I started flipping saddles.
I have been doing a lot of saddle & tack work lately. My small shop is getting full of saddles to the point I am looking for homes for them. I am contemplating putting some of the higher end rigs here on GB, if they don't go locally.
This is an older Billy Royal handmade 16" show rig from back when he was still making them in Texas, before his shop was bought out, and it was moved the Mexico. This is a nice saddle that I am in the process of reconditioning so it can be ridden again.
This is my favorite, and I'm torn between keeping it, and letting it go. This is an original handmade 15" Roper/Ranch working rig made by the original "Texas Saddlery shop in Bastrop Texas" before it was bought out and their new rigs started being made in India. This rig has full QH-bars. I am also reconditioning it too, and am waiting on a new pair of stirrups to finish it. A lot of saddles I work on are missing stirrups, I'm scratching my head on that one...[:I]
Trinity +++
This is an older Billy Royal handmade 16" show rig from back when he was still making them in Texas, before his shop was bought out, and it was moved the Mexico. This is a nice saddle that I am in the process of reconditioning so it can be ridden again.
This is my favorite, and I'm torn between keeping it, and letting it go. This is an original handmade 15" Roper/Ranch working rig made by the original "Texas Saddlery shop in Bastrop Texas" before it was bought out and their new rigs started being made in India. This rig has full QH-bars. I am also reconditioning it too, and am waiting on a new pair of stirrups to finish it. A lot of saddles I work on are missing stirrups, I'm scratching my head on that one...[:I]
Trinity +++
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On the first one those stirrups don't look to be set.
Very uncomfortable to ride.0 -
Alpine, I think it was, but it hasn?t been ridden in so long the Leather has gone back to it?s natural bend. It does have a easy curl to it, and will flex out easy.
That rig also only has one stirrup. The right side is missing, and in fact it was cut off just above the hobble strap. I will be making a brand new fender for the right side, but I?ll also have to match the carving on the left side...[V]
Trinity +++0 -
Nice looking rigs.
I?m contemplating selling my McClellan.
It belonged to my uncles fil.
He used it in parades.
I guess that is why he painted all the brass on it white. [V]
Took me forever to clean it up.
I cleaned and conditioned all the leather too.
The cinch is made of braided horse hair and is in fair condition. I could do nothing for it.
I have it on a saddle rack I made in my den.0 -
I'd of never thought to look for tack on GB. When you are ready to sell something, please be certain to plug them here. 0 -
Us55840,
I bet that?s because you can get most all tack & saddlery on eBay these days...[xx(]
Trinity +++0 -
I keep running by the thread title and thinking, "OK is this like flipping pancakes?" I have to say, I hate to see it Trinity, I lost a really fine holster maker when he went to making saddles. I ain't got a horse. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by He Dog
I keep running by the thread title and thinking, "OK is this like flipping pancakes?" I have to say, I hate to see it Trinity, I lost a really fine holster maker when he went to making saddles. I ain't got a horse.
I would hate to piss off a man big enough to flip Saddles like pancakes...[:0][B)][B)][B)][:D]0 -
He Dog,
Not to worry sir, I do not plan on making saddles.
Too much time & energy goes into a hand made saddle that would have to sale for over $2k+ to make a profit. I have always done tack repair, and I came across these saddles from a lady who wanted to clean out her tack room. I don't think she knew what she was getting rid of.
So many saddle these days are production run saddles that are cookie cutter stamped out, and sewn together in a factory in Mexico, India, or Pakistan. I'm not knocking their saddles, some are really nice rigs, but the craftsmanship just is not there, and if you want a good working rig that will be used hard they just will not hold up to the abuse.
Take a look at the working rig I am showing. That saddle is probably 30 or 40 years old, and is still in very good condition. It was used, and used well. You can even see the rope burn marks around the rawhyde rapped horn. It's clear this saddle was tugging against some weight at one time in it's life.
A lot of holsters are also cookie cutter stamped too these days, but you have to ask yourself if what you want is a one of a kind handmade rig, or something the next guy, and the next guy have also?
Saddles are the same way these days.
Trinity +++0
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