The Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making

Al Stohlman was a saddlemaker and leather craftsman who was probably as well known for the books he wrote as for the fine saddles he made. Al died in 1998, but Al Stohlman saddles are still coveted as solid, well crafted riding saddles.

Together with his wife Ann, Al Stolhman wrote a three volume series called The Stohlman Encylopedia of Saddle Making. Written in 1994, this series can be hard to get a hold of, but it remains one of the best written works on the craft of saddle making from a maker with decades of hands-on knowledge and expertise.

The books are detailed, comprehensive, and packed with illustrations and photos that walk you through the whole process step-by-step from an expert’s point-of view. The information is presented in plain language that takes you from the basics (tools, saddle parts, rigging) in Volume 1 through constructing several different saddles in Volumes 2 and 3. They are substantial (big) hard cover books. Lots of meat to these.

I found Amazon to be the easiest place to find the series because if they don’t have it, one of their seller partners probably will, and they often offer new and used versions. The books can be bought individually, but they’re really designed to be sold together as a series. I bought the series about a year ago for around $220.

Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making (All Three Volumes)
Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making, Volume 1
Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making, Volume 2
Stohlman Encyclopedia of Saddle Making, Volume 3