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rcsaddles

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Posts posted by rcsaddles

  2. Posted · Report reply

    I have not found out anything about the Helena Tree yet. I talked to the guy last week and he did not mention anything about it. I will be finishing some work for him, hopefully tomorrow so I will have a reason to get together with him. I want to take my wife's camera and get a few pictures of this saddle and get them posted.

    I appreciate your keepin gup on this and I would like the picture you offered to scan.

    Thanks,

    Joe

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Another former law enforcement officer. Four years as a bicycle cop in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Did a few years there as a Code Enforcement Officer also. Moved to Bozeman, MT and went to work for the Police Department doing parking enforecement. I had all teh abandoned vehicles towed and sold.

    I now live in Lewistown, MT and get this, I am the Driver's License Examiner. I love the job almost as much as Leatherwork.

    Raised in Nebraska on a ranch so I guess I have been around leather all my life, (in a way). Seven months on an Ag Exchange in Australia and learned to braid there. In Oregon, I met Mary Fields and learned rawhide from her. She is in the Bruce Grant books.

    Here my shop is in the garage. I have two sewing machines, a couple of splitters, many stamping and hand tools. Everything I need but the time. I got a great deal on equipment a few years back and also was able to get a leave of absence from the City of Bozeman to go to Saddle Building School. God blessed me in that so I chose the name Rugged Cross Saddlery.

    I have "met" many wonderful people on Leatherworker.net so Thank you Johanna. It's great that most everyone is willing to help each other.

    Joe

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Look on page 447 of the Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding bu Bruce Greant. Figures 8 through 13 should be the braid you are looking at. I use this to put my saddle skirts together behind the cantle. If done right, you can braid both top and bottom. Takes a little more time but says more about the work you do.

    Joe

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Welcome aboard. I would be interested in talking with you about your pack saddles. I have a good friend that packs in to the "Bob" and the Scapegoat regularly. I have made him three mule saddles over the past five years. He, like you keeps things fairly traditional but likes to try new things to save weight in the mountains. I think I will try to get you and him hooked up.

    If you would, send me a pm with your contact information so I can call you. I live in Lewistown, MT. If you are in central Montana, we should not be too far apart. I have another friend in the area that wants me to work on a pack saddle so I might just pass that work on to you who would know more than I would on that.

    I am in Oregon at the moment looking at heading back on Tuesday but not being home until Thursday night.

    Have a great new year and I will look forward to chating with you in the future.

    Joe

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Randy,

    The only sadle shop in Lewistown now and then, is Roger Hollowell at Big Dry Saddlery. He and I send work back and forth to each other. He doesn't do any tarp or canvas and I send him stuff I don't have time to do because of a "paying" job that gets in the way of leatherwork.

    There are many saddle makers in Montana. I have a friend that is always looking for the "perfect saddle" so he picks up brochures and such from makers and brings them to me asking about each. We sit down and talk about the pros and cons of the saddles they show and they way they make them. He challenges me with ideas and really makes me think. This guy has the first saddle I made and loves it. He rides mules and hunts places like the Scape Goat Wilderness and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. These places will test your stamina and well as your animals and equipment. I'm looking forward to my next trip into the "Bob".

    Joe

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I had a guy come to me asking me if I can reproduce a saddle that is about 80 years old. He says it has a Helena tree and was built in Fort Benton, MT. I forget the maker. So, anyone ever heard of a Helena tree? I have not seen the saddle yet and will not have time to get together with the guy until well after Christmas but thought I would get the ball rolling.

    I know I will get a few comments and appreciate everyone's input. I also know there are some tree makers that lurk around here also. I will be contacting all I can about making this tree in the future.

    Thanks for any info and when I can, I will get a couple pictures and post them for all to see.

    Joe

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Roger Hollowell who owns Big Dry Saddlery and Rod Bailey. Bailey works out of his shop at home and Roger has a shop at Main and 1st.

    I was living in Bozeman when I took Dale's class. Only 15 miles away so I was able to drive to class. Helped out since the boys were 6 and 2.

    Jake, where do you live in Nebraska? I was raised at Mason City. My folks still ranch there. Been about a year since I have been there and probably won't make it for another year.

    Justin, we might have to try to get together sometime. I go to Roundup three times a month for work and end up in Billings sometimes for a week at a time. PM me and maybe we can set up a meeting.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Hi all.

    I have been using this forum for almost a year now and figure it is time to introduce myself. Sorry, no pictures today but when I figure out how to get them posted, I will.

    I attended saddle building school in Belgrade, MT, the Montana Horseman Saddle Building School. Since then I have made seven saddles, five of which were mule saddles. I have a full time job that gets in the way of the leatherwork but in this area, we have two saddle builders and they are not very busy.

