cows knee and hammer stall

[Old Creek]

I found out tonight just why leather goods are a little pricey sometime.
I had a old leather welding jacket that I out grew 15 years ago but it has been hangin off one of my dresser knobs ever since, just couldn't bring myself to toss it and knew nobody who could use it and since I got gransons now I thought matbe they would use it. After much agonizing tonight I finaly screwed up the nerve to cut it up and it didn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would. after a few tears fell I got to work and made me a real primitive lookin cows knee and a hammer stall, well the hammer stall aint quite finished yet, I sewed the frizzen cover but still gotta cut the lacing to tie it to the gun. Though I managed to get the little bit of sewing done without sheddin any blood I none the less have a even deeper respect for all you guys who do leather work, it aint for the impatient or close is close enough crowd thats fer sure. I did an internet search today for lether craft stores close to me and the closest I found was about 200 miles, a tandy store and their prices looked high to me. Am I wrong or is generaly cheaper to buy than make such as shootin bags unless you are buying enough leather for several projects at once? I was thinkin about makin a ball bag or two and a flint wallet because I have enough of the welding jacket left for that but money wise I think I would be better off buying a shootin bag.

thanks fellas.

creek

 

[M. De Land]

I picked up a 2 lbs bag of remnant tanned deer hide today for 15 dollars. One side is swede and the other smooth. Got two pieces about a foot square and a bunch of lesser sizes.
Looks to me like it would be prefect for a possibles or bullet bag. Probably not stiff enough for a cows knee but they also had some very thick remnants that could be worked into that item too.
I needed a leg guard as I begin to teach myself flint knapping and this stuff looked like just what was needed.
Want to make gun flints and arrow heads to give away for personalized presents at Christmas and birthdays. Looks like it's going to be both fun and interesting. MD

 

[50cal.cliff]

I found out tonight just why leather goods are a little pricey sometime.
I had a old leather welding jacket that I out grew 15 years ago but it has been hangin off one of my dresser knobs ever since, just couldn't bring myself to toss it and knew nobody who could use it and since I got gransons now I thought matbe they would use it. After much agonizing tonight I finaly screwed up the nerve to cut it up and it didn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would. after a few tears fell I got to work and made me a real primitive lookin cows knee and a hammer stall, well the hammer stall aint quite finished yet, I sewed the frizzen cover but still gotta cut the lacing to tie it to the gun. Though I managed to get the little bit of sewing done without sheddin any blood I none the less have a even deeper respect for all you guys who do leather work, it aint for the impatient or close is close enough crowd thats fer sure. I did an internet search today for lether craft stores close to me and the closest I found was about 200 miles, a tandy store and their prices looked high to me. Am I wrong or is generaly cheaper to buy than make such as shootin bags unless you are buying enough leather for several projects at once? I was thinkin about makin a ball bag or two and a flint wallet because I have enough of the welding jacket left for that but money wise I think I would be better off buying a shootin bag.

thanks fellas.

creek

While in some cases it might be cheaper I think it is more the satisfaction of making one more than anything.

You learn from your screw ups and leave a little DNA behind on each one but once you make one. Well it gets in your blood and sometimes your blood gets in it! :grin:

One thing I have learned is good leather ain't cheap. You want vegetable tanned as chrome tanned will cause anything metal that lays against it to rust. It is the chromium in the tanning solution that causes that. If you are going to do much leather work it is best to buy a whole side.

This is a good place but they ain't cheap by no means! http://www.wickett-craig.com/
Expect to pay about$175.00 - $200.00 for a good quality side.

This is from their site:

Skirting

Mold it, tool it, carve it, oil it, dye it! Our skirting is the most versatile leather that we make. With strength and malleability, it is the number one choice for all your saddle and holster type of needs. We make it in six colors in order to save you the hassle of dyeing. Check out our “color” and “pricing” tabs for more information.

Carving/Tooling

Our tooling leather is used by the best leather crafters in the world. The natural color is super for any color dye you want to use. It has the same great carving and tooling ability as the skirting. We stock this in 8-10oz and we will custom split it to any weight you want, free of charge. Check out our “color” and “pricing” tabs for more information.

So lets say you do decide to buy a side. You can get several bags, sheaths and various other projects for that $200.00! Where as you can spend upwards of $145.00 or more for something like this! http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/50/1/BAG-SCOUT-P

And in the end you won't have but one bag for your money. Granted it is all done but you won't have that satisfaction of making it yourself and you won't get much more than that for your money! So in the end its kind of up to you as too where you want to go with it!

