New, Texas 1870's Half seat saddle for sale, new photos added 10/20/05

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 19, 2005, 06:06:21 PM

I added some new photos I thought you all would like to see today, 10/20/05
Bill

I've got a Texas 1870's Half Seat Saddle posted for sale over on the Vendor's Alley if you would like to see one of my saddles, I've had several people on this forum asked to see pictures of my saddles. . I built this saddle last year, it is a copy of a very early saddle used in Texas and is based on a early Drover's Saddle. . I'm getting ready to build a new Hope Saddle based on the one Tommie Lee Jones used in the film "The Missing". I built a Hope last year but sold it to a friend of mine that just had to have it.

OCB

Dr. Bob · October 20, 2005, 02:46:25 AM

Boy howdy Bill, that sure is one FINE looking saddle. I don't have a horse but I have a nice early style hope saddle to add a little class to my camp. Can't have too much class in a camp, can ya??

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 20, 2005, 08:44:30 AM

Dr. bob,
No, you can never have enough class in camp

Is your saddle an original? I am getting ready to build a Hope saddle as we speak and am in the process of laying out the patterns, just waiting for my saddle tree to get here. Is there any way you could take, and forward photos of your saddle to me? I have one I am going to copy, but I like to collect photos of old saddles, either original photos or ones that I or freinds have taken of saddles period pre 1800.

Bill

Wymore Wrangler · October 20, 2005, 11:10:41 AM

Bill, a gent in town just moved here from Montana, told me has a couple of original Heiser (spelling) saddles for sale, if your interested I'll put you in touch with him...

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 20, 2005, 11:28:32 AM

Wymore, Thanks for the information and the offer, but I am not interseted in those types of saddles. My time frame for saddles is very narrow and specific (some here might say I'm a little narrow minded period

), and they are a much later then the saddles I build. I do thank you for your input. Are you going to be at the congress meeting next month? I plan on being there as an observer to see how things are run, plus Terry Lane wants me to meet a female employee of his that is Lakota Indan so, that I may help with her period clothing while I m there.

Bill

Wymore Wrangler · October 20, 2005, 05:43:26 PM

I've got a high calling that CAS that weekend, my first love is bird hunting and I've got an older female setter that I don't think is going to make it through the winter so I plan on spending as much time afield with her this fall and with her replacement, a young llewlen setter female that I've got....

Dr. Bob · October 22, 2005, 03:03:23 PM

Howdy OCB,

My Hope saddle was made by a friend here in the area. He did the entire finish work. Rawhide on the tree, leather work &c. I can do you one better than sending pics. I will bring it along to the Congress meeting and you can take pics and measurements to lyour hearts content. The saddle was ridden from KC to Santa Fe along the SF Trail. The stirrup straps have modern metal adjustments, but they don't show when I set it out. I also have an early style head stall and bit that I display with it.

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 23, 2005, 12:04:59 PM

Dr. Bob,
I would love to take pictures and I really appreciate the offer to bring it to the congress meeting next month, looking forward to it.

Megwetch Niikan'
Bill

Dr. Bob · October 23, 2005, 12:25:40 PM

OCB,

You are most welcome. It's the cowboy way! It would be good to remind me just before you come. I seem to have a real bad case of CRS lately.

Mogorilla · October 24, 2005, 06:56:13 AM

OCB,
Great looking saddle!!!! Are you self taught, or have you taken a class? I have teased/threatened my wife with learning to make saddles so when I retire I would have something to do. She politely tells me that SPCA has rules against men of my girth riding horses, so I should take up her hobby for retirement.

Dr. Bob · October 24, 2005, 11:07:46 AM

Mogorilla,

Well, just explain to her that you would be selling saddles that you made and leave out the part about test riding them.

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 24, 2005, 11:18:04 AM

Mogrilla,
I'm self taught. If you can read a book you can learn to make a saddle. When you get ready let me know and I will suggest the books you need to get started. And, no matter how big you are, there are horses that are bigger and can carry your weight with no problem. You might need a ladder to get on them but they are out there

Me, I like those little horses, 15 hands or smaller and am partial to those mustangs, fell off one yesterday going full tilt at a gallop bare back trying to shoot balloons with my 1866 (showing off), well, the horse made a sharp turn I wasn't expecting and I just slid off. Thank goodness the ground is closer on these little horses (faster to get to). I know he (the horse) got a big laugh out of it....

OCB

Dr. Bob · October 24, 2005, 11:30:59 AM

OCB,

Glad that the rain ended and you got to ride. Hope that you are doing ok after your unexpected dismount!

Ya'd think that the saddle maker would put one on his horse to show it off!

Mogorilla · October 24, 2005, 12:33:53 PM

OCB,
I would love to get that book list at your convience. Retirement is still a minimum of 20 years away for me, but never hurts to get prepared. Prior to meeting my wife, I had a date with a circus girl whose family raised and trained elephants. I rode them on a couple of occassions. They held my simian mass with no problems, but I nearly had to do the splits to ride accross their shoulders.

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 24, 2005, 03:22:38 PM

Mogrilla,
The ones that I would start with would be The Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making, vilumes 1,2, and 3. They are around $60.00 per volume, but they have everything you need to know about saddle making. You just have to adapt what period saddle you want to produce using their instructions. Al and Anne Stohlman were considered THE best of the best in modern saddle making. The Leather Shop and Tandy's both sell the three voulume set. Once you get started and you need help or have a question I will be glad to answer it if you don't mind taking advice from (as I was called or implied to be), an Elitist??

Bill

Books OToole · October 24, 2005, 03:40:06 PM

There are copies of Stohlman's Encylopedia of Saddle Making listed on ABEBOOKS.Com. Vol. 1 for $ 50, Vol. 2 for $ 55 or all three for $ 250. No individual Vol. 3 was listed at this time.

Books

Ottawa Creek Bill · October 24, 2005, 05:41:45 PM

Books, and Mogrilla,
Just received my new Hidecrafters catalog and they are listed for $79.99 each, gone way up since I bought mine. Like Books said, I think if you look you could find them cheaper on e-bay or some other outlet. Since Al and Anne have both passed they will go up in price as collectors items.

Dr. Bob,
Naw, wasn't hurt. We were practicing inside in a large pole barn that has a manacured dirt floor, like landing on cotton

, foutnatly I landed where my brains are located (not on my head, if you know what I mean), and where I also have the most padding.Ya fall off, Ya get back up.......

OCB