Western Saddles

Western Saddles Custom Saddles, Saddle Repairs, Custom Cowboy Boots, Cowboy Boot Repair, Other Custom Projects

Once the seat dried from last week, I needed to some final trimming. This had to be done after taking the seat off. Addi...
09/23/2026

Once the seat dried from last week, I needed to some final trimming. This had to be done after taking the seat off. Additionally, I removed the skirts and prepared them to receive saddle strings and shearling. However, that will not happen until after I have fitted and sized the rear jockeys.

Today's actual progress on the saddle was the installation of the cantle back leather and the cantle filler. as shown in the pictures. The back of the cantle on this saddle will have a 2" wide Cheyene roll (great for a hand-hold). Once the leather is dry, I will remove the tacks and do some "finnessing" of the leather inside the cantle to ensure it is as flat (cantle-shaped) as possible. Then it will be cemented to the inside of the cantle and re-tacked.

End of the week progress on the custom saddle.....Both pictures show that the skirts and seat have been installed for in...
09/18/2026

End of the week progress on the custom saddle.....

Both pictures show that the skirts and seat have been installed for initial fitting. The skirts are dry and needed to be in place so that the seat could be properly fitted. The seat is tacked in place with the draw-down strap tightened to form the seat to the ground seat.

I'll leave the seat to dry over the weekend and get back to it next week.

I missed out on reporting on the progress of the custom saddle yesterday, as I took the needed time to actually cut out ...
09/15/2026

I missed out on reporting on the progress of the custom saddle yesterday, as I took the needed time to actually cut out parts of the saddle that I would be needing in the near future. I cut the swell cover, seat, skirts, rear jockeys, and saddle strings.

Today was the day to install the swell cover....take a look at the picture....

On my Dad's boots, the only thing I did today was to remove the heel block and the insole from the uppers. Once I receiv...
09/11/2026

On my Dad's boots, the only thing I did today was to remove the heel block and the insole from the uppers. Once I receive the last that will fit this boot, I can begin reassembly.

I did work on the custom saddle today.... The rigging is completely installed...please see the following pictures for more information.

As I was literally waiting for glue to dry on the saddle, I began work on my father's boots (repair). He purchased these...
09/10/2026

As I was literally waiting for glue to dry on the saddle, I began work on my father's boots (repair). He purchased these boots in the early 80's and has had them resoled once. I intend to re-sole them and install new heel caps. Please see the pictures for more information.

Today I finished installing the horn leathers and I also installed the front rigging.
09/10/2026

Today I finished installing the horn leathers and I also installed the front rigging.

Today's work on the custom saddle included the completion of the ground seat preparation and the covering of the horn. P...
09/09/2026

Today's work on the custom saddle included the completion of the ground seat preparation and the covering of the horn. Please see the pictures.

Still waiting for the jump boot lasts to come in....but that will be a project that will take place as I have time.Curre...
09/09/2026

Still waiting for the jump boot lasts to come in....but that will be a project that will take place as I have time.

Currently I am building a custom saddle and I will be taking you through the process essentially step by step. See the attached pictures for more information.

I've got a relatively long-term project that I will be completing in between other projects. When I was in the Army (ret...
08/23/2026

I've got a relatively long-term project that I will be completing in between other projects. When I was in the Army (retired in 2005), black leather boots were the standard for daily wear, in and out of the fields. One set of boot that were very popular were the Corcoran Jump Boots.

These boots were the standard for the airborne units since WWII, and had always been a favorite for soldiers post WWII because of the ability to shine them to such a high gloss that if you stood in front of someone wearing properly "spit-shined" boots, you could actually see the reflection of your entire body in the toes of the boot.

Because I had very wide feet, it was difficult for me to obtain a well-fitting combat boot, regardless if it was Corcoran, Daner, or the standard recruit boot; unless I went with a size and a half larger than my feet.

I decided that I should try and make myself a well-fitting Corcoran-style boot, just to see how it turns out.

I actually went on Marketplace and found the Corcorans in the following pictures, within a 30-minute drive from me. These boots were purchased brand new in 2020. I plan on taking these boots apart, piece by piece, to see how they were built and to see if I could replicate the manufacture. More comments with the pictures. I will post the pictures as I take the boots apart...

Address

254 Aspen Circle
Killeen, TX
76549

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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(254) 466-1583

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