rickeyfro Report post Posted December 18, 2008 Looking to invest some money in a quality awl, I like Barry Kings Fat awl haft but Im looking for recomendations on who makes the best blades??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg gomersall Report post Posted December 18, 2008 The top 3 are 1) Bob Douglas 2) Bob Douglas 3) Bob Douglas. Greg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted December 18, 2008 One other suggestion: Bob Douglas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.A. Kabatoff Report post Posted December 18, 2008 i'd ingnore what everyone else said and go straight to Bob Douglas. Darc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cowboy Crafts Online Report post Posted December 18, 2008 I agree with everyone else, just buy 2 of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted December 18, 2008 I just called the Douglas'. The Mrs. answered. What a sweet lady. They're sending me a catalog. But she said they could find just about any used tool, if you know what you are looking for specifically. She also said she never heard of this Forum. So I told her about it. All you people here, and you never mentioned leatherworker.net? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jwwright Report post Posted December 18, 2008 Just in case you have not heard...........Bob Douglas makes the best awls. As you probably learned from your conversation with him, he's a darn good source for many other tools as well. JW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickeyfro Report post Posted December 19, 2008 That was easy...Does Mr Douglas offer a catalog? Can I get contact info for him? Oh yeah will these blades fit in the Barry King handles? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tat2 Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Looking to invest some money in a quality awl, I like Barry Kings Fat awl haft but Im looking for recomendations on who makes the best blades??? Do you mean a stitch awl or the other that one marks the leather making a point? SOC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) I'm sure Bob's awls fit Barry's hafts...don't know why they wouldn't...but Bob make beautiful awl hafts, also! Edited December 19, 2008 by hidepounder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickeyfro Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Yes a stitch awl is what Im looking for Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jwwright Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Bob Douglas 307-737-2222 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timbo Report post Posted December 19, 2008 I think somewhere I've heard that Bob Douglas makes really good awl blades. You might want to check him out. Tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Report post Posted December 19, 2008 I case you haven't heard, Bob Douglas makes the best awl blades in the land. Yes Barry King's handles fit with Bob's awls no problems.... I use the slim blade awls that Douglas makes. You should buy extra's too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickeyfro Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Well I guess its unanoumous. Bob Douglas is the man. Im gonna call him tomorrow. Thanks all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bruce johnson Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Just to throw out another name - Sheridan Leather Outfitters sell some really nice awl blades. Can someone refresh me on who makes them? Bob somebody I think. Yeah Rickey, I would have to say in four or five years of leatherwork internet leather groups, this has been the most unanimous reply for a maker or supplier of ANYTHING I have ever seen. They really are that good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lippy Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Sheridan Leather is owned by Vandy Douglas. Bob is her father. And yes . . . Bob's awl blades and haft are the best made. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elton Joorisity Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Lippy, not to pick on you but Bruce was being sarcastic in his last post. Bruce and his wife along with a few other leatherworker members and myself sat at the same table at Sheridan Leather's appreciation party last year. I started using Bob's blades a couple years ago and absolutely love them as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.A. Kabatoff Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Since Bob Douglas is the talk of the town here, I'd like to add a little bit of information about his tools. They were some of the best modern tools being made and it is an unfortunate thing that most of them are no longer available. The last time I spoke to Bob he informed me that the majority of his edgers are no longer available and won't be anymore due to the high cost of manufacturing them. His tools were priced appropriately for their quality but it sounds like there is little or no profit in making them and like any business you can't expect someone to work for nothing. I suggested raising the price some and that I'd be more than willing to pay more for them because as a saddlemaker I know the value of good quality tools and also how difficult they are to come by. Bob didn't like the idea, I think he felt the tools were expensive enough as they were. If anyone else feels the same and happens to be talking to Bob, I'd say it would certainly be worth mentioning the demand for the tools... just imagine if he quit making those awl blades and we were all forced to deal with the alternatives. Perhaps if he sees a demand for them, even at a higher cost, he may reconsider making them. Darc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Some of Bob's edgers dropped off of the catalog list more than a year ago. Actually they were still listed in the catalog but were marked as unavailable. I was thinking of filling out my set BUT when I went to do that they were no longer being made as Darcy said. So it was back to the drawing board and then to figure out what the next best alternative was. Great tools and a sad thing to see them fall by the wayside. Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Bell Report post Posted December 19, 2008 Don't forget Bob Douglas also makes awl blades! Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antipaladin Report post Posted December 25, 2008 Bob found me a nice double screw creaser. I ordered it on Monday, got it on Wednesday. He apologized it took so long because he cleaned it up and shined it up nice. GREAT guy to buy from.He's also willing to hand pick a particular blade thickness for you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
338uwm Report post Posted January 3, 2009 Glad I found this thread. I've been trying to find a real awl blade. As I'm a newbe and have been useing an awl that I modified. Can anybody suggest a size for hand stiching. I do mainly holsters and small repairs on saddles, and simular gear for friends. I know I could probably tell them over the phone what I'm looking for. It's just somtimes I have a hard time explaining things over the phone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
celticleather Report post Posted January 3, 2009 You may find it useful to have a read through this thread - http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...pic=7283&hl= Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLD Report post Posted January 31, 2009 Is there a way to contact or order an awl without ringing. Call charges from Australia and #### How much are they? Johanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
