Uni-Saddle

[kseidel]

I haven't posted in some time and thought it was time to post pics of my latest invention in the saddle world. The entire top of this saddle is molded and shaped from a single piece of leather without splits or seams. Swell, seat, rigging, and skirts are all incorporated into a single piece. This is one of the most dificult saddles I have ever made.

[AndyH]

Very impressive- beautiful work!

[dirtclod]

Really and i mean really nice work !!! I bet that took a lot of planing and hopeing that everthing fit when you started cutting.

[JasonGwiazda]

Really, really nice work,very impressive!

[Josh Ashman]

Absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing!

[AdamTill]

Inspiring work!

[oltoot]

WOW! Did you get it right the first time or are there a few 'trials' in the scrap box. Myself, I'm not sure that I would even expect to get it right the first time. 1st, 2nd, 14th it is still impressive.

[GrampaJoel]

Ok Keith, I can see the cut and molding of most of it, but how did you cut the seat, and still have the skirts wrap all the way back behind the cantle???

Must have been some heavy stretching going on.

Btw,

Beautiful job, as always, I find it simply amazing the way you keep raising the bar.

Joel

[kseidel]

WOW! Did you get it right the first time or are there a few 'trials' in the scrap box. Myself, I'm not sure that I would even expect to get it right the first time. 1st, 2nd, 14th it is still impressive.

Ha Ha! Most people don't recognize the "discard" factor! Surprisingly enough, I did get it correct the first time. This is the second saddle that I have made like this. The first was nerve wracking to say the least. While tooling, the leather stretched more than expected, and I did not think it was going to go back on right. Not only the cost of a side of leather, but all that time tooling. Fortunately, it did dry down tight. This time it was not quite so intimidating. I learned some things to look out for on the first one, and that helped with this one.

Ok Keith, I can see the cut and molding of most of it, but how did you cut the seat, and still have the skirts wrap all the way back behind the cantle???

Must have been some heavy stretching going on.

Btw,

Beautiful job, as always, I find it simply amazing the way you keep raising the bar.

Joel

Well, it is a trick to fitting it up. First I blocked the skirts into place, and then began fitting the top piece. I began at the cantle, cutting out a hole that fit around the cantle back, and then cut some relief in the center of the seat. I then was able to pull a lot of slack into the center of the seat. There is still a significant amount of stretching and swea... sweating, yea thats it sweating. The hardest part is tucking the cantle binding under the "seat" on each side. There is no slack once the inlaid seat is all stitched to the dish of the seat and installed into the tree, since it is also a part of the skirts and jockeys. I sure don't recommend it for a novice maker!

Thanks for all the compliments. I appreciate your looking at my saddle.

Keith

Edited November 20, 2013 by kseidel

[Billy H]

Really Really Nice!!!!!

You are for sure a Master Saddle Maker.

I do miss you masters posting your work, and your discussions on the building process of a saddle. I have used those post to improve on my saddle making endeavors. Thank you

If you have the time, back in April I posted a saddle that I made and would truly appreciate some critique on it. ( good or bad )

I am just starting a new wade for myself and would really like to get it right.

This afternoon I must have spent an hour just looking at your saddle. Thanks for posting!