Grab Strap

[ArtS]

Can anyone tell me how to make a strap like this? Is this braided or what?

Thanks,

ArtS

[HorsehairBraider]

I've heard people call that "slit braiding", but you don't actually use several strings to make it. What you do is cut a slit in the center of the strap at one end, pull the strap through, cut another slit, pull the strap through etc. If you look carefully at that really nice clear photo, you can even see the sections where the slit is - you can see straight through the strap, right in the center. Then there will be a little section of solid, another section where you can see a slit etc. If you had the strap laid out, the slits would be like this: - - - - -

Hope that's clear... Not so sure now that I've read back over it!

[ArtS]

Thank you! I've been looking at it thinking that it looks as if it was twisted or something like that. Your explanation is perfect. Tomorrow morning I'm going to try one.

I was looking on the net. and it appears that they call this a Cowboy Night Latch.

Thanks again!

ArtS

I've heard people call that "slit braiding", but you don't actually use several strings to make it. What you do is cut a slit in the center of the strap at one end, pull the strap through, cut another slit, pull the strap through etc. If you look carefully at that really nice clear photo, you can even see the sections where the slit is - you can see straight through the strap, right in the center. Then there will be a little section of solid, another section where you can see a slit etc. If you had the strap laid out, the slits would be like this: - - - - -

Hope that's clear... Not so sure now that I've read back over it!

[bruce johnson]

Art,

For everyone who has not heard the term, a "nightlatch" is something to grab onto to prevent getting bucked off. Basically something to lift against to keep you down in your saddle. As an aside, unless that guy is left handed, or reins with his right hand for some other reason, a nightlatch should be on the right side of the swells.

I am not sure how that one is fastened. Some people use a loose strap buckled through the gullet. You grab it kind of like a suitcase handle. I have heard it termed a "knucklebuster night latch". as the horse is pitching his little fit, your knuckles are banging on the swells. Another style is a doubled pigging string with thetail pulled out of the eye. Double it and feed it through the gullet. Then bring the eye and the tail up through the formed loop. You grab the free ends of the string. Other guys use a similar one made from a rope or braided rope witrh a small eye. Looped aroungd the gullet and fed through the eye. Some guys feel that the firm attachment of the knucklebuster could be an issue if you do hang up a spur or toe in it on the way out. The single eye rope, or doubled string is thought to be safer, it will pull loose. Most guys are carrying a couple strings, so it is a handy place to carry one anyway. Other guys dispense with the nightlatch and pull on the rope coils. All in what you are carrying, and where you learned it at. Greg, Ryan, and some of the guys who have been around have probably seen other variations or terms.

[SmokinP]

Just a little info on these things.

They got called "night latches" from days when a fella had to do night watch on a herd. If you took hold of it when you got set up it was supposed to keep ya from fallin outta the saddle if ya dozed off.

We always called em "cheater straps". Like Bruce said. they'd keep ya stuck in the saddle better if got one that had a little spunk in him. Hangin on to the horn puts your hand in a bad position and doesn't work near as good. Ya kinda want the strap tight to the swell so it kinda works like a bareback rigging rather than flop around.

I've used ropes, the belt outta my pants and old latigos. Best thing I've found for dealin with a rough one is to have a young feller nearby that you can shame into gettin on em.

[ArtS]

LOL. Good advice on getting the younger fellow to ride 'em. I was thinking of putting one on my father in law's saddle that I'm making for him. Since he's getting older I thought it might help him.ArtS

Just a little info on these things.They got called "night latches" from days when a fella had to do night watch on a herd. If you took hold of it when you got set up it was supposed to keep ya from fallin outta the saddle if ya dozed off. We always called em "cheater straps". Like Bruce said. they'd keep ya stuck in the saddle better if got one that had a little spunk in him. Hangin on to the horn puts your hand in a bad position and doesn't work near as good. Ya kinda want the strap tight to the swell so it kinda works like a bareback rigging rather than flop around. I've used ropes, the belt outta my pants and old latigos. Best thing I've found for dealin with a rough one is to have a young feller nearby that you can shame into gettin on em.

Thanks Bruce. Looking on the net for Night Latch I found some of the tied strings. You always are a well of knowledge. Experience pays in the end.ArtS

Art, For everyone who has not heard the term, a "nightlatch" is something to grab onto to prevent getting bucked off. Basically something to lift against to keep you down in your saddle. As an aside, unless that guy is left handed, or reins with his right hand for some other reason, a nightlatch should be on the right side of the swells. I am not sure how that one is fastened. Some people use a loose strap buckled through the gullet. You grab it kind of like a suitcase handle. I have heard it termed a "knucklebuster night latch". as the horse is pitching his little fit, your knuckles are banging on the swells. Another style is a doubled pigging string with thetail pulled out of the eye. Double it and feed it through the gullet. Then bring the eye and the tail up through the formed loop. You grab the free ends of the string. Other guys use a similar one made from a rope or braided rope witrh a small eye. Looped aroungd the gullet and fed through the eye. Some guys feel that the firm attachment of the knucklebuster could be an issue if you do hang up a spur or toe in it on the way out. The single eye rope, or doubled string is thought to be safer, it will pull loose. Most guys are carrying a couple strings, so it is a handy place to carry one anyway. Other guys dispense with the nightlatch and pull on the rope coils. All in what you are carrying, and where you learned it at. Greg, Ryan, and some of the guys who have been around have probably seen other variations or terms.

[Romey]

They are a great way to get yourself jerked forward and off head first AND head/neck first hitting the ground and well as people that do get pitched often dont let go right away so your body becomes a whip. Ride your horse not your saddle

[JRedding]

I'm backin' Romey on this one, the nightlatch falls in there with never button the bottom button on a Levi jacket, don't have a rope strap stout enough to pull your truck out of the mud, and the one it seems everyone today seems not to know rig the connection in the front of your chaps so it will tear out long before you get hung upside down and beat unconcius. There are more ways to get stacked up and hurt than we can discuss here. Saddlemakers and repairmen have a responsibility to know the things that will get someone hurt, and look out for those that don't know any better if you're going to do this kind of work. Just because it's an old idea doesn't mean it's a good idea, and in todays world of lawyers and liability it's best not to send things out of your shop that might get someone hurt, even under rare circumstance. If they want that stuff let them figure it out on their own, they can steal the coller off their dog and buckle that on there if they think it's a good idea.

[gtwister09]

JRedding/Romey,

I had to chuckle :D when reading these posts due to the fact that all three of those tidbits and more were conveyed to me by my Dad or other ranchers. In fact I can remember one older hand (actually he owned several ranches but you would have never known it) asking a new hand if they used that nightlatch and he said, "Yes I do every now and then." Well he rode over and with his pocket knife cut it off and said to him, "Ride your horse not your saddle. I won't have you hurt riding with me." That same day he also modified his rope strap as well.

Regards,

Ben

[SmokinP]

Where were you guys in my younger days? Nobody ever told me about gettin launched on my head like that. Maybe that's why I can't never find a hat to fit right?