ArkieNewbie

WOW! That is classy! Very well done!

Based on the dates in the obituary I found it seems that this may have been one of his early saddles so you're probably right, he didn't have a makers mark yet.

Just found this on the Google machine. https://missoulian.com/tuesday-october-gene-vallance-june-brander-gilman-mildred-g-chaffin/article_26797d39-28f4-5a15-9fc4-4d8876f7f3a9.html Owen 'Jerk' Steiner MISSOULA - Jerk Steiner, 78, died quietly at home Oct. 25, 2001, "With His Boots On" after a courageous battle with cancer. Jerk was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Jenkins, Minn., and grew up on a farm near Terry. He became interested in leather braiding while in high school. After a stint with the Civilian Conservation Corps at Ninemile, he joined the Army's 91st Artillery Division and served from 1943 through 1945 in North Africa. He then spent 18 months in Europe on the front lines as a communications specialist. Jerk then became an apprentice at the Miles City Saddlery Co. and learned the saddle-making business. He made thousands of saddles, and his first love was "teaching" his trade to others. He owned and operated saddle shops in Wyoming and Montana. He also worked as a hunting guide and was a "Master" in sapphire cutting as well as an avid fly-fisherman and guitar player. He was preceded in death by his brother Herbert A. Clark. He is survived by his sister Ann Kreager and family of Baker; brother Richard "Dick" Steiner and family of Worland, Wyo.; sister Vivian Huckins of Iowa; and close friends Terry, Doug, Dan, Jerry, Ed and Mike. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Meals on Wheels, Missoula Aging Services, 227 W. Front St., Missoula, MT 59802; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

A local university, Arkansas State, has something like this. I think they call it the Entrepreneur Collective. They have 3D printers, a laser, and other equipment for people to use. I wish they would buy an industrial sewing machine haha.

Very nice!

Diode lasers are pretty attainable as far as price goes and mine works great for engraving on leather. This is the largest piece I've done and it took about 35 minutes. The laser I have is about $280, it's a 5.5W laser with a 16"x16" bed. I would not recommend a diode laser if you're looking for something to cut out patterns with. For that I would go the CO2 route. For me to cut 3/4oz leather takes about 15 passes. That could definitely be reduced with a more powerful diode laser but over all CO2 is going to be better for cutting.

Thanks!

Man! That looks awesome! Your edges are super clean, stitching is nice and straight, and those rivets and buckles match with your chrome great. Personally I may have stitched the strap keepers instead of rivets just for security but that's just me. And those are high stress points anyways so they should be perfectly fine!

I would say either mount two or three bottom parts on a strap and one top part on another strap or mount a center bar buckle with the bottom part on it so you can shorten it. What are you working on? I'm trying to picture what you would be using this for.

Is this still available?

Yes sir! I double and triple checked with the customer. This "runner" will be hanging off the front of the table not running the whole length of the table. It took a little conversation to understand what they were wanting.

I finished this project up last night. This is hand stitched and it was a pain! But I am very please with how it turned out!

How much are you asking and can you post some pictures?

Thank you sir!

That's a great idea! I'll be at the same farmers market to so that would be great for cross pollination! I have some leather hat patches that I've started lasering my info on. I figured if I'm working with leather what better place to put my "business card" than on a small piece of leather.