Horsewright Knives and Leather

[Old Biker]

Something a lil different in this batch too. I made myself a new roundknife for cutting leather.. I use to make a lot of these for sale to other leatherworks but I backed off due to health and safety issues. These #%^#$**($# suckers wanna jump off the grinder and bite you! I'd made a few in the recent past for friends and I was making one for a friend in this batch. I had one pre heat treated blank left so said what the heck and made one for me too. The one on the right is my new one and the one on the left is ready to retire. He started out the same size and shape as the new one.

I'm sure glad I got one of those before you quit making them.

O.B.

 

[1911bphil]

Yep it's sure gonna help around the place. We've been using one of those standard hand strap cutters for years. The advantage here besides volume is so much less waste as these straps are super accurate. No wobblies here and thin there and a lil wide in that part. Seemed like with that hand one even though I had a lot of experience with it, it was tricky to get an absolute true cut!

Yeah it's pretty cool! Long past time due on our outfit.

Thank you David! Yeah it came out cool. Big stack of boxes heading to the UPS store this morning. All our leather machines, including both sewing machines are from this company and everything is top notch.

Thank you Mitch!


Thanks guys!!!

Something a lil different in this batch too. I made myself a new roundknife for cutting leather.. I use to make a lot of these for sale to other leatherworks but I backed off due to health and safety issues. These #%^#$**($# suckers wanna jump off the grinder and bite you! I'd made a few in the recent past for friends and I was making one for a friend in this batch. I had one pre heat treated blank left so said what the heck and made one for me too. The one on the right is my new one and the one on the left is ready to retire. He started out the same size and shape as the new one.

I used mesquite on the handle of this one and African Blackwood on the other. Here are the two new ones:

These guys have one job and that is to cut leather. I expect then to cut heavy saddle leather cleanly in one pass and they do. When making one for someone else I always have that knife cut out its own sheath to make sure its sharp enough:

It got er done. I don't make sheaths for my own as they live on the workbench. They are the one tool that is never put away and since my leather work bench is pretty big there are usually a couple on the bench. One on each side with in easy reach.

I might actually get back to making them, kinda thinking about it. The one above goes to duramax here on the forums a fine leather bender. He has one already and needed another.

We do a lot of gun leather too and often matching up with a sheath.

Over the years we've put together quite a collection of "blueguns", molds for making holsters. Its crazy how expensive these plastic things are, bout $55 on average.

We keep em in a big box under the workbench. I was digging through them the other day looking for a specific one to make a holster for a customer. Got em all laid out It kinda struck me. There is one there an extremely classic and popular handgun and I've only ever made one holster for it which is crazy considering how many there are out there in the world.

Kinda prominent in that pic above. Any guesses which one? Anyhoo I often save lil leather jobs like this holster and another I need to do for in between knife batches. Kind gives me a lil break.

I'm going to guess a Browning Hi-Power.

 

[natchezz]

Kinda prominent in that pic above. Any guesses which one? Anyhoo I often save lil leather jobs like this holster and another I need to do for in between knife batches. Kind gives me a lil break.

I’ll second the BHP.

 

[RLB0414]

The judge with the .410 length cylinder.

 

[echoscout]

Genealogically you are very close.

Browning P35 High Power. Had one when I was younger. Traded it of for a Smith and Wesson I wanted badly at the time.

 

[Horsewright]

Strap cutters suck something fierce. They have these new small plastic black ones with a metal knob that are much more accurate and great for smaller straps. About ten bucks on amazon.

The big wooden ones never like to lock in place real good.

I get a moment I'll email ya a couple lil vids of the Beast going, it's cool! Agreed, Even with pliers it was tough to lock those wooden ones down. Course ya get it nice and tight and that seemed to wear it out faster.

I would guess maybe what looks like a Ruger Security Six (hard to tell on my phone) ? Lots out there, but most don't get carried much anymore.

No sir. A six inch Security Six was my very first handgun though back in the day. Wish I still had it. Traded it and a Remington 788 in .243 for a Smith 59. Bad trade. I don't trade guns anymore. Although $ wise I sold the Smith later for more than the other two were worth. However I still do not trade guns. That silver one in the pic is a Ruger Redhawk though. No blue gun available for the Redhawk which surprised me. Found a foundry in ID that made em out of aluminum.

