BuckhornBrand Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Hello- Here are some pics of the first two saddles I've built. I'm working on the third. These two were both built on factory trees. I won't mention any names as I wasn't very pleased but it was all I could get. Now I'm building on one of Rod Nikkel's trees. The saddle on the left was for me. I've been riding it for a year and a half now. I take care of a pretty good size ranch and put a lot of miles on a horse. I don't like the way it fits my horses but I get along with it ok. I've laid down quite a few cows and yearlings by myself with it and haven't had any trouble. The Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted October 13, 2008 I'm sorry, I don't see the images. Need to make sure you hit the [uPLOAD] button after choosing a file to upload, then inserting it into your post by selecting it from the list of uploaded images (where it says "Manage Current Attachments"). Can't wait to see your saddles! Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuckhornBrand Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Ok- I hit something and it posted that before I was done. I haven't got the hang of this forum thing yet. The second saddle I built for a friend. He also puts a lot of miles on and seems to be getting along really good with it. It has a rawhide bound horn and cantle, and rawhide braided swells. The first saddle was built following the Stohlman books and the second saddle I tried a few things different, but still very similar. I've gotten Jeremiah Watt's DVD and it's been a lot of help. As I'm trying to improve my craft any advice, critique's, honest opinion's would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time, Chuck Norris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Ok- I hit something and it posted that before I was done. I haven't got the hang of this forum thing yet. The second saddle I built for a friend. He also puts a lot of miles on and seems to be getting along really good with it. It has a rawhide bound horn and cantle, and rawhide braided swells. The first saddle was built following the Stohlman books and the second saddle I tried a few things different, but still very similar. I've gotten Jeremiah Watt's DVD and it's been a lot of help. As I'm trying to improve my craft any advice, critique's, honest opinion's would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time, Chuck Norris Hi Chuck. How do you keep your saddle so clean and new looking after riding it for 18 months? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuckhornBrand Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Tony- the pictures were taken the day I finished it, definately doesn't look as clean anymore. Thanks, Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Hi Chuck, Looks like you got the hang of the image posting mechanism. The saddle looks great, although there are others who are a better judge than me of how well it will function. Look forward to seeing more of your work! Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mendedbowl Report post Posted October 13, 2008 hi Chuck, look like good saddles to me. looking at the close ups i can see a few rough edges...but you were making working saddles not show saddles so no problems. if it does all you want it to do, and you feel comfortable sitting in it, and your horse feels comfortable under it...i say great work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Nice saddles, equally nice to see ones that are not all tooled up once in a while. But what the heck do I know the only horses I get close to are of the iron persuasion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmokinP Report post Posted October 13, 2008 The beauty of plain leather..... I like em both. Just a question....why the latigo holder near the rear billet? Hobble keeper? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArtS Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Nice clean job Chuck. They look real good. I'll let the pros answer to any issues they see. They look like good riding saddles. The movie business not keeping you busy enough? LOL Art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuckhornBrand Report post Posted October 13, 2008 SmokinP- I like the latigo holder by the rear billet because I'm left handed and that way I don't have to reach under my rope to get to my latigo strap. The guy I built the second saddle for liked the looks of it so I did his the same. ArtS- Yeah, I get that about my name quite a bit LOL. Thanks for the comments everyone, Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRedding Report post Posted October 14, 2008 Chuck, my suggestions with the construction would be, I can see you're struggling to make smooth cuts with a round knife, sharpen up good and don't be so nervous and deliberate when cutting your parts out the finished edges will be much nicer. Sharpen your edger also and use a little more saddle soap and elbow grease on those edges. At the cantle points where your seat comes over the binder and under the concho you don't want to leave that thick edge showing. If after the seat fitting is done and before you glue it down you'll skive that to a long taper it will lay over the binder smooth and look much nicer. The only other things I noticed are cosmetic, if you're adding rings bled into the strings use round rings not the D that's at the cantle point and the round on the front, kinda' looks like spare parts. The latigo carrier on the skirt is a common idea but I'm not a fan of sewing it on like that, I'd have to suggest either cutting it as part of the top skirt like found on a lot of ropers, or you could screw it to the bar and leave it extending below the skirt similiar to how you have it, or put it on top of the skirt and under the concho at the cantle point. The last suggestion I'd have is the shape of the seat jockey, a lot of saddles made have a similiar one to yours and it's fine, I just think a little more shape in the jockey would make a lot of difference in the overall appearance of this particular saddle, after you've fit the first side around the swell stop when you reach the top of the bar before you continue cutting and make yourself a posterboard template of how you want the jockey shape to be, this way you can shape it and look at it as much as you want until you're satisfied with the shape before you continue cutting. Well you wanted honest suggestions, hope that's not too harsh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuckhornBrand Report post Posted October 14, 2008 JRedding- those suggestions are exactly what I'm looking for. Although I've used a roundknife for a long time, I'm not satisfied with my cuts on saddles, I think I'm to hesitant, worried about messing up. On smaller tack items I don't have as much trouble. Edge burnishing has always been difficult for me. I've tried everything on the edges such as water, saddle soap, beeswax; and used wood slickers, antler slickers, and most recently canvas. It seems some things will burnish right up and others won't. Thanks for the suggestion on the seat. I think I was trying to match the curve of the skirt but it didn't come out as nice as I would have liked. Thanks again for the help, Chuck Norris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
