And there is the question about making of a lasso. Its a specific tool used
to rope an animal. Would a mountaineer have been that specific in making a
rope that he tied his horse to a piket pin? A vaquero/buckaroo who uses a
riata knows he has to slip the rope to keep it from taking a hard jerk and
breaking. A Picket or pack rope doesn't get that kind of nice treatment.
I see these ropes being much coarser and less time consuming. Still they
would need to be flexible enough. The braiding would remove one natural
problem which is the weak spot in the hide. It combines several layers so
one weak spot wont mean a break. Do you think they still took the time and
effort to braid?
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:49 AM, John Allen <jlallen41@???> wrote:
> I have a ca. 1880 rawhide riata or lariat that I've not taken apart to see
> exactly how it was made but an examination of the exterior--particularly
> where the ends are tied off--seems to indicate that it was made exactly as
> described by Pat. When stretched out I would guess that it would be at
> least
> 50 feet long. I've not tried stretching it as it is very stiff (and old).
> Since I've always kept it coiled and use it only as a decorative item, that
> doesn't matter to me. But I'm guessing that it would--even now--make a good
> "tool" for lassoing a calf.
>
> John
>
> Dr. John L. Allen
> 2703 Leslie Court
> Laramie, WY 82072
> Ph: (307) 742-0883 (h)
> Ph: (307) 761-5823 (c)
> jlallen41@???
>
> Cha mhisde sgeul mhath aithris da uair.
> [A good tale is not the worse for being twice told.]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hist_text-bounces@???
> [mailto:hist_text-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Pat Quilter
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 10:57 AM
> To: MarkLoader@???; mtnhorse435@???;
> hist_text@???
> Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Life of Jim Baker
>
> There used to be tape available, of a 16mm movie made in San Diego in
> the 1960's, called "La Riata" (I believe), featuring Granville "Granny"
> Martin showing the art of making riatas from scratch with minimal
> equipment. In brief, a very long half-inch wide strip - 250 feet or more
> - is cut in a spiral pattern first from one half, then the other, of a
> raw cow hide, hair still on. This strip is stretched along a convenient
> fence line to dry. Then he set two sharp pocket knives in the top of a
> fence post and drew the strip thru flat, then on edge, to create the
> desired 3/8 x 1/8 strip of rawhide (this step removes the hair side).
> Finally the strip is cut into four 60 ft pieces and braided in a 4-way
> pattern to make a 50-60 ft riata (or lariat, of course, as we began to
> call them). There is further art in making the ondo (loop) on the end,
> greasing and stretching, etc.
>
> Unfortunately a quick on-line search did not turn up any references to
> this film, which was privately produced. However "Four Strands of
> Rawhide" appears to be a more modern production.
>
> "Sandy Bob was a riata man,
> And he kept it coiled and neat,
> But he shook her out, and he built him a loop,
> and he roped the devil's hind feet".
>
> Pat Quilter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hist_text-bounces@???
> [mailto:hist_text-bounces@???] On Behalf Of
> MarkLoader@???
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8:54 AM
> To: mtnhorse435@???; hist_text@???
> Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Life of Jim Baker
>
> I have listed a few sites to look at. Search Vaquero and Riata for
> more
> information.
> Ken Smith makes ropes with partially brained buffalo raw hide.
>
> Best of luck Mark Roadkill Loader #1849
>
> _http://www.westernfolklife.org/site1/index.php/vmchk/Western-Gear/Four-
> Stra
> nds-of-Rawhide-video/Detailed-product-flyer.html_
> (http://www.westernfolklife.org/site1/index.php/vmchk/Western-Gear/Four-
> Strands-of-Rawhide-video/Detai
> led-product-flyer.html)
>
> _http://www.lesliedesmond.com/index.php?id=644_
> (http://www.lesliedesmond.com/index.php?id=644)
>
> _http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/485/files/vaquero.pdf_
> (http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/485/files/vaquero.pdf)
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