Horsewright Knives and Leather

[Horsewright]

Beautiful work as always...

Thank you!

 

[AkAlces]

Ya know oak carving kinda lost its popularity for a while. I use to do a lot and then didn’t have any requests for it for 15-20 years. Then bam it became popular again about 10 years or so ago. I even know which customer it was that asked for it first. Since, I’ve made for him, all oak carved, spurstraps, chinks (short chaps), several sheaths, couple holsters and a belt. My own saddle is oak carved.

Does the roughout take the antique dye you sometimes put on smoothout or is that a no-go? You must have some pictures of you’re saddle!

 

[Horsewright]

No ya can’t do the antiquing. Roughout is too much like a sponge! Yes I do I’ll see if I can find them.

 

[AkAlces]

No ya can’t do the antiquing. Roughout is too much like a sponge! Yes I do I’ll see if I can find them

What’s the process for the dark intitials you put on your scabbards? I figured it was that same dye. Noticed none of the roughout pictures I’d seen from you had the border stamps colored.

 

[Horsewright]

Initials and brands, either roughout or smoothout can be dyed. This is done by hand with a small paintbrush. Can be tricky especially on the roughout as the dye can wick a little. Highlighting tooling is a whole different process.

 

[Horsewright]

While there are commercially made antiques dn or highlighters we don't use them. We found them too contrasty, sometimes unnatural looking. We use my own concoction and have for many years. In applying this highlighter a technique is used known as resist dyeing. I made up this tutorial some time back for those interested in the process:

Thread 'Antiquing/Highlighting the Horsewright Way'

Feb 16, 2018

Been quite a few questions lately and in the past about antiquing/highlighting carving or tooling. I thought I'd take a few minutes and show you how and what we do.

Years ago I use to use a lot of the paste antiques. Buy it by the quart jar. As my work improved over the years I got tired of the anitque look. I found it to be too waxy, too thick, too contrasty, lots of toos, just too much. Still got about a half empty quart jar that hasn't had the lid off in ten years or so. I experimented with another product Fiebings HI Lighter. While it was better, eventually, we decided it was still...

• Horsewright
• Replies: 38
• Forum: Sheaths & Such

• 

What's the difference:

Highlighted:

Non highlighted:

Some other highlighted items:

Some dyed brands and initials;

The Carlos Border stamp on this scabbard has not been highlighted. The darkness on it comes from higher quality tools and is referred to as burnishing. Cheap tools don't burnish an impression as well. Some of that also comes from judging the moisture content in the leather and that comes from experience. You have to stamp leather when its damp, not too dry and not too wet.

 

[AkAlces]

While there are commercially made antiques dn or highlighters we don't use them. We found them too contrasty, sometimes unnatural looking. We use my own concoction and have for many years. In applying this highlighter a technique is used known as resist dyeing. I made up this tutorial some time back for those interested in the process:

Thread 'Antiquing/Highlighting the Horsewright Way'

Feb 16, 2018

Been quite a few questions lately and in the past about antiquing/highlighting carving or tooling. I thought I'd take a few minutes and show you how and what we do.

Years ago I use to use a lot of the paste antiques. Buy it by the quart jar. As my work improved over the years I got tired of the anitque look. I found it to be too waxy, too thick, too contrasty, lots of toos, just too much. Still got about a half empty quart jar that hasn't had the lid off in ten years or so. I experimented with another product Fiebings HI Lighter. While it was better, eventually, we decided it was still...

• Horsewright
• Replies: 38
• Forum: Sheaths & Such

• 

What's the difference:

Highlighted:

Non highlighted:

Some other highlighted items:

Some dyed brands and initials;

The Carlos Border stamp on this scabbard has not been highlighted. The darkness on it comes from higher quality tools and is referred to as burnishing. Cheap tools don't burnish an impression as well. Some of that also comes from judging the moisture content in the leather and that comes from experience. You have to stamp leather when its damp, not too dry and not too wet.

I like how the roughout has a dynamic quality in coloration and texture. Looks like I have some reading to do. Thank you, Dave.

 

[Horsewright]

I like how the roughout has a dynamic quality in coloration and texture. Looks like I have some reading to do. Thank you, Dave.

I think roughout is very practical for a scabbard or saddlery. It really handles abrasions and scuffing well. Smoothout works the best when water resistance might be an issue.

