Splinter’s Sheridan Style Beginning

[splinters]

After some time I’m back into leather work after a long absence from my early learning period in Phoenix, Arizona using Al Stohlman documents to make belts, wallets, etc. It was a fun time and I’m now learning how much I have missed it.

I have at least one project now that I’m holding off doing until I begin to feel comfortable with my swivel knife work and stamping before proceeding. It happens to be a holster kit put together for me by JLS. Looking forward to that but not to hurry to prevent a mess in my nest if possible. So, in recent days I’ve begun to think seriously about styles and have been looking at various works like Bob Park’s for example, and find I’m drawn to the Sheridan Style which has led to the beginning of this thread in hopes things I may post you folks will respond to help keep me on the straight and narrow….. LOL. Hate duplicating my mistakes.

With that I decided I should begin with what I could find on Sheridan Style work to start building some foundation. Yesterday I ordered a copy of Bob Gardener’s “Sheridan Style Carving” and this morning I order a copy of Bob Park’s “Creating Western Floral Designs”. Received notice this afternoon that both are in the mail and on their way. Looking forward to starting those and getting into Sheridan Style in earnest.

While looking around Barry King’s website, from where I ordered hidebound’s book, I noticed Barry has a Sheridan Style Tool List for small to medium work and a package deal if one is interested. Since I won’t be doing any saddle building the small to medium package looks like a possibility for me but study will precede that. Also I think I saw somewhere that “Creating Western Floral Designs” has that kind of information too.

So, from time to time I thought it would be good to have a thread to post questions to along with some thinking out loud so to speak. This should be fun……… Fingers crossed.

[JLSleather]

Well, that explains why we haven't seen pics of the finished holster!  Go on tear in -- holsters is simple (which is why you have a thousand thousand people doing them).  Plus, a mistake doesn't cost you the rent money (just lunch money)

 

[splinters]

5 hours ago, JLSleather said:

Well, that explains why we haven't seen pics of the finished holster!  Go on tear in -- holsters is simple (which is why you have a thousand thousand people doing them).  Plus, a mistake doesn't cost you the rent money (just lunch money)

 

Hello JLS,

I'm still here ..... LOL, and in the final stage of finishing up your Vertical Card Wallet design to carry two card documents for me. Planned on thanking you and posting a photo of the finished product. Going to do a follow up with some basket weave as practice for the holster.

Edited June 15, 2016 by splinters

[JLSleather]

You're welcome (a pic is worth 1000 thanks, or something like that)! 

Seriously, holsters is simple stuff.  Maybe a level-9 retention be a bit involved, but who even knows what that is?  

I should maybe put that up on my site, near the pattern section, like a big ole web banner (remember those, before they were called "widgets" and "headers"?):

Something like:  IF I CAN DO THIS, THEN YOU CAN DO THIS

 

 

 

[JLSleather]

OH, yeah...

Each his own, but I think that tooling within borders looks pretty good on a holster if the borders aren't the same width.  I tend to run 'em 3/8" in on edges and bottom, and 1/4" across the top.  Don't remember why... just know I like this proportion

 

[splinters]

2 hours ago, JLSleather said:

because of the small eyeOH, yeah...

Each his own, but I think that tooling within borders looks pretty good on a holster if the borders aren't the same width.  I tend to run 'em 3/8" in on edges and bottom, and 1/4" across the top.  Don't remember why... just know I like this proportion

 

I agree with you about tooling within borders on holsters and thank you for the proportion. I'll sure keep that in mind.

Here's the photo of your wallet design that I finished stitching this morning. All was going well until I turn the corner at the bottom and about 2/3 of the way to the end the thread broke leaving me with the choose of a splice....... grrrrrr. Another issue occurred here as I could not get the needle threaded again because of the small eye and had to use a larger needle to finish. I wish I could find a tad smaller waxed linen thread than I get at Tandy online. Looking in the holster kit you sent me you can see the two threads that you sent. The dark brown appears to be the same size I used on your vertical wallet but the bundle of natural you sent feels and looks to me to be a smaller diameter. Would you mind telling me were you purchased that, size, and do they have it in brown or black too? Do you every use any of the synthetic threads for saddle stitching?

Looking at the holster kit and your encouragement I may get underway sooner than I had thought. Looks fun and though it maybe a challenge for me I know the gent who knows about these puppies..... LOL

P.S. Your vertical card wallet design was just what I was looking for to carry my ID and a permit in my front pocket. I do plan on another attempt at the wallet with a little tooling on the front. Will try and get a better stitch job too. Thanks Jeff.

Edited June 15, 2016 by splinters

[JLSleather]

YIKES>.. that wallet pattern WORKED?  Who'da thought! @!#!@$!!

Don't remember right off where I got that lighter thread, but I'll see kin I find a receipt.  Meanwhile, I got about a ton of it, so I'll send ya a chunk.  Matter of fact, I'll just git ya a few different types of thread I use, and you can see what you like 'n' what you don't.  Stuff is cheap.. measured by teh mile (really!).

On those little wallets, I like 138 machine thread, personally.  I likely got the address, but I'll double check...  trying to get this belt tooled, but it aint dryin' fast enough to get to toolin ...

 

 

[splinters]

Grand! Thank you.

[splinters]

The Sheridan Style Carving book arrived yesterday and I'm enjoying the way the authors present their work. Also, enjoying the history that has been included and of course a question that came quickly to mind is if Barry King is any relation to Don King? I suspect so. Would any care to comment on that. Also, seeing that Don King did some work for Porter I thought about the Porter Saddle Shop in Phoenix and wondered if it was the same. I was in that shop a few times many, many years ago as a very young man, and always stood in amazement when able to watch some tooling being done by what I considered very gifted hands.  

[Bob Blea]

I believe Barry King is Don King's grandson.  And yes, I'm pretty sure the Porter's he worked at was the Porter Saddle Shop in the Phoenix area.  If you got to visit there in it's heyday you may have seen some top talent indeed.