Meet J.C. Rankin, Sr.

J.C. Rankin, Sr. is the proprietor and sole craftsman at Rankin Saddlery & Leatherworks. His studio is located only a few paces away from his home in the beautiful lower Yellowstone Valley of eastern Montana. All of his work is hand cut and hand tooled. His leatherwork has gone into the hands of collectors and working cowboys alike. He sews all of his products by hand and/or on an antique Champion push-needle machine that sews with independently locking stitches. 

J.C. worked for many years as a full time law enforcement officer. He is now semi-retired and only works part time in law enforcement and dedicates the remainder of his time into producing some of the finest quality leather goods available today. The law enforcement experience combined with his former military experience has influenced J.C.'s modern holster and gun belt designs. He knows from personal experience what is required of gun leather to make it fully functional, practical, and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

His experience with horses led him into saddle making. He has spent many years on horseback during cattle roundups, brandings, and hunting trips. The quest for the perfect saddle that was comfortable to ride and would not gall a horse's back was never-ending. Ultimately, in his quest for perfection, he ended up building a saddle to his own strict specifications.  Well, it didn't take long before the cowboys started to cast admiring glances on his saddle and the rest is history!  

J.C. strives to produce a top quality product that will give the owner many, many years of service.  To create what he calls "functional art", J.C. uses only premium grade Hermann Oak™  tooling and skirting leather, Bork hardware, Vogt® and Montana Silversmiths silver, Lincoln dyes... the finest quality material and products he can find.  He will not make an item with inferior quality materials to cut costs.   J.C. believes his work is a reflection of himself and therefore will not compromise his standards. 

We thank you for taking the time to look over J.C.'s work. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.