Saddlery Tools

This page collects some of the more specific tools to western saddle making in one place. These tools are also shown on their respective pages by type of tool as well.

Saddle Pliers

Miscellaneous Cutting Tools

String Bleeders, Horn Trimmers, and other Cutting Tools

General Purpose/Cobbler Hammers

Tack Hammers

Scratch Awls

Lace Puller/Blunt Lacing Awl

These are collar type awls that have had the end blunted and cutting edges rounded over, then polished. They are useful for pulling lace ends through a braid without cutting a string. A good handy tool for pulling laces in saddle skirts, seat jockeys, and stirrup treads.

Bouncers-Smashers

These bouncer/smashers have nice smooth bottoms, solid handles, and no cracks. They are used primarily to mold and compress leather in the saddle making trade. 

Saddle String Tightener

Used to pull up and tighten your saddle strings for western saddle work. Pull the string through the slot, give a lap around to make a bind and twist to tighten. A saddle maker came up to me at the Sheridan, WY leather show and gave me this one based on his dad's old string tightener. He said to sell this first one and I could figure out how to make them off that. Here you go! if you need to tighten saddle strings I've got a handy tool for it.