oldgringo

Hi Carr52: Just happened across your post of the point. I am a professional archaeologist with over 30 experience. But my experience is mostly in Calif. I'm sure the archaeologist know what he's talking about. Something that old where ever it is found is very rare indeed. The form seems a bit general to me, (e.g no notching) but maybe that type of point has been established through some of the many dating techniques to be that old. I have been knapping most of my life and some of the best folks at it live out your way. OG

Rain in N. Calif.! Yes! Maybe I won't have to feed my cows this winter after all.

thanks Elton

I see on Steve Mason's site a device which I believe gives one the arch necessary to fit the rear jockey up against the back of the cantle. Does anyone know about this device and where one might obtain such a tool? Thanks - OG

My goodness those are such great ideas. I really should try some of them. My old ping pong table is a little flimsy - but I can lay out a whole hide and cut on it with one of those soft plastic cutting boards under the leather. But it is a little low. Someday I'm going to have a proper shop.

WHOA! Thanks a bunch pard! OG

Ken: The laether is 4-4.5 oz. bucktan from the Hide House in Napa, CA.

Thank you so much for the information.

Hi: I am wondering why the picuture in my profile does not come up when I post. It appears to be within the allowable size limits. Your kind help is greatly appreciated. OG

Hi Friends: Made these a couple of weeks ago. So they are dirty from gathering, shipping, etc. Tried a longer, fuller style this time. Did my interpretation of the oak leaf motif (Quercus douglasii in my country). OG

thanks boys, I'll see what I can do. OG

I recently purchased Mr. and Mrs. Stohlman's Vol. 1. What an excellent resource! Hard for me to believe I have built saddles without it. But then again I'm not sure what I've built one would call a saddle. Anyway, do any of you saddlers know if one can actually buy the Stohlman Rigging Guage, or do I have to bend one up myself? Thanks OG

Here are two pictures of my first saddle, built in '05 for my daughter's 16th birthday. I posted this when I joined the forum last year but it may have been lost in the crash of '07. I started the saddle in '03 to give it to her when she was 14, but the saddler I was learning under rightly diverted me to producing all things leather - as far as cowboying goes. So it took a while. She's not ridin' much anymore so when I ride her horse (pictured) I use it 'cause it fits him well. I've roped a lot of calves, cows and a bull or two and it's still holding up. So I attribute that to my teacher. You know I don't see the pics. in the preview. Hope they came through. OG

Steve I just checked your profile and see what an accomplished saddler you are. What a great legacy what with your great grandfather also a professional in the saddle business. I think that is so wonderful. I've got three saddles under my belt and am very proud to be carrying on such a great ancient tradition as ours. This site is absolutely the best source of leather working knowlegde on this planet. Really a world heritage site. Thanks for your contributions.

Tom what beautiful work! hey I'm just down the hill from you near Yuba City

Bill Wimmer of Mariposa Calif. makes rein chains of which I have several pair. He sells them on ebay along with his Mexican silver coin conchos. His address is: 7999 Hunter's Valley Rd. Mariposa, Ca 95338

Chinks by OG

hey great idea! I am going to do that. OG

A good friend of mine, Pedro Pedrini (just voted into the TCAA, see Western Horseman Jan. '08) who maks a lot of saddles for Jeremiah Watt, has started using line-x covered trees. He believes they are every bit as good as the traditional rawhide covered wood tree with way increased longevity. Plus they cost less. OG

Just thought someone might like to see this old photograph of a saddle shop that operated here in the gold rush era town of Marysville, Calif. I believe this picture was taken around 1900, not sure. Interesting to me is that many of the saddles do not have the hand hold below the swell. Also of note is that the shop did not just produce saddles but also suitcases and other bags. Marysville, where I work, has a lot of fascinating history. Joaquin Murrieta killed one of our sheriffs in the early 1850s. And I read an account by a lady who came to Marysville during the gold rush with her husband and was running a boarding house. One day a Mexican vaquero chose to take his first ride on a colt outside her business. I think it would be D or E street now. Anyway she noted the horse went to bucking, bucked up on the boardwalk and into the saloon next door, exited through the side door and into another business and then through that front door back out onto the street and away they went. Pretty western in old Marysville. And on Memorial day after Cotton Rosser gets done putting on the rodeo, down at the Silver Dollar it still gets pretty Western!

Will do thanks for the reminder. OG

Thanks again Mike! You know Hidemechanic, I've looked and looked and I can't find that tap picture. so I don't know who made them. Hey I'll be ordering a new tree in a couple of weeks. Where do you guys get yours. I'm thinking Timberline. My first three saddles were Timberlines - 1 Wade, 1 Bowman, and one Visalia 3B.

Boys! So glad to hear from you. Was about to post again on this topic but you boys stepped up. Many thanks. Mr. Hidemechanic: Attached is a picture of the type of tap I am wanting to build. Mike: I will send you my address via secret email. And let me say how much I appreciate this. I hope I am able to help you out sometime. If you ever break down in N. Calif. please call me for help. What was the crash of '07. When I get these taps made I will for sure post them with credit to you guys. It will be some time though as we are starting to rotate cows around and such and the day work I do takes up what free time I have. Thanks again.

I believe I have seen them in the Weaver catalog. OG

thanks for posting those pictures. I have been wondering about all leather seats. Please continue with the posting of the pics. Thanks a lot OG