jjcchawks

Thank you all, I appreciate the support...we all do.

Been a while since I have been on here but between stints in Afghanistan I built these two. Number 3 is the half-breed on a 15 1/2 Timberline, I have trimmed up the sheepskin since this photo. Girlfriend want to make belts so I said, "go ahead", not thinking she would use the leather I was saving for billets. Another saddle making lesson learned. Number 4 is on a 16" Bill Bean tree, stamped using a Barry King Crazy Legs stamp, least that's what I call it. Built it for my stepdad but broke it in myself at some brandings in Montana...sure hated to hand it over to him. Both packing Watt Hardware, Hermann Oak leather. Now I have a couple of Swanke trees waiting on me to get started on 5 and 6 when I get back to the states again this fall.

Those Swanke trees are nice huh. I just ordered two more myself.

Hey Joe, I went to Dale's school also. Last winter after I got home from Iraq, had a good time there. Ol' Dale is a good guy. Justin Hawks

Being a Montanan stuck in Texas I can see the regional differences. I ride both. My swell fork is my colt saddle and my wade if for my broke horses. I rather have the bruise on my leg from swells than my head as bucking rolls have a little too much give for me when ol' roany ducks his head, speaking from experience there as I did land on my head. You don't see many wades down here in this part of Texas, and I get some looks if I show up somewhere on one especially with a flat hat and 26" tapaderos! When I go home to MT it's about 50/50. I know my granddad was hiring wandering buckaroos up in MT back in the early 80's and cowboying as a kid with those guys had a lot of influence on me as far as gear goes.

Good job Jake, I can certainly see Dale's influence on that saddle. My best advice is don't wait as long as I did to build your second one!

The one H&F I saw was pretty coarse. Compare it to the Ben Swanke, Bill Bean or even the Timberline I have in the shop right now and it's not one I would pick out of the pile. Just one guy's opinion.

Looks good to me JW. Hey how much lace did it take to do those swells? Justin

The tree was made by Ben Swanke in Billings, MT.

Just finished up my second saddle. Built it on a Swanke 15" tree that I picked up from Ben went I stopped there the other day, he makes a nice tree I think and my brother rides a saddle Ben made for him that he really likes. It's got a few bobbles in it that stick out like a sore thumb to me but it fits a horse nice and feels good to me (had to throw it on my old stud and try it out). This one was a good experience and was able to find out what worked for me and what didn't...especially on the patterns I made. It's been a year since I went to Dale Moore's saddle making school in Belgrade, MT so I got some help from Dale Harwood and Jerimiah Watt via their DVD's. Both were helpful but I found myself referring more to the Watt DVD just for it's detailed instruction and I'd recommend it to anyone. Also I should take this time to thank my girlfriend for her help and apologize for the couple of fits I threw! Justin Hawks

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY

Thanks Bruce, found some trips on the Lowyusa.com site. Appreciate the help. Justin Hawks

I need to build some bucking horse flanks but have been having heck finding the quick release buckle. Any rodeo lurkers out there know who would carry some? Thanks.

Randy, PM sent. Thanks guys, working on little projects over here helps with my sanity.

Gentlemen and/or Ladies, Could someone give me some advice on where to find a Jerk Needle/Awl (is that what it's called?) for stitching my cantles and horns. Stuck in Iraq right now and not much luck finding any via the net. Any and all help is appreciated!