I'm sure glad I got one of those before you quit making them.

O.B.

Good deal. That roundknife still working out for ya? I only used buffalo for maybe two or three sheaths I think.

I'm going to guess a Browning Hi-Power.

I’ll second the BHP.

The judge with the .410 length cylinder.

Yep absolutely right. I've only ever made one holster for a Hi Power. There are literally millions of them floating around the world, I mean when did they come out 1935 or something. I've never had one and it is a bucket list gun of mine. I've made quite a few holsters for the Judge. Turned down even more because the bluegun for it was late to the party. The genealogy for waynorth is Browning designed the 1911 and then later started in on the Hi Power. Interestingly he had to work around his own patents that Colt now owned. He hadn't quite finished up the Hi Power at his passing.

 

[Horsewright]

Browning P35 High Power. Had one when I was younger. Traded it of for a Smith and Wesson I wanted badly at the time.

View attachment 2761163

Yes sir on the BHP! I’ve heard good things about the new Springfield version of it. Great pic of that Cowboy!

 

[mitch13]

Yep it's sure gonna help around the place. We've been using one of those standard hand strap cutters for years. The advantage here besides volume is so much less waste as these straps are super accurate. No wobblies here and thin there and a lil wide in that part. Seemed like with that hand one even though I had a lot of experience with it, it was tricky to get an absolute true cut!

Yeah it's pretty cool! Long past time due on our outfit.

Thank you David! Yeah it came out cool. Big stack of boxes heading to the UPS store this morning. All our leather machines, including both sewing machines are from this company and everything is top notch.

Thank you Mitch!


Thanks guys!!!

Something a lil different in this batch too. I made myself a new roundknife for cutting leather.. I use to make a lot of these for sale to other leatherworks but I backed off due to health and safety issues. These #%^#$**($# suckers wanna jump off the grinder and bite you! I'd made a few in the recent past for friends and I was making one for a friend in this batch. I had one pre heat treated blank left so said what the heck and made one for me too. The one on the right is my new one and the one on the left is ready to retire. He started out the same size and shape as the new one.

I used mesquite on the handle of this one and African Blackwood on the other. Here are the two new ones:

These guys have one job and that is to cut leather. I expect then to cut heavy saddle leather cleanly in one pass and they do. When making one for someone else I always have that knife cut out its own sheath to make sure its sharp enough:

It got er done. I don't make sheaths for my own as they live on the workbench. They are the one tool that is never put away and since my leather work bench is pretty big there are usually a couple on the bench. One on each side with in easy reach.

I might actually get back to making them, kinda thinking about it. The one above goes to duramax here on the forums a fine leather bender. He has one already and needed another.

We do a lot of gun leather too and often matching up with a sheath.

Over the years we've put together quite a collection of "blueguns", molds for making holsters. Its crazy how expensive these plastic things are, bout $55 on average.

We keep em in a big box under the workbench. I was digging through them the other day looking for a specific one to make a holster for a customer. Got em all laid out It kinda struck me. There is one there an extremely classic and popular handgun and I've only ever made one holster for it which is crazy considering how many there are out there in the world.

Kinda prominent in that pic above. Any guesses which one? Anyhoo I often save lil leather jobs like this holster and another I need to do for in between knife batches. Kind gives me a lil break.

More fine work.
Great work on the round knife they do come in handy. I was gifted 1 many years ago by custom maker Terry Knipschield.

 

[Horsewright]

More fine work.
Great work on the round knife they do come in handy. I was gifted 1 many years ago by custom maker Terry Knipschield.

Thanks! Yep Knipshields were the custom standard in leather knives for a long time. A friend of mine, saddle maker, John Willemsma helped with his designs and testing. We don’t currently have any of John’s saddles right now but have had four in the past. I’d been fighting a pair of bulldog tapaderos, trying to get them ready for stock for a show one time. They defeated me and I left them on the workbench here at home. Went out to dinner one night at the show and John was in our group and sitting close to me as it was a large group. Asked him about it and he gave me one lil tip and it was could have had a V8 moment. Got home, followed his advice and had those suckers together in about 10 minutes. John is the tall guy in the tan vest sitting next to Nichole in the green vest and maroon shirt.