    I was blessed with the way everything worked out to go to school, found all the equipment I needed and have done well with the work I get. I named my business Rugged Cross Saddlery because of the way God blessed me.

    I actually started braiding when I was in Australia in 1988. In 1993 I met Mary Fields, from the Bruce Grant books, while living in Oregon and she taught me to make and braid rawhide. I think I actually prefer braiding but very much enjoy all aspects of leatherwork. Last January I was able to take a week and travel to Kansas to have Bill Gomer teach me about leather carving. I have been doing a little carving mut not like I want to.

    My family consists of my wife of 18 years, and two boys, 10 and 6. We live in Lewistown, Montana having moved here about three years ago. Not positive if this is our final destination or if the Lord is going to move us again. We built a house a couple of years ago and have about seven acres. No animals at this time but hopefully one day.

    I believe I have rambled on enough and will work on figuring out how to post the pictures.

    God Bless,

    Joe Boyles

    Rugged Cross Saddlery

  14. Posted · Report reply

    I know I have not posted much here. I will do an into when I get this done.

    I had a guy come to me asking me if I can reproduce a saddle that is about 80 years old. He says it has a Helena tree and was built in Fort Benton, MT. I forget the maker. So, anyone ever heard of a Helena tree? I have not seen the saddle yet and will not have time to get together with the guy until well after Christmas but thought I would get the ball rolling.

    I know I will get a few comments and appreciate everyone's input. I also know there are some tree makers that lurk around here also. I will be contacting all I can about making this tree in the future.

    Thanks for a ny info and when I can, I will get a couple pictures and post them for all to see.

    Joe

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Hey Tom,

    Looks great. Call it a birth mark, beauty mark whatever you can and maybe you will start a new trend. By the picture it does not show up much. I am amazed at the way you contimue to push yourself to learn new techniques and other aspects of the leatherworking trade. The braiding seems to have come along nicely and now this. What do you do in your spare time?

    Hope you have a great Christmas

    Joe

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Looking good Tom,

    You just gotta love the Bruce Grant books. I have it and that is how I met Mary Fields. I used to live about 20 miles from her in Oregon. As far as I know, she still lives by herself at about 86, no electricity, no running water, used to dig the pit for the outhouse by hand, and uses a wood cook stove. What a great lady. She taught me all I know about rawhide.

    You have done an excellent job if you are learning from the book. I usually need someone to show me a couple of times before I can follow the instructions. Keep up the good work.

    Oh, by the way, when I met Mary in 1993, she had braided 90 riatas and told me she could teach me all the mistakes about rawhide.

    Joe

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I would recommend Ron Edwards' books Advanced Leatherwork volume 1 and 2. Publisher iis The Rams Skull Press in Australia. I believe you can google it and order on line. I think I paid around $126.00 for the two books and worth every penny. They cover Round Knots and Braids in Volume 2 and Flat Plaits in Volume 1.

    Joe

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I am wondering if anyone here braids bull ropes. I have never made one and would like all the info I can find about making them. I know a few guys here that ride so I am hoping to maybe break into the market for them and supply ropes for their adventures.

    If anyone has any information such as a pattern, lenght, even a supplier for the material to braid them out of I would really appreciate knowing.

    Thanks all,

    Joe

  19. Posted · Report reply

    I have an old Osborne #89 that looks a lot like your 133. I was told by someone at Osborne that it is a "pinch dog" that was used to stamp on harness. I believe he said on the traces but don't quote me on that. He said it was not in their 1898 catalogue so he was not able to give me an idea when it was made.

    Sorry I could not help more. I e-mailed them and sent pictures so you may be able to do the same and get the info you are looking for.

    Joe

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Bree is right. No one knows what you can do like you do and no one will promote what you do. I always had a problem with "blowing my own horn" in an interview until someone on an interview panel told me I would have had the job if I would have said more about the work I had done. She knew me from the current job and was on the interview board. Said she could not ask "leading" questions. Ended up I am in a better position because I did not get the job.

    Anyway, promote yourself. Pat yourself on the back in an interview. Have fun telling people what you have done. Dress up a little and relax for an interview. I've spent a lot of time on both sides of the table. With over 10 years in law enforcement, it seems like I was there at least once a year or more.

    Wish yo uthe best in the future and keep up the beautiful work.

    Joe

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks Bree,

    :You_Rock_Emoticon: I am going to have to print out somne of this to keep in my handy dandy notebook on my bench. I try to have things readily available while I am working. I especially like the time sheet to help with pricing your work. I tink I will incorporate that into my pricing. You know, that is where most of us fall short.

    Once again, thanks.

    Joe

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