 

[MSW]

if you don't already have a copy, see if you can get this book:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/267/5/BOOK-R18-CHP

T.C.Albert lays out a bunch of cool stuff. On the downside, once you make something, you'll always beethinking of the next project ...

this is bad, because, why? :shocked2:

 

[Ole Frog]

yes Tandy retail prices can be high but as a warehouse they use membership pricing. thats why everything they sell has 3 prices
the gold level membership costs $35 dollars and will save you 20-30% while the gold level is $150 but can save you as much as 50% at times.
I have the gold level and it paid for itself in the first purchase. If I continue to purchase from them I will upgrade memberships
And after the cartridge box I just finished I am addicted now so that seems likely

also I just got the book MSW recommended and I agree with him it is an excellent resource

 

[Old Creek]

the book/s will be a must because i aint even sure what tools i need. the welding jacket was light enough and there was few enough stitches to make that i just picked up what the fabric lady recomended for light leather by using several layers of leather to back up the work and starting the needle with a multi-tool. my wife is a pretty good self taught seamstress so hopefuly she can teach me some basics as well.
Good point about multiple items for the price of one and i need to keep it down every chance i get because i am starting from ground zero, the only thing i have so far is the rifle a few rod tools and what i made last night. i was about to buy a cheap horn but after some thought i decided to just go ahead and buy a nice horn, that is the one thing i really have my heart set on and i just plain dont have the talent to make one i would be proud of.
thanks fellas.

creek

 

[Spikebuck]

Ran into this guy and his wife at a rendezvous once. Has pretty good stuff at reasonable prices. Full range of hides of all types and supplies.
www.theleatherguy.org

 

[M. De Land]

I know what a cows knee is and have heard the term Hammer stall but do not know what they look like. Could someone post a picture to bring me up to speed? MD

 

[Ole Frog]

I know what a cows knee is and have heard the term Hammer stall but do not know what they look like. Could someone post a picture to bring me up to speed? MD

My hammer stall

My Cows knee:

 

[M. De Land]

Ah, thanks bullfrog! I have seen a hammer stall before after all but just didn't know what it was called.
My thought would have been........,Oh a frizzen cover! MD

 

[Ole Frog]

Ah, thanks bullfrog! I have seen a hammer stall before after all but just didn't know what it was called.
My thought would have been........,Oh a frizzen cover! MD

LOL yeah mine too

 

[Old Creek]

now that i see a pic of your cows knee mine is way to big, and a little light as well though it will serve the purpose i think i will try again when i can get some heavier leather. i made a buterfly cut on the peice for the frizzen because i wanted to reduce the number of stitches and the number of opportunitys to screw up. it is not as neat a job as on yours but if i can figure out how i will post a pic. thanks for the pics.

creek

 

[rijerolmon]

The cows knee that you made from thinner leather sounds like what I prefer. If the weather clears or I can protect the lock under my arm then the knee gets rolled up and fits in my bag or pocket. Keep checking the "thrift stores" leather handbags and jackets can be recycled. Check out Brettuns leather site for supplies. The satisfaction of making it adds to its value!

 

[Ole Frog]

I made mine a long time ago and I didnt have the resources available to me that I do now
I have seen some bigger and they may work better
but I have hunted in the rain with mine and it worked
My gun went off when I fired it

 

[Old Creek]

Thanks RI, my wife has a closet full of old bags, well old to her, they look new to me. since I razz her every time she shows up with a new one she may let me sacrifice them just to have me in her debt.

Bullfrog the few I have seen ( all on web pages ) have been bigger but i really like the looks of yours and if it works it works right??

thanks.

creek

 

[Ole Frog]

it works!

I copied mine from an old gentleman's that I met years ago. He was unbelievable when it came to muzzleloaders and period knowledge.

I got my love for period things from him
sadly he moved to another state and we lost contact

 

[Old Creek]

i would imagine there was all shapes, sizes and manner of construction and material that have never been dug up. there had to be folks out there who had to make do with whatever they could lay hands on due to scarcity or empty pockets. i can picture some young fella tired of moving rocks to plow straight rows hammerin his plow shear into a knife, cobblin a sheath from peices of harness work and lightin out for points west with nary a trace of his traps to ever be seen again.

creek