To be considered a craftsman, one must spend a significant amount of time developing a skill and perfecting a style in order to earn the respect of others who know and appreciate the results. John Carney is a self-made leather craftsman in as much as he has never apprenticed or received schooling from an experienced leather worker. His talent and work clearly prove him to be a master craftsman.

John started out doing basic saddle repair as a sideline. Soon he was getting so many jobs repairing saddles, he was able to devote himself to it full time and eventually started building saddles. He used the knowledge gained through repairs to design highly functional saddles that were durable yet attractive, adding custom tooling, laced leather, or silver to enhance their appearance.

Despite his obvious talent for creating custom saddles, his real love and specialty is the restoration of the well recognized Bohlin saddle. These are the saddles that were fashioned by the Master Craftsman, Edward H. Bohlin, and made famous by Hollywood cowboy heroes. If you are not familiar with the name, you will certainly know the style. Just think of most cowboy heroes from the early movie days, such as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, and you will know immediately. The silver saddles and tack worn by such famous horses as "Silver", "Trigger", and "Buttermilk" were typical examples of the Bohlin design and craftsmanship. Another example of Bohlin tack would be the beautiful silver parade saddles and full gear displayed in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Restoring these original antique saddles and ensuring their authenticity is something John takes great pride in doing. That is why he requests that the customer please try to use only original Bohlin silver or purchase new Bohlin silver from the Bohlin Co., located in Texas. His craftsmanship and attention to detail have earned him the reputation as the man to see for accurate Bohlin restoration. He is privileged to have restored Bohlin saddles and tack for such famous names in the business as Morton Fleischer, George Pittman, High Noon, Brian Lebel, Robert Esser, Michele MacFarlane, Andrew Vineyard, and many many more.

Mr. Carney also brokers Bohlin saddles and tack. If you have a Bohlin item and you want to consider selling it or, if you want to acquire one of these collector treasures, please give him a call. His knowledge and connections may be just what you need.