 

[Horsewright]

Some of the oak carving on my saddle:

And credit where credit is due:

 

[AkAlces]

Sharp looking saddle. The smoothout-roughout is a nice combo. Looks like you’ve since put some miles on it if the first two pictures are an indication. Are the stirrups birch?

 

[Horsewright]

Yes sir I have. The stirrups are oak covered in monel. They are known as monel bell stirrups due to their shape.

Edited to add: The roughout/smoothout combo on the saddle is very common. Its referred to as a halfbreed saddle. Full roughout saddles are very common too.

 

[RLB0414]

Some Horsewright leather. Holster tucks tight against the body and holds the pistol like I want. The magazine carrier does the same.

 

[jfk1110]

 

[Horsewright]

Some Horsewright leather. Holster tucks tight against the body and holds the pistol like I want. The magazine carrier does the same.
View attachment 2878022

Glad that outfit is working out for ya! That water buffalo overlay just patinas great doesn't it?

View attachment 2878071

It's cool that those Buckaroo Pouches work on so many different folders. If a guy had 2/3 of them in different sizes he'd bought be able to carry thmost of the collection.

Lil different deal:

Finished off these spurstraps the other day and thought I'd show them with a pair of my own personal ones that have some miles on em.

We try to build stuff for the long haul.

 

[RLB0414]

Yes, the buffalo overlay patinas nicely.
I think you have figured out making equipment for the long haul.

 

[jfk1110]

Funny you said that.......I have all 3 sizes...........Guessing you remembered... Wasn't that long ago

 

[Horsewright]

Yes, the buffalo overlay patinas nicely.
I think you have figured out making equipment for the long haul.

Thank you sir, those kind words are appreciated!

Funny you said that.......I have all 3 sizes...........Guessing you remembered... Wasn't that long ago

I knew ya had some but didn’t realize ya had the whole shooting match! Good deal and glad those guys are working out for ya!

 

[echoscout]

 

[Horsewright]

View attachment 2879190

That's a GREAT song isn't it David? Was listening to him in the shop yesterday.

Buckaroo Man

Sleep in a bed role of canvas
No-see-ums feed on your ears
Wind blows the dust just like buckshot
And I ain't never seen it rain much out here
Smell your own sweat in the evenin'
Wash up at the galvanized tank
Nearst town forty miles
The cook here he don't smile
And all these young horses are rank
But come a ty yi yipee I O, on the back of my Caballo
I whoppy tie one on when I can
My spurs they don't ring much, I never did sing much
But I'm sure enough, a Buckaroo Man
Cold fingers stiff in the mornin'
By noon it's a hundred and three
Five year old slicks in the canyon
And never a hint of a breeze
Jug-headed hollow-back ponies
Provide all with hours of grief
There's snakes in the shade
Choya on the grade
And a half a ton of grit between my teeth
But come a ty yi yipee I O, on the back of my Caballo
I whoppy tie one on when I can
My spurs they don't ring much, I never did sing much
But I'm sure enough, a Buckaroo Man

This pair of spurs did have jingle bobs some years back. But they're long gone.

 

[echoscout]

That's a GREAT song isn't it David? Was listening to him in the shop yesterday.

Buckaroo Man

Sleep in a bed role of canvas
No-see-ums feed on your ears
Wind blows the dust just like buckshot
And I ain't never seen it rain much out here
Smell your own sweat in the evenin'
Wash up at the galvanized tank
Nearst town forty miles
The cook here he don't smile
And all these young horses are rank
But come a ty yi yipee I O, on the back of my Caballo
I whoppy tie one on when I can
My spurs they don't ring much, I never did sing much
But I'm sure enough, a Buckaroo Man
Cold fingers stiff in the mornin'
By noon it's a hundred and three
Five year old slicks in the canyon
And never a hint of a breeze
Jug-headed hollow-back ponies
Provide all with hours of grief
There's snakes in the shade
Choya on the grade
And a half a ton of grit between my teeth
But come a ty yi yipee I O, on the back of my Caballo
I whoppy tie one on when I can
My spurs they don't ring much, I never did sing much
But I'm sure enough, a Buckaroo Man

This pair of spurs did have jingle bobs some years back. But they're long gone.

Yes sir Dave it sure is a great song. Cool pic of your spurs pard