Finished Hope Saddle

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Here is a couple of photos of my finished Hope saddle.....I've distressed the leather a little to give it a used look (that is the reenactor in me).

Only thing left to do is trim the fleece around the skirts, set the stirrup leathers and make the stirrups. As I apply more coats of Neetsfoot Oil it will get darker.

Hope (get the pun?) you like it.

Bill

Hope Saddle


With Apache Saddle Bags

[Dalton Masterson]

Dang OCB! That looks great!!! Didnt seem to take you very long either!
I really like the distressing that you did. Looks nice.
DM

[cowboywc]

Howdy OCB
Very nice job. Great look to it.
WC

[RollingThunder]

So, just so's I have this right, that's arriving at my place via UPS or USPS?

LOL.

Looks brilliantly done, OCB. Just simply beautiful, and the Apache saddle bags look very much at home on the back of that saddle!

Well done!

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

       This saddle is really something, beautiful work Bill, thanks for the look see 

                                 Regards


                            tEN wOLVES 

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy Bill.

Your Saddle is very impressive! A true work of art! Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Hey Johnny McCrae......

Are you going to make it to the NCOWS national shoot next month, so far from what I've heard there is going to be quite a turn out this year.

Bill

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Truly outstanding, Bill. I'm impressed with that one. Thanks for the pics.

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy fellows,

Ask Bill about the new?? saddle tree that he is getting next week! 

[Skeeter Lewis]

Beautiful work, Bill. I don't know saddle-styles, but that looks old-time. You seem to have made it pretty fast. Congratulations.

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy Bill,

Yes sir, I'll be there. I'm looking forward to a great event again. Glad to hear that a good turnout is shaping up. Thank you for asking.

[will ghormley]

Hey Ottawa, NICE KACK!  Just needs a couple hundred miles to give it that "broke in" look.  That's the fun part.

The tree looks pretty trim, not chunky like a lot of trees you find these days.  Did you mention where it came from?

Good work!
Will

[JD Alan]

Bill, that is one fine piece of work. I stared at the picture for some time, taking it all in. Like some others, I don't know much about saddles other that the traditional western saddle you see most places, but this is truly a functional work of art.

All of the guys on this forum who make saddles blow me away with their skills. It's great just to be able to see them in stages, and try to understand the work that goes into making one

Thanks for sharing your work, JD 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Hey Ottawa, NICE KACK!  Just needs a couple hundred miles to give it that "broke in" look.  That's the fun part.

The tree looks pretty trim, not chunky like a lot of trees you find these days.  Did you mention where it came from?

Good work!
Will

Will......
Bowden Saddle Tree Co., They used to be the old Ritter Saddle Tree Co., They are down in Texas...they've been making trees for over a 150 years and still make them the old way...rawhide covered and rawhide laced. You can get their catalog online.

I tried to cover a tree with rawhide once....it took me about four tries before I got the hang of it.

If you all want to see some beautiful saddles....take a look at Will's saddles....works of art!

By the way Will....Great job on the 3:10 to Yuma and the Jesse James rigs.....looks like they should .

I'm heading south to central Texas in July to work on new western they are filming down there, I'll be there for ten days...taking both my saddles and tack with me. Gonna portray a Chiricahua on Horse Back (what else?).....This is the fourth time I've portrayed a Native American from a different tribe then my own.

Bill

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Bill, that is one fine piece of work. I stared at the picture for some time, taking it all in. Like some others, I don't know much about saddles other that the traditional western saddle you see most places, but this is truly a functional work of art.

All of the guys on this forum who make saddles blow me away with their skills. It's great just to be able to see them in stages, and try to understand the work that goes into making one

Thanks for sharing your work, JD 

JD....Thanks....

These are real comfortable to ride in....like sitting in your grandma's rockin chair.

Bill

[David Carrico]

Nice saddle and nice bags!
DC

[Major 2]

There are 3 people , I have the greatest respect for in period saddlemaking...two I know personally& Reenacted with.

Doug Kidd (I've known 29 years)
David Carrico ( long time also ) and
Will Ghromley
All of which I had done Business with
They have made many saddles (as have I ) for films & reenactors....

If "two" of them tell you "you've done good" you can take that to the bank ...and me ?  I now have 4 people on my list above 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

There are 3 people , I have the greatest respect for in period saddlemaking...two I know personally& Reenacted with.

Doug Kidd (I've known 29 years)
David Carrico ( long time also ) and
Will Ghromley
All of which I had done Business with
They have made many saddles (as have I ) for films & reenactors....

If "two" of them tell you "you've done good" you can take that to the bank ...and me ?  I now have 4 people on my list above 

Major.....and I appreciate the compliments from all of you guys......

Bill

[will ghormley]

Well Creek,

You'll have accomplished somethin' I probably never will get done.  You'll get to ride, (or have ridden), one of your own saddles in a movie.  Hats off to ya'!

Will

[RollingThunder]

Well, shoot. All I gotta do is make a saddle to be a big movie star?

Too bad my old Meanea wouldn't count.

Hey Will, did I mention I picked up another project? A Sam Stagg rigged Montgomery Ward, Chicago, Ill. marked saddle.

I should have my head examined but good gravy they just look so cool!