Third Briefcase

[troop]

just finished my third briefcase. it is Wickett and Craig English Bridle in tan.

Tony

[Phatdaddy]

just finished my third briefcase. it is Wickett and Craig English Bridle in tan.

Tony

Top notch!

thanks for sharing.

Kevin

[troop]

Thanks Phatdaddy!

Tony

[Colt Hammerless]

Gorgeous work Tony! I remember a gunbelt you showed me at the Wickenburg show that was English Bridle. I think you said that you don't use any finish on bridle leather since it already has some waxes and finishes. Am I remembering right? I would imagine you do something on the edges since they're dyed. Also, how are you burnishing the edges?

Paul

[troop]

Gorgeous work Tony! I remember a gunbelt you showed me at the Wickenburg show that was English Bridle. I think you said that you don't use any finish on bridle leather since it already has some waxes and finishes. Am I remembering right? I would imagine you do something on the edges since they're dyed. Also, how are you burnishing the edges?

Paul

thanks Paul, yeah i don't have to put any finish on the english bridle leather. i burnish the edges the same way i do on my veg tanned holsters. wet em, rub em with a glycerin bar then rub with a yellow saddle soap soaked piece of denim. when the edge is dry i dye it then rub on some pariffin wax then buff out with another piece of denim. seems to work pretty good.

Tony

[lightningad]

very nice.

What size hide do you find you need to be able to make a decent sized bag such as that?

Its something i fancy a go at, but the initial cost of the leather is rather intimidating.

adam

[troop]

Thanks Adam, i buy my leather from Wickett and Craig in full sides. it is expensive but i can get three to four bags from one set of hides. i have to order one side in 4/5 oz and one in 6/7 oz so it takes two sides to make those three to four bags.

Tony

Edited June 2, 2012 by troop

[lightningad]

thanks Tony...looks like i'm better start saving!

[CountryStyle]

That is a great looking piece. Like Adam, I would like to try this as well, but need to acquire some leather. One question, how is the briddle to work with compared to veg tanned leather? is there any advantage other than not having to put a color and finish on it? Does it wet mold the same?

[troop]

That is a great looking piece. Like Adam, I would like to try this as well, but need to acquire some leather. One question, how is the briddle to work with compared to veg tanned leather? is there any advantage other than not having to put a color and finish on it? Does it wet mold the same?

Thanks Country, the english bridle leather is much more supple than veg tanned, so it is easier to maninpulate. not having to put color or finish on it yourself saves time and assures uniform color fro the drum dying process. as far as wet molding, i don't wet mold it. english bridle does not accept water well and it can darken the leather and make it blotchy. it is so soft anyways that you don't need to wet mold it for briefcases.

Tony

[Britkk]

Hi Tony,

That is a great bag! Your workmanship is amazing.

I just got some w/c black bridle to make a bag of my own, and am fixated on getting my edges dyed black, but to not have any dye come off on clothes or when edges get wet. (especially on straps). So far, I haven't been successful. Even before putting any dye on, the dye done at tannery rubs off during burnishing. What type of dye are you using, or am I just wanting results that are unattainable?

[troop]

I use fiebings pro oil dyes.... I seal with neutral Kiwi then wyosheen.