I've now cut the saddle sides, using a "delux" snap-off utility knife. I'm glad I paid the $2 extra for the more comfortable handle. It took a lot of eyeballing and remeasuring to try to get the template I made with painter's tape symmetrical, and it helped to have a photo of a template of the pattern for a new, flat piece of leather from Rudi.





After I cut the sides, I used the Dremel to cut off the bag loops and trim the leather in the rear to be flush with the bottom of the Brooks plate. I know I'll never use that kind of saddle bag, and I like the idea of the saddle looking as svelte as possible. I also used the Dremel to clean up the cut edges a bit, but there's more of that to do later, especially around the flap that will be pulled under. I'll trim the ends of the flaps so they butt against each other after it's been soaked and shaped.






Rudi suggested I cut a groove on the inside of the leather, where the flaps will fold, and was kind enough to send me the tool to do it. Thank you [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION]! I'll be sending it back shortly. It was a little tricky, but I put down more painter's tape to create a guide, and made the groove along the edge of the tape. This is a step that I don't think I've seen done in other Brooks B17-to-Swallow butchering guides, but it makes sense that it will help get a nice clean fold. I didn't want to groove too deeply - I aimed for about 1/3 of the way through, but it's probably ended up more like a 1/4 deep groove.



Next is the soaking and shaping and clamping the flaps underneath while they dry. I'm thinking before that I'll prime and paint the cut steel where I cut the bag tabs.