jwwright

Art............I am not having a trouble getting the new site to open on IE. Thank You for letting me know that you are. I will check with the web guru and see what's up. JW

Art..........it is up an running. Make sure that you are not trying to view the site through AOL, as their servers only update once every 24 hours or so. Thanks, JW

My website has undergone a complete over haul. Stop by and tell me what you think. www.madcowsaddles.com Thanks, JW

Thanks for the lead on the 88 Deb. I prefer and use Masters for most things , but I really like the non stringing factor of the 88 for some things, such as cantle bindings. Thanks again, JW

Yet another Flint Hills resident here.................welcome. JW

Great work as always Troy. JW

Thanks Bruce. My French edgers are all J Watts, and I like them. I have been doing some sharpening off the top, but I have not been able to get them very good. I will try your suggestion of sharpening on the bottom. Makes sense to me in keeping the angle much better. JW

I am looking for methods of doing a good job sharpening French Edgers. All suggestions appreciated , Thank You, JW.

Andy.........Many Thanks for your input. I actually do carry my ground seat leather up on the fork quite a bit. However, in the case of this particular saddle, I don't think I extended the fork cover cuts back far enough to be as smooth in appearance looking into the handhole as I could have. There is no bare ground seat or bar showing, but I agree with you, it could be smoother in appearance. This is the first crupper ring I have done on the rear jocks / frog. Thank You for the suggestion.........next time I will make myself a frog that will allow integral attachement of the crupper D. I appreciate your time. JW

Mike, I am just a cowboy and saddle maker, not a tree maker, but....I sure don't think you could warp a tree by riding it in any fashion. You can darn sure sore a horse by riding off center though. JW

Very kewl Bruce. I smell rosin & benzoine ! Brings back memories of when I was much younger, and slightly more stupified. Ironic thing is though.........I suffered much worse injuries in big wrecks scattered about my cowpuncher career, than I ever did riding broncs in the arena. Those trophy saddles are just great. Good on ya for your museum efforts. JW

Bruce and Ben, Thank You. Troy, I certainly appreciate your comments and input. Thank You as well. Regarding the fender shape, I agree. This was the customer's choice of style. I have a couple other fender shapes that I prefer and try to use on wades, and round skirted saddles. Although this fender shape would not have been my first choice, it is what the customer specified and I do think it gives it a different look. Regarding the stitch line showing on the plate rig,,,,,,,you are absolutely correct, and this is the one primary nit pick I myself had with this saddle. I generally have been successful at cutting my seat jockey lines in such a manner as to not show that stitch line. This time, I didn't quite get the line. I sure appreciate the suggestion to put the skived side inward on the horn wrap. Makes perfect sense to me. I appreciate every one's time, Thanks again, JW

Timbo...........Thank You. Yes, that diamond pattern is made with a Watt navajo diamond stamp, a swivel knife and a seeder. I did that pattern on a saddle last Spring, and several other customers liked it and ordered it. 3 of the last 4 saddles I have made have been that pattern. I like it, but.........let's say that I am happy to have different stamp patterns coming up on the next couple of orders. Steve..........Thank You for your suggestions on the seat cut. I agree. I am having just a bit of difficulty with the consistency of my lines around the fork on Wades. I appreciate your input. JW

Here are a few photos of a Wade I just finished. I wish I would have had another day of sunshine and oil to get color the way I wanted it.......but the customer needed this saddle pronto. The tree was made by Jon Watsabaugh, the leather Herman Oak, and the hardware J Watt Horseshoe Brand. Constructive critique is most welcome. I appreciate the wisdom and opinions of those who have many more saddles to their credit than I. Many Thanks, JW

Thank You, JW

I think quite a bit depends upon your region, and your particular market. The cattle culture varies in style, preference and methodology widely from the Great Basin to Texas to the South East. Then again, nationally, there are lots of recreational riders riding a Wade with a post horn, because that is what a clinician they admire rides. Orders coming in for me the past year are about 3 to 1 swell forks to slick forks. Regarding resale of used saddles, those that I have had the best results selling have been Ranch Cutters. JW

Hitching Post Supply , www.hitchingpostsupply.com , is a good source for 100% mohair cord. Yak hair cord is more difficult to get ahold of. U Braid It, www.ubraidit.com is a place to check. JW

Thank You for your thoughts Keith. I have been building saddles just about full time for nearly a year now, and I sure do want a splitter. My major investments this year were a couple of sewing machines.........an Artisan, and an old Singer for light work such as leggins. A splitter will be my next major purchase for the shop. Any suggestions Keith, (and all others) about splitters? Many Thanks, JW

NO problem Ben..........I sure appreciate you trying to help. If you happen to hear of where either of these fellers are, please pass it along. I like their hardware. Thanks, JW

That is the same number that I had for him. It is out of service. It's been since early summer that I talked to him. Thanks any way though Ben. JW

Thanks for your thoughts Greg. That is what I thought about the latigo also.......if it bled it would sure be a mess. Since I don't have a splitter to thin down linings cut from a skirting side,......would some good firm 8 - 10 oz strap leather be suitable for the linings? Thanks, JW

I have been building quite a few plate riggings lately. I cut my riggings from where most makers do, the butt, and take my linings from lower places on the hide. I have been thinking about ways to make the riggins thinner. Recently, I looked over a saddle that the rigging plate was lined with about 7 oz latigo. Seems to me like this would be too stretchy, but this saddle has been used pretty hard for 9 years, and the rigging is still in good shape. What I would like to know from others who build plate rigs, is......what do you do for the linings? Do you use some good lighter strap leather?.....or ? Many Thanks, JW

Great work as always Steve. JW

Does any one happen to have current phone numbers for Glen Pointer Hardware and/or David Andrews Hardware? The numbers that I have for both of them, and the numbers listed in the Big Book are no longer working numbers. Thank You, JW

Nice work Ashley. JW