Mike Craw

Where do you get your neoprene, local suppliers or online? Mike

Cats in the shop is another good reason not to walk around barefoot!!! Mike

That's why I just called Steve and ordered a Cobra 4, rather than sneaking up on it... Mike

David, I don't mean any offense, but I'll explain the American expression in case you have not heard it before. Pancakes are a liquid batter poured on a hot metal griddle that rise a little as they cook, but not very much. They are actually round and flat, and there is an expression we use that something is "flat as a pancake." A pancake holster is two flat pieces of leather stitched around the contour of a pistol and around the edges that is flat as a pancake until we dampen the holster and insert the gun to mold it to the shape. It's still pretty flat, which makes the shape of the gun almost disappear under a jacket or shirt, so it is a very popular style of holster for concealed carry. Hope this helps, Mike

I've had Blevins corrode away, but I've never seen pins just pull out. I would not be surprised if they were knock-offs.

Hey mcn! Most of us use training guns or "dummy" guns, usually just because it easier on the real firearm than using it to wet mold a holster, but occasionally because we don't have the particular gun that someone wants a holster for and training guns are a LOT cheaper! Go online to ASP Training equipment or Rings Blue guns. That's where I would start looking for a specific gun I needed. Hope this helps, Mike

Hey rmr! The current (Mar/Apr)issue of Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal has an article by Pete Gorrell on how he sets a flat plate rigging. That might help to answer some of your questions. Mike

Hey Oldtimer and Mendedbowl! I really appreciate your efforts, and I think that you have zeroed in on the area of the world where this thing originated. I have some more sites to look at, but the saddle itself looks Russian and the stirrups look Moroccan. This is fun! Thanks again for the help!! Mike

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to look and give me some feedback. I have no clue... Mike

45 of you looked at it, and you don't know either? How about it saddle historians? Mike

A lady came into the shop this afternoon with this saddle for Carlos to look at. She wanted some information about its origins and possible value. The stirrups, apparently iron, looked Persian to me and the general style looks similar to the basic tree arrangement on the Circassian Saddle that Dick Sherer wrote about in the Sept/Oct issue of LC&SJ. Any input would be appreciated. Mike

Hey Ricky! Lonnie Height runs Hackbarth tools out in Arizona. If he doesn't make this tool he may be able to make you a blade or direct you to somebody who can. He's made me everthing I've asked and he's a great guy to talk to. Tell him I said to give him a shout. Mike

Thanks Art. Now I have a frame of reference for the word "expensive" that I have seen used. Mike

I have found several mentions of the Luberto Classic, both hand-crank and powered on this site with several references to "expensive" but I haven't found any ads online or in print that actually mention the price. Does anyone know the current list prices for the hand-crank and powered Classics? Thanks, Mike

Art, Yes you did, but I'm worried that Cobra Steve might use it as an advertising slogan... Mike

Hey Randy! OK, we're one for two. Yes, the mosquitos still have registration numbers on their sides, but either a great enforcement job by Georgia EPA (which I doubt) or a change in formulation and products at the nitrocellulos plant have pretty much done away with most of the smell. I got here to FLETC in 1977 and the smell waiting outside the chow hall (I'm sorry, Dining Facility) was a great weight loss motivator. Welcome also to TimberWolf and TigerPal. Too bad Ed the Bear Man doesn't live in GA!! Mike

Hey Ken, I'm on St. Simons Island, and my buddy ArtS is up a little north of Macon. That's three of us for sure... Mike

I do the same thing Mike does, but I would add a note of caution to the "trim as close as possible" part of it. Once I have my stitches looped and pulled tight in the hole, and the final thread from the front side pulled through the next hole to the back, I take a SHARP pointed X-Acto knife and I put the point down into the hole resting on the stitch with the sharp edge against the thread that's coming out of the hole. I then HOLD THE KNIFE STILL and pull on the thread, working it back and forth against the knife edge until it cuts, That way you will not cut a stitch and have to re-do the whole thing... Anybody want to guess how I know that? Mike

Hey Rob! My buddy, Carlos Lopez, attended that school years ago when he lost his job at the mill in St. Marys, GA. He really liked it, and he and Mr. & Mrs. Moore still keep in touch. We saw them in Sheridan when we went to Saddle Week in '06. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a phone call, but I'll check with him and send you a PM with his number. Mike

Kevin, What book was the page from? Mike

Thank you Kevin! I don't think I ever saw an M L Leddy saddle im person before, and I wouldn't have known I saw one now if not for you. I'll give Carlos a call and let him know. Mike

Hey Guys! Just as a curiosity, Carlos got a saddle into the shop for repairs with a construction neither of us had ever seen before. Rather than having the bars thinned for stirrup leathers to go around, the bars have been relieved behind the swells, and a threaded fixture inletted. The top of the fenders have a hole about 1" in diameter at the top and are affixed with a ball bearing collar. The only length adjustment possible is pulling them up from the bottom where they pass through the stirrup. The saddle is fancy stitched padded, with no carving, and so far as we can determine, no maker's mark. It's a first for us. Mike

Hey Norwegian! proleptic.com has two, "To Make a Saddle" and "Repairing English Saddles." Neither of them are particluarly expensive, but neither are of the quality of books available on Western saddles. They are the only two I know of. Hope this helps. Mike