It was a big roping and the competitors were waiting for the National Anthem:

Nichole was competing:

And our son Logan was too:

Me I was watching the store:

 

[Horsewright]

Just a fun pic I came across looking for something else. Sometimes I get tied up in the shop and I have folks waiting on me. Heck they even saddled my horse:

 

[waynorth]

Yep absolutely right. I've only ever made one holster for a Hi Power. There are literally millions of them floating around the world, I mean when did they come out 1935 or something. I've never had one and it is a bucket list gun of mine. I've made quite a few holsters for the Judge. Turned down even more because the bluegun for it was late to the party. The genealogy for waynorth is Browning designed the 1911 and then later started in on the Hi Power. Interestingly he had to work around his own patents that Colt now owned. He hadn't quite finished up the Hi Power at his passing.

I had an Canadian made Inglis Browning!! Several years ago, a dealer here found a case of them still in cosmoline, in Britain, and I managed to score one with a perfect trigger pull, and won a military match with it first time out!! I loved that Pistol!!
Inglis made these licensed versions of the Hi-Power, reinforced to handle military (read Sten machine gun) ammo for British and Commomwealth forces!! Only had a canvas holster though!! Too bad I didn't know you then, Dave!! I coulda been your second Browning customer!!

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I get a moment I'll email ya a couple lil vids of the Beast going, it's cool! Agreed, Even with pliers it was tough to lock those wooden ones down. Course ya get it nice and tight and that seemed to wear it out faster.


No sir. A six inch Security Six was my very first handgun though back in the day. Wish I still had it. Traded it and a Remington 788 in .243 for a Smith 59. Bad trade. I don't trade guns anymore. Although $ wise I sold the Smith later for more than the other two were worth. However I still do not trade guns. That silver one in the pic is a Ruger Redhawk though. No blue gun available for the Redhawk which surprised me. Found a foundry in ID that made em out of aluminum.

Good deal. That roundknife still working out for ya? I only used buffalo for maybe two or three sheaths I think.




Yep absolutely right. I've only ever made one holster for a Hi Power. There are literally millions of them floating around the world, I mean when did they come out 1935 or something. I've never had one and it is a bucket list gun of mine. I've made quite a few holsters for the Judge. Turned down even more because the bluegun for it was late to the party. The genealogy for waynorth is Browning designed the 1911 and then later started in on the Hi Power. Interestingly he had to work around his own patents that Colt now owned. He hadn't quite finished up the Hi Power at his passing.

I glued sandpaper to the metal part on my wooden version. Helps it not to slip.

 

[mitch13]

Dave'
Terry is a real nice bloke too. I was blown away when he sent it as a surprise.
More good pictures.
Those bulldog tapaderos would be tricky.
Can you make them a standard size, or do they need to be 1offs due to different stirrup and boot sizes?

 

[Old Biker]

That roundknife still working out for ya? I only used buffalo for maybe two or three sheaths I think.

I love it. It had a bit of a learning curve at first. But it's about all I use for cutting leather anymore. I never realized I had a rare limited edition sheath before.

O.B.

 

[Horsewright]

I had an Canadian made Inglis Browning!! Several years ago, a dealer here found a case of them still in cosmoline, in Britain, and I managed to score one with a perfect trigger pull, and won a military match with it first time out!! I loved that Pistol!!
Inglis made these licensed versions of the Hi-Power, reinforced to handle military (read Sten machine gun) ammo for British and Commomwealth forces!! Only had a canvas holster though!! Too bad I didn't know you then, Dave!! I coulda been your second Browning customer!!

Dang that would of been a great one!

I glued sandpaper to the metal part on my wooden version. Helps it not to slip.

Clever idea.

Dave'
Terry is a real nice bloke too. I was blown away when he sent it as a surprise.
More good pictures.
Those bulldog tapaderos would be tricky.
Can you make them a standard size, or do they need to be 1offs due to different stirrup and boot sizes?

