bruce johnson

Nate, It is the neck end and natural thickness on most of them. These sides are unsplit/unleveled then selected or picked through for long sides with heavier necks. You can also skive a short piece 10-12" long and skive one edge then sew it on for a popper to add weight.

Barry King makes them

Another option is to get duckbill pliers for thinner seams and glass pliers for thicker seams. They can be found fairly wide, but not as wide as those webbing pliers.

My bottom covers are sewn together at the back of the neck. The wings are long enough they are hitting the back of the fork (wood). I tacked them.

When I was doing repairs I drilled and tapped holes, then put flat head machine screws through the filler. I ground them off flush on the bottom of the horn. An old repair guy had me paint two coats of Rustoleum primer on the steel horns to keep the rust and markings on the leather down some. Talked to a guy at Sheridan who paints them with truck body coating in a can first.

Too bad they won't see use but look at the bright side - this proves there are still more of these good old tools out there waiting to be found!

I have added eight leather splitters for sale to my website this evening. There are 2 sizes of Osborne #86's - a seven inch blade and nice inch blade. I also added 6 Chase pattern splitters in sizes from 8 inch up to 12 inch. The 12 inch is one I have used for about 5 years. I have stopped making saddles and don't need a big one for leveling anymore, and my 10 inch does all I need for now. Here is a link to my website for the landing page of the tools - http://brucejohnsonleather.com/content/index.php/leather_tools_for_sale/ . Thank you, Bruce

Mostly used to crimp or pleat fabric or paper. There are a ton of variations in these fluters/crimpers/pleaters and a whole set of collectors for them.

Interesting stamp, I got a similar one from Bob Beard. As far as duplicating it exactly, a few makers could do it.

I have a few Chases apart and will have pictures tomorrow. Batteries died in the camera half way through a shoot tonight. One spare in the drawer, stole one from the wireless mouse, and paired them with two of the dead ones. You'd think that'd work. It did for one more picture.

Thanks for letting me know - the link should be fixed now. Yeah, I believe several leather tools could fall into the category of self-defense aids. Always thought a draw gauge might handy in close combat too.

Twice in a week for fresh tools may be a personal best, but nursing a bad tooth/teeth has kept me from working in the shop much. It has allowed me to catch up on tools we have had ready to go for while – just hadn’t got to them yet for pictures and descriptions. Today there is another big run of 150 or more tools scattered throughout the site. Slickers – Best glass slicker I have ever held – CS Osborne Newark marked with beautiful wood. Also two Dixon edge irons – the ones you heat and run down a lightly waxed edge to give that finally pizazz of Old World craftsmanship. The European masters on Facebook leather groups talk them up highly. Hammers – A couple of the best saddler’s hammers I have had a hand on – CS Osborne and Blanchard, along with a really nice Marples tack hammer. Pliers – A few more here, including a cute tack pulling pliers with channels in the jaws to grab the heads without deforming them much like what you may be using now – recycle those tacks and reuse them. Channelers and Stitch Groovers got filled out a bit more Creasers – Double lines, single lines, and large round/layer creasers too. Highlight here is a Gomph #6 large round creaser with a super handle. Showpiece quality. Miscellaneous – One the “Rein Rounder, Miscellaneous “ page there are some really cool and eclectic additions! A huge scalloping wheel carriage that is CS Osborne Newark marked, dividers, old set of spot setters, collar palms, and conversation pieces/weaponry/Using tools such as collar/drawing awls, washer cutters and a straining fork. Here is the link for the landing page for tools - Leather Tools For Sale

It has been a little while since I added tools to my website, but I have some nice ones today! I have added a couple nice gouges, several Frenche edgers, and some round bottom French edgers. There are three beautiful Blanchard pricking wheel carriages with good wheels along with several overstitchers in good using sizes. The other section that got filled out was edge bevelers. There are a couple of Ron’s edge bevelers, several nice “fine” edgers, some bisonettes, and lot of Gomph round bottom edgers in using sizes as well as hard to find half-sizes. Here is the link for the landing page of the tools - Leather Tools For Sale . Thanks! - Bruce

not consistantly of any width. I can do straps of pretty firm latigo up to 3-1/2" easily enough. I haven't tried wider. Even some straps of other chrome tans do OK. Chap leather and softer chrome tans of any width over 1-1/2" - too much stretch and even with a dead-on sharp blade on a Chase or Krebs they just don't a decent enough job consistantly for me. I have been pursueing this for a couple months and nobody has given me much optimism. I'd sure like to hear the setup from anyobdy who is having good luck pulling larger widths through.

Fred, The bottom roller is adjustable for height. There are two screws on the frame about half way in on either side. Adjusting machine screws in them will drop or raise the roller. I usually set mine between a full 1/16" to scant 1/8" of space between the blade and the bottom roller. The thought is you just want enough pressure between the rollers to make sure the leather feeds squarely into the blade edge. If you are doing thinner leather and taking off a little then you'd want the bottom roller higher. Conversely if you are splitting skirting down to 4 oz in one pass you need some room so drop that roller.

Looking good there Bret. Color is staying good on mine!

I don't know for usre if the foot press dies would fit the Heritage hand press. Maybe check with Weaver's and see if they'd work dorectly or if there's an adapter.

Do you mean to put them into the driver for a foot press? If so, I haven't found anything better.

At least one stamp maker is using CNC already, and there are still some grerat stamps being turned out one at time on a mill by others.

It looks like one that Tandy sold several years ago - I have had a couple and they are nice knives with a good heavy feel and comfortable yoke.

I use a few knives. I do use a roller knife to straighten an edge next to a 6" measuring stick. I use a point knife a friend made for some inside corner cuts or tight trimming. The other 98% cuts are done with a round knife or head knife.

Good sharp blade and leather with some body I can usually get about 1-2" less than the blade width without a lot of trouble. On some I am doing the one side and then the other to get through. Depeneds on my leather some and what flavor of splitter I am using too.

Edge of the valley here in Oakdale.

Thanks Frank, very well done and clear!

Both were well worth viewing for me.