Latest Ranch Saddle

[jwwright]

I have not posted much of anything for a couple months, but I have been busy in the shop. This is one I finished last week. Thanks, JW

[Butch]

Very nice JW.

I have a question for you also if you don't mind. I don't know anything about the making of a saddle but I've seen some swells laced and others sewn. Is there a deciding factor in this or is it just personal preference?

Thanks,

Butch

[Newfman]

Really nice. I have always liked the balance of tooled and rough-out. I see on your stirrup leathers, you sort of 'cuff' the leather just below the buckle and wrap them. Is that latigo leather that you wrap them with? And how do you finish the wrap? I like it.

Dennis

[jwwright]

Thanks for the kind words.

Butch...............this particular saddle has a welted fork cover, and I have done quite a few with either rawhide or roo braid. I build them like the customer wants them, and quite a few folks see the braided swells and like the look. I have not had a durability problem with either option. For a saddle that is sure nuff going to be used by a cowpuncher, it's going to take some abuse. More with some guys. Trailering saddled horses, tossing a saddle on the steel flatbed of a truck, etc. For those, I prefer either welts, or rawhide braid.

Dennis............those stirrup leathers are twisted and wrapped. I do that on all saddles, unless the customer specifies differently, and some don't want it. It's the same method as what Andy was showing you in your other thread. I usually use latigo to wrap with, and I take the tail of the wrap, after the wraps are on, and pull it tight down under the wraps. Frankly, I have found that after the leather is dry and twist is set, the wraps don't really need to even be there.

JW

[Newfman]

Yup, I was just curious about the wrap. I have seen it on a few saddles throughout the forum and liked the look. I wasn't sure how you finished the ends, but I think i have an idea now. I used to shoot tournament archery, and made my own bow strings. It sounds like you finised the inds of the wrap, similar to how you finish the serving line on a bow string. Something to experiment with I guess.

Thanks for the info.

Dennis

[bruce johnson]

Another good one, JW. I like that pattern a lot, and you pulled off another one that can give me fits sometimes. I see you are a fan of latigos on both sides too.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Very nice JW! Good clean lines and balance. That is what I have come to expect from you.

Bob

[AndyKnight]

JW ,very well done !

Andy

[RWB]

Looks great. I like the look your saddles have. I am really sick and tired of seeing wades, but that's just a personal problem. Quick question though. Why are you double stitching you billets?

Ross Brunk

[jwwright]

Thanks All for the comments.

Bruce, I do like full length tie straps boths sides. Been riding them that way myself for many years, and it's my standard on orders, unless I'm told otherwise.

Ross, I had a request to do that. I'm doing a little more of the double stitched billets on cowpuncher rigs. One of those personal preference deals, and I let the customer decide. I personally kind of like the way it goes along with double stitched skirts and riggins.

JW

[Tyrel]

JW, very nice saddle!

Ty

[GAP]

Damn, That's a good looking rig! Just has that balance and eye appeal you look for.

Nice job!

Gary

[jwwright]

Thanks for the comments guys. I appreciate it. JW

[Dink]

That is a nice looking saddle I really like it, who built the stirrups?

Dink

Thanks for the comments guys. I appreciate it. JW

[jwwright]

The stirrups were built by Danny Pollard, Merkel, Texas. Thanks, JW

[Dink]

One minor criticism about your saddle, that being I think it would look much better in my tack room.

Dink