I always made them on a set of stirrups so that really wasn't an issue as the taps came with the stirrups. Most folks use these for the warmth factor so I would always build them on an overshoe sized stirrup. Size could be an issue. My pattern handled most adult sizes but if you were over say a 10.5 mens they'd be tight. I made my son several pairs but had to enlarge the pattern as he's a size 13. Here's a pic of em:

I've personally have never had a pair of bulldog taps I'm an eagle beak kinda guy. Taps by the way is short for Tapadero (stirrup covering). The eagle beak is more traditional around here. Nichole's eagle beaks:

We don't leave them on the saddle most of the time, just putting them on when needed. They add a lot of weight to a saddle. Mine were built to fit my size 12 foot. It's surprising the difference they can make in warmth. Ya get those cold winds blowing and taps keep em off your feet.

 

[Horsewright]

I love it. It had a bit of a learning curve at first. But it's about all I use for cutting leather anymore. I never realized I had a rare limited edition sheath before.

O.B.

Good deal my friend! Glad that knife is working out for ya. Yes indeed a collector's item!

 

[waynorth]

Dang that would of been a great one!

Yeah it would of!! Gave up shooting a while ago for health reasons, and sold all my guns!! Sniff!

 

[mitch13]

Dang that would of been a great one!

Clever idea.

I always made them on a set of stirrups so that really wasn't an issue as the taps came with the stirrups. Most folks use these for the warmth factor so I would always build them on an overshoe sized stirrup. Size could be an issue. My pattern handled most adult sizes but if you were over say a 10.5 mens they'd be tight. I made my son several pairs but had to enlarge the pattern as he's a size 13. Here's a pic of em:

I've personally have never had a pair of bulldog taps I'm an eagle beak kinda guy. Taps by the way is short for Tapadero (stirrup covering). The eagle beak is more traditional around here. Nichole's eagle beaks:

We don't leave them on the saddle most of the time, just putting them on when needed. They add a lot of weight to a saddle. Mine were built to fit my size 12 foot. It's surprising the difference they can make in warmth. Ya get those cold winds blowing and taps keep em off your feet.

Dave.
That is real interesting, thought there might be different sizes.
I had heard of taps but not eagle beak, although had seen them in movies and pictures. You say they add a bit of weight. So you'd remove them for competition?
Oh yeah the red
Thanks for sharing mate appreciate all the knowledge.

 

[lambertiana]

I get a moment I'll email ya a couple lil vids of the Beast going, it's cool! Agreed, Even with pliers it was tough to lock those wooden ones down. Course ya get it nice and tight and that seemed to wear it out faster.


No sir. A six inch Security Six was my very first handgun though back in the day. Wish I still had it. Traded it and a Remington 788 in .243 for a Smith 59. Bad trade. I don't trade guns anymore. Although $ wise I sold the Smith later for more than the other two were worth. However I still do not trade guns. That silver one in the pic is a Ruger Redhawk though. No blue gun available for the Redhawk which surprised me. Found a foundry in ID that made em out of aluminum.

Good deal. That roundknife still working out for ya? I only used buffalo for maybe two or three sheaths I think.




Yep absolutely right. I've only ever made one holster for a Hi Power. There are literally millions of them floating around the world, I mean when did they come out 1935 or something. I've never had one and it is a bucket list gun of mine. I've made quite a few holsters for the Judge. Turned down even more because the bluegun for it was late to the party. The genealogy for waynorth is Browning designed the 1911 and then later started in on the Hi Power. Interestingly he had to work around his own patents that Colt now owned. He hadn't quite finished up the Hi Power at his passing.

I'm late to the party, I was going to guess Hi-Power but as I scrolled through I saw that others had beat me to it.

I used to work with a guy who had one, and I got to shoot it once. I've always wanted one.

 

[DocJekl]

I see a Sig P365 model in there. Are you able to do a P365XL holster which usuallyy works with both the shorty (3.1" BBL) and the XL (3.7" BBL)? I have an OG shorty and an XL and two OG shorties with the Radian Ranjet Afterburner comp that gives it an XL length slide...

Do you only do on the waistband, or also some IWB? Thanks!