Western Diamondback Rod Completed..

That is straight up sick! Please do not take this as I am speaking as an animal advocate because I like it very much! Was the skin treated so it is soft to the touch and stretches some?

A really nice job MaryLou...

Wylie...The skin is not treated, it is natural,complete with scales. If the scales are removed, the diamonds fade out. The skin does not stretch much, it is actually quite delicate and you can damage it before you know it.


Jim....Thank you for your compliment !!

MaryLou,
Although I personally do not know how to treat a snakeskin the way I have seen it done they can be treated to be very soft and also stretch some, this is with the scales on. There is a guy here in town that I would love to get the recipe from just for this application. It would make it possible to use the whole skin with belly scales and all. Might be tough to catch the right size snake though. From what I understand this is an old trapper’s recipe that I really would like to get my hands so I can make one of these made for myself.
I really like the look of the snakeskin as grips

Wylie..
There is a rattlesnake ranch not too far from me, that has many skins for sale. They have four skins there, that are priced at $150.00 each,and they are the softest skins I have ever touched,some of the largest and longest skins I have ever seen.
Not sure who does the tanning there, but who ever does it, is a expert !! I will ask around for you about a trappers recipe...


ML

MaryLou,
That would be great if you could come up with the recipe, this character isn't giving it up for anything. Some secret recipe he says

Thanks for showing your work. I went rattlesnake hunting today hoping to get some nice skins to try and do a handle myself. No snakes today but I have one in the freezer. Very, very nice work and I noticed you have the rod matched with that top of the line reel. One of the best reels I have ever fished with. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing more of your work.


Rich