Old Time Saddle

[Don101]

Pete here is a close up of the border tooling and you can see the hand stitching on the skirts, also a pic of the seat carving, Don

[Timbo]

It's absolutely beautiful Don!!! Great job all the way around. Been waiting for the finished pics.

It is very encouraging for those of us who someday hope to build our first saddles.

Thank you for all the pics.

Tim

[Hidemechanic]

Don, where did you get your tree?

What other resourses did you use for technique on fitting parts?

GH

[Cowboy Crafts Online]

I agree with everyone else very nice saddle. You did a great job on your first one.

Ashley

[Bob]

Don, that is exceptionally nice work. My first saddle don't look that good and it weren't that difficult either. I like the nice scalloped edge on the felt. Very nice. You sure went the extra mile to make those concho's like that, and they look pretty good for not having a punch. One thing you may have done to cover up the line, what I do sometimes is using a small pear shader on each pedal. So it looks like a flower. The line would mostly be gone.

Very nice work Don, hope to see more of your inspiring work here.

Bob

[Misfits]

Don,

I too know nothing about saddles. I Like the simple lines and the Outstanding carving! I hope one day to tackle making one. You are an inspiration in that respect...Nice work!

John

[Don101]

Don, where did you get your tree?

What other resourses did you use for technique on fitting parts?

GH

the tree is a couple of years old that is the same trees styles that were used by the meanea company, built by a mark hows i believe thats how its spelt on the saddle was written old time wade 05, i got the tree from a friend that happened to have a spare one over,

as for resorces i used pics of original old saddles from the cattalogs of that period and based a lot of the design on saddles that are in the book cowboys and trappings of the old west, i also used the original saddles that i have for basic messurments although the seat sizes are smaller, but most of it was eye judgment to fit to the tree,

i looked alot on Clays pic page to see where he cut for fitting the fork and seat and basically took it from there, but before i did any thing i thought about it twice and once again i didnt make any wrong callculations to my knowlidge and i only scrapped one piece, i reedid the fork as i wasnt happy with the scollops that were under the gullet, Don

[Don101]

Don, that is exceptionally nice work. My first saddle don't look that good and it weren't that difficult either. I like the nice scalloped edge on the felt. Very nice. You sure went the extra mile to make those concho's like that, and they look pretty good for not having a punch. One thing you may have done to cover up the line, what I do sometimes is using a small pear shader on each pedal. So it looks like a flower. The line would mostly be gone.

Very nice work Don, hope to see more of your inspiring work here.

Bob

ah you noticed the line yes i wanted to make everything my self, ok i could have bought a packet for a coupl of bucks but its not the same as doing it yourself, good tip about the pear shader ill remember that i did think about stamping around with a half moon but thought it would be to fancy for a working cowboys saddle of the 1880s, Don

[karl]

Hey Don,, Thats one fine job! Welcome to the world of saddle makers. It kind of gets in your blood. I see you took my advise an plugged around the skirt. You did one fantistic job. Now like everyone is telling me, now that I finished my saddle, "Now you got to get you a Horse"! Karl

[pella]

I LOVE your saddle! Is is beautiful and the carving too. Congrulation, i hope to make a saddle that look as nice for my first one too ;-)

What did you find the most difficult?