D rings

These D's will go on a saddle. The rest of the saddle hardware will be damascus too. It should be a one of a kind.

A jig I built to bend the steel around.

Clay came by and thought my jig wasn't heavy enough so he built me another.

Ready to finish.

Finished!

This has turned out to be a fun project. It's out of the ordinary, and breaks the monotony. Plus it's going to be one fine looking saddle. I'm going to be jealous Ben.

Knives

A couple of new ones back from the sheath maker.

This one is sold.

This one is for sale. 1095/15n20/nickel damascus steel, mesquite and stainless handle. 225.00$ plus shipping.SOLD!

Damascus bit

This was my first attempt at a silver inlay. I have been wanting to try it for a long time now, and finally found a bit that I thought it would look good on.

1018/nickel damascus steel shanks, 1/2 inch mild steel high port mouth piece. The bit is 7 1/2 inches overall length, with a 2 1/2 inch purchase.

This bit sells for 500.00$ plus shipping.
SOLD! Thanks.

Hauling horses

Tragedy struck twice on my daughter's place last week. She had a colt fall off into a hole and die, then the colt's mama was down Sunday morning and couldn't get up. A twisted gut more than likely. Without a 5000.00$ surgery that is not guaranteed to work, there is just not much that can save them.
 They say bad things happen in 3's. I hope it's not true this time.

Kim and I had planned on going to town for a hamburger Sunday evening, but she wouldn't ride with me. She insisted on us taking her truck.

When you deal with animals, this kind of thing happens. It's always a little harder when it is a horse or a dog. We get attached to them, they are our buddies, our friends, and it hurts to lose them. Especially the good ones.

Damascus buckle

1018/nickel damascus steel. This buckle was made out of left overs, or drops, from other stuff I've made. It fits a 3/4" belt, and is 2" wide. 150.00$ plus shipping.

I heat colored this buckle. 600 degrees for about 30 minutes gives it the purplish color. It is then oiled while still hot. This lets the oil into all the little pours in the metal and keeps it looking nice.

Short handed

Poor Chase was short handed shipping a load of cattle today. Kyle and Jacob are sick, and all he had to work with was me, and all I did was ride around and take a bunch of pictures.

I'm behind again

841

The swap

The swap, or trade, is something I really enjoy. I have received a lot of good stuff from makers of various handmade items that I wouldn't have spent the money on ordinarily. These knives were part of a trade. Kim got her a neat little pistol holster from Jack Gully with these.

1084/15n20 damascus steel.

Mesquite on the handle, I'm sure Jack could use a little Texas in South Dakota.