jwwright

Russ and others............I don't feel like I am owed anything by Artisan in a monetary or material sense. If you will look at my original post, that was never stated or implied. If these big discounts are being offered because of the economy, slow sales and / or the company is in trouble and needs to raise cash........I understand that. This was not the reasoning given for the discount sale offering in the press release. It makes no difference, at any rate. Everyone is entitled to run their business as they see fit. My wife and I have run several businesses of our own for many years. I think we have a pretty good understanding of how to treat customers and develop repeat business. No sense beating a dead horse. I wish the Artisan company well. JW

Just for clarification..........I too, am very pleased with my Artisan machine. It has seen regular and heavy usage,and has performed well. I have other saddle maker friends that have had theirs for much longer than I have mine, and they are pleased also. Any dissatisfaction with the machine was not the point of my original post. JW

rdb.........If I remember right, I paid $2450 for mine. The new price cut would be comparable % wise to me cutting the price on my typical custom ordered saddle by $1000. With the economic situation in the world today, there might be a whole lot of price slashing coming up.........a strong deflationary period. This press release from Artisan does not indicate economic depression reasons for their price cut. Rather, it basically says we have a better product to introduce, and we need to move the old out. JW

Well Artisan folks..............I guess my 3000 machine that I paid your full price for less than a year ago has now substantially gone down in value, eh? I wonder how one of my customers would feel if they ordered a saddle from me, then found out 9 months later than someone else purchased an identical saddle from me for $1000 less money?........they probably wouldn't feel very good about their deal with me. I have used my machine a bunch, and I am pleased with it. Respectfully, JW Wright

Justin, your website looks real nice. Those wives are pretty handy, ain't they? JW

Thanks for the generous comments folks. jbird............Bruce answered the rough out question well. It is a personal preference thing. ArtS..........I use just neatsfoot oil on the rough out. A little Tan Coat on the smooth out. Bruce, Thank You for the compliment but I sure don't think I've ever mastered anything yet........cept maybe drinking coffee and dipping snuff. Pretty good at those things. Never have run a tri weave stamp. Actually, I need to be working on my carving. That is a long way from being decent for me. JW

Here are a few photos of a Wade I finished up this past weekend. Jon Watsabaugh tree, Herman Oak leather, Watt Horseshoe Brand hardware. I have been building primarily swell forks. This is the 3rd Wade I have built. Thank You, JW

It's a good 'urn Justin..........good job. JW

Thank You Jed. JW

I have been using some Oster clippers also...........although, as Ryan pointed out correctly.............I need to do a better job with it. JW

Thank You Chris. I had seen that stamp pattern on a Watt saddle, and one by Snake Horse Saddler (Ashley) on this forum. Ashley set me in the right direction as to do that pattern. I have done it on a couple saddles, and people seem to like it real well. JW

Thank You Brent. That one weighed 38 pounds. JW

Justin Davies............I am sorry that I didn't respond to your comments earlier. Thank You for your comments, and I look forward to seeing more of your saddles as you have time to post them. Ben, I always appreciate the attention to details that you give. JW

Thank You Ben for your input and comments. I agree with you on the beveled strings and polished edges..........I take the time to rub edges every where, and bevel strings and latigos and such. I think it matters also. The seat inlay is symmetric........at least the pattern I made my cut from was exactly so! I think what you may be picking up on the cantle binding at the bottom is......the light stitch groove is just a tck longer than it needed be. Thanks again, JW

UK Ray.........Thank You for your generous comments. A rough out seat will provide more grip, even after it has been worn some what smooth it is "grippier" than a smooth out seat. Some people prefer this. Rough out on other parts of the saddle is a cosmetic choice. For a sure enough working saddle, the rough out tends to not show scrapes and blemishes as much. It is also a little bit of a cultural cowboy thing..........for using ranch saddles not be too "prettied" up. As with most things within the cowboy culture it varies from region to region. FJ..........Thank You as well for your kind comments. I have spent all of my adult life making a living from the back of a horse..........for which I have been truly priviledged. I try to make each saddle as if I was going to use it. JW

Ryan, Thank You for your thoughts and suggestions. All good points to be mindful of, and well taken. Matt, Thank You as well. If I had built this saddle for myself, I might have stamped the stirrup leathers as you suggest.....although I generally tend to ride a near full rough out myself. This saddle was about 1/2 done for an individual that changed their mind about some cosmetics on it, so I am building a similar saddle for him with the stamping he wants, and this one ended up being a spec saddle. It sold, so there was another person that liked the rough out leathers! JW

I finished this saddle about 3 weeks ago. It's another Buster Welch roper, which I have built quite a few of in a row it seems. I am finishing up a Wade this week. I have not done many inlaid seats up till now, but I starting to do more of them. As always, constructive critique is most welcome. Thank You, JW

Just my opinion, but.........there is just enough knowledge out amongst the general horse public regarding bar angles and such to be very confusing. And it is growing, the confusion. I just saw today an Ebay listing for a Chas Weldon saddle, and the listing states that the tree in the saddle is a Brannaman 91 tree and will fit ANY horse. For me what made / makes the most sense is to educate and acquaint myself with my tree maker's trees. I feel like the saddle maker needs to have some experience trying trees from their chosen tree maker, of various hand hole / gullet widths, bar shapes and angles...........on horses of various body types. If a person does this, and is knowledgeable about how their tree maker's trees will fit various back types, then they are capable much of the time of making good decisions in ordering a tree for a given customer. I think this would be difficult to do if a saddle maker was using trees from many different tree makers, or building on what ever trees that they come across. As has been stated many times here, every tree maker does things differently, and you can order the same tree, same specs from different high quality hand made tree makers........and will get a little different fit. JW

Panhandle Leather is a great place for heavy harness leather. Jim Blain Kenney is the owner / operator and a good guy. A side will cost in the neighborhood of $200............visit with Jim Blain, he may have some backs or other options where you don't have to purchase an entire side. You can reach Jim Blain at 806-373-0535. JW

I would agree with mt and Bruce. I have found for me what works is to let that top ground seat piece dry quite a bit before I glue and put it on final. I will skive and fit that piece, and then compress some leather into the cantle dish by rubbing a few big wrinkles out into the cantle. Then I leave it tacked and in place to dry some for a day or so. Then I glue into place final. I also use some short ring shank nails in the cantle and along the bottom bar edge to make sure that ground seat stays put even if the glue gives out. I learned that one the hard way, as I have most things. JW

I had the same deal happen with a couple different saddles I sold on Ebay last year. I reported them and both listings came down pretty quick. Brent I saw your saddle and was going to holler at you, but then I checked again and saw that Ebay had pulled it. JW

Andy, your student has obvious saddle talent, and you are by the same token a great teacher. Congrats to both of you. JW

I have actually built the swell fork / wood post horn combo with Buster Welch Roper style swells, Will James and a mod association. This one coming up would probably best be described as a Low Association. This one will be for myself, and Jon Watsabaugh is building the tree. Maybe I can remember to post a photo of the tree when Jon gets it ready. JW

Ha!..........that's pretty good, and true. Since I am about 2/3rds west Texan myself, I understand. I build swell forks primarily, but I am working on a wade currently. Getting ready to build a hybrid.......swell fork with a wood post horn. Again Brent, really nice work! JW

Real nice work as usual Brent.........especially for a Texican building a buckaroo rig!JW