BigGameHoundsmen.com

I'm working on a new saddle for a member of this forum. He asked for pictures of the saddle as it goes together.
I wondered if anyone would like to follow along. Most of you guys have been around saddle shops but maybe a few havn't.
If theres any interst I can post pics as I go.
RS

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd really enjoy seeing the progress pictures along with a good explination of what's happening in each picture.

Thanks, I've been waiting for a good topic to grab my intrest.

Scott

Yes. Very interested.

I vote yes on the pictures as well that would be very interesting.

I would venture to guess that the bulk of the members on here have no idea how much work goes into a hand crafted saddle. All that most people know is that they are expensive, and why pay that much when you can get one in the feed store for $800.00?! I vote yes, if for no other reason than to enlighten folks in the amount of hard work and artistry that goes into a saddle of top quality.

I'll get started loding some pictures on photobucket and post them a couple at a time starting with the tree in progress.
This saddle is a working saddle ( my favorite) and is built for work but should have some nice lines when done. RS

I would love to see some photos. I love that kind of stuff, and everyone should know what goes into a good saddle

I vote for a picture tutorial as well. I really like watching the progress of a saddle, especially a good working saddle.

The 1st pic is the tree parts. The fork is shaped, cantle is rough shaped on the bandsaw and slightly dished with the heelshave.
The bares are rough sawed and the tops will be shaped with the drawknife, spoke shave and heelshade before the bottom of the bars are roughsawed on the bandsaw.


Second picture shows the tree parts glued up, finish shaped and horn set in. ( tree on the left) And ready to be covered with rawhide. You can see the dovetail"s that the fork and cantle slide into on these tree's.



The last picture is the first step in sewing the bullhide on the tree.

Thanks, Robin. This is going to be interesting.

Robin,

I need to make another trip over there just to visit you one day, might have to bring pepper just to show you how he filled out. I love seeing saddles in the works.

Thomas, come on over anytime. Give me a call to make sure I'm home.

There's pretty big gaps between pictures so feel free to ask any questions. Next pic is the tree drying. It takes about 5 days this time of year in the heat. The seams get pounded morning and night to get them down flush, it takes about four of these as the rawhide drys.



This is the finished tree and most of the leather cut to finish the saddle. It's real important where each peice is cut in the side of leather. Some peices need to be hell for stout and others need to be molded, a few need both.

This is great! Thanks Robin

All of you are more than welcome, glad there was some interest. Most saddlemakers do things slightly different, a product of how they learned the trade and what works best for them.
What customers ask for also plays a big role.
The progress up to this point is mosly in the tree shop. The three trees pictured took about five days work in the wood. Three days to rawhide them, and I cut leather out and did some repair work as they dryed.
Enough yakin, I'll get somemore pictures loaded.

This picture shows the ground seat in, gullet peice & fork cover on and the cap leather glued up on the horn.The leather for the back of the cantle has been shaped and set aside to dry.
The ground seat is made up of four peices of leather and a seat streiner( I use a streiner of tempered alum)The ground seat is shaved with a heel shave down to paper thin in some places to match the specs the customer orders.
(

The seat being shaped with the drawdown strap after sewing the horn cap. I qicke note- The rigging would have preseeded the ground seat had it been ordered as a Dee rigging or a Flat Plate.