cowboygear

Whether the DVD is worth the money?.....dvd costs 120.00 ...completed 60 reata sells for at least 250.00 even if it turns out to be just a wallhanger....if the reata turns out nice is sure nuff usable and you add a super nice honda then you can get a heck of alot more. Randy Reiman is a top braider and Mr Dorrance is a legend so I would vote that the DVD would be money well spent. Plus you can always resell the DVD once you have mastered the art. Heck Ill give you ten bucks for it once you are done.

Okay thanks for the list folks, The tools I am still wondering about are the tools for rubbing in the seat? I dont know what saddlemakers call them? I have seen saddlemakers use old glass doorknobs as somebody mentioned but I have also seen them made of heavy polished metal also very smooth curved wooden sticks about 15" long. Which type is best and do you need just one of these or more than one type? Seems like a pretty important tool so I want to make sure I get the right tools for the job in this area. I want my work to turn as clean as possible.

Wondering if someone can provide a list of the basic saddlery tools needed for saddlemaking? I am not asking for a raw materials list. Just basic saddlery hand tools that you beleive a beginner will have to have on their bench in order to properly build lets say a plain ruffout or smoothout saddle. If someone could also reccomend a good saddlery tool supply source it will be greatly appreciated.

SUPERB! When do classes start?? Sign me up!

This saddle needs a little refurbing reline and strings. Funny thing is one of the EZ dee rings was replced with an old welded horseshoe but the original rigging leather is still there and undamaged. I will try to post some before and after photos of the saddle.

I have a great old 15" Denver Dry Goods cowboy turtles association contest saddle with horn. It is marked with the turtles association logo as well as the "Denver Dry Goods" stamp (all original). Does anyone know whether or not Denver Dry Goods actually had a working shop where they made theyre own leather goods or were these items made by other companies and just marketed by Denver Dry Goods under the Denver Dry Goods name? The reason I ask is that this saddle looks exactly like a Hamley association saddle and is definately a higher quality made saddle. I have not had this saddle apart for restoration and I was just wondering if Hamley & Co might have produced saddles for Denver Dry Goods to sell under the Denver name. Interested in any info anyone can provide about either company concerning contest association saddles. I know that Hamley is attributed with producing the first contest association saddles.

I appreciate all the suggestions. I sorta need contact info like phone numbers ect. I have not been able to get in touch with anyone by name and location alone though I have tried. I am also going to need a few saddle maker hand tools if someone can suggest a good supplier. Thanks a bunch guys.

Thanks for the advice. I understand that the handmade trees are well worth the difference in price. but what about the availability factor? Where can I get one two or three trees ,what is the cost, and how long will it take from order to delivery? It has been several years since I have been around saddle shops or makers and back then handmade trees were virtually impossible to get if you were not a full time maker with an order backlog.

My question is this....Who is credited with making and marketing the first WADE saddles and when? I dont mean slick forks. I mean WADE saddles with a big wood post horns? I have read that Hamley was the first and the Wade saddle was actually named after the fellow who ordered and used it? Obviously the wood post horn originated with mexicans saddles? True wades have really not been around in the United States all that long as I have never seen an american made saddle from the 1800s or even early 1900s with a wood post horn. Please correct me if I am wrong.

It is apparent that custom hand made saddle trees are to be used by PROFFESIONAL or MASTER saddlemakers. What about a first time maker who has put his time in sweeping saddle shop floors and learned all he could about working with leather and saddle repair from those who knew what they were talking about? I am not talking about someone who has absolutely no clue and needs to get schooling first or the rich guy who buys all the top of the line tools, trees, leather, machinery ect. before even considering building a saddle. I mean the person who is going to turn out a pretty decent and marketable hand made saddle first rattle out of the box but still it is obvious that a first timer or someone just starting out does not need to be using handmade trees unless he is very very talented or he is a second or third generation saddlemaker with someone watching over him as he works. Lets face it handmade trees are extremely difficult for a beginner to get and someone like I described needs to be spending their time actually building saddles and working on getting better at building saddles not sitting at the house waiting for a handmade tree to be delivered so they can mess it up or be too nervous to even use it when it finally does arrive. Therefore my very simple question is WHICH FACTORY MADE TREE IS BEST? By best I mean - QUALITY, FIT, AVAILABILITY & reliability ect. Also keeping in mind that some customers may actually prefer a less expensive saddle and not need or be willing to wait for or pay the extra for a saddle with a handmade tree so what is a maker who needs the business and needs to sell a saddle to do in this case?