is a really nice profile about Shelly in the current issue of Shop Talk! Magazine in the article on Women Saddle Makers. Congratulations Shelly! Mike

Dustin, Johanna just posted a reply from Bob Beard under "Sharpening a Barry King Swivel Knife" in which he expands on the information he gave me over the phone about using Fabulustre on a strop. It is under this same catagory, Leather Tools. Mike

And he's not being "grumpy" either, they really are tiny...at least to my old eyes. Mike

Hey Dustin! I had a long conversation with Bob Beard about stropping, and one thing he mentioned was that many high quality blades like his (and I'd guess Henley's and Barry King's) are so hard that jewelers rouge really doesn't have any effect on them. He recommended some stuff called Fabulustre from Grobet, which I got online. He puts it on a piece of cardstock. He also recommended a long (18" or so) strop. He said that every time you go back to take another pass, you change the angle just a little bit. A longer strop lets you make fewer passes, and therefore, fewer angle changes. Hope this helps. Mike

Hey Dustin! I agree with TwinOaks. I've never seen a new swivel knife blade from Barry that needed to be sharpened. They do need to be stropped, before use and frequently during use to keep them as smooth as possible. Once you've stropped it correctly, you will really feel the difference. Mike

SilverSaddle1, As a general rule, you don't ever need to ask. Just go ahead and post the photo and I'll guarantee someone WILL be interested!! Mike

I stumbled across this web address that showed the Henley knives. Kate is right, they don't have their own site as far as I can find... http://gemosphere.tripod.com/GEMOSPHERE/Swivel_Knivesx.html Hope this helps. Mike I just clicked on that and it actually worked! Show of hands from everybody who is as amazed as I am...

Hey HorsehairBraider! Thanks for the hugs (US Marines 1969 -71)! We went to "Taps at Twilight" on Memorial Day here on St. Simons Island. As the ceremony was ending and I was packing up our chairs, a young man walked up to me and said, "Thank you for your service." I know that's a customary thing to say to our service men and women today, but it certainly wasn't in the late 60's and early 70's. It was the first time that anybody had actually said it to me, and I was so stunned I could barely respond. Strange feeling. Thanks also for your response to my question. Many of the photos of the old saddles I have seen look like the corona was attached to the saddle pad, but others appear to be attached to the skirts themselves. Maybe SilverSaddles1 might have some close-up shots he'd be willing to post. Thanks again for the response(s). Mike Edit: For spelling. It's amazing how everything looks good until you hit "Submit" and it appears in bigger type and all the spelling errors jump off the screen!

Thanks Tim! I sure didn't mean to slight Chan. He's a great guy and a terriffic instructor. He was across the hall from Pete's class in North Carolina, and his group had a ball. I think he's scheduled to teach again next March. Kevin from Hides to Art will be posting announcements for that get-together, and it's well worth the trip! Mike

Hey heath! Pete Gorrell has a book called "Floral Pattern Drawing for the Artistically Impaired" that's really good. I took a class from Pete in March in Asheville, NC, and he really made it all seem easier than it ever has before. "Sheridan Style Carving with Bill Gardner and Clinton Fay" by Bob Likewise really sets forth all the basics for Sheridan style. Either book is generally available and should start you in the right direction. Hope this helps. Mike

In the "Saddle Identification" section under the "Ted Flowers Saddle" posting, SilverSaddle1 posted a photo of a room full of silver mounted saddles. I was struck by the number of them that have the alternating colored "coronas" I believe they are called, around the edges of the skirts. Seems like all my western heros had saddles with them on (I thought they were all black and white...everything else was...insert age joke here). Of all the saddles we have gotten in for repair, and all that I have seen in catalogs or on websites, none have the skirt edging like you see in the books on saddle history. Does anyone know how they are made, or if they are available commercially? Thanks, Mike P.S. Happy 4th of July weekend, especially to my fellow vets!

Hey David! Your opinion is that it's a "pretty classy looking seat." TomSwede and Tina both like it, and I think it looks fantastic. The question is...what did your customer think of it??? Mike

OK, PayPal payment sent! I'll wait by the mailbox Mike

bakerk, I sent you a PM about the videos. Mike

Hey rccolt45! It sounds like you're doing the process that many of us follow (with some personal variations) and if you are happy with the results, keep doing it. You might want to consider the possibility that the effect you're seeing in some of the posts is a result of the flash photography and not some finishing trick. I suspect that if you had a chance to look at some of these items in person, they would look very much like yours. Hope this helps. Mike

Hey Sarmaticus! You might also see the term, skive to a "feather's edge" which means the same as skive to "nothing." Other than that, I can't help with the Polish. I can barely handle English! Mike Edited because I can't type either!

Hey Monica! I'd call Steve. I've never come with a question that he couldn't answer! Mike