Saddle butchery

[alans]

I need another Brooks Swallow for the tandem.
However that which was once easily affordable ( I have a titanium railed Swallow on the Longstaff & one on the Trek) is now not so.
So having found this
http://dekter.net/misc/brooks.html
I am considering removing a B17 narrow from the mtb & cutting & carving same to acquire a DIY Swallow albeit with steel rails.
I wonder if the lack of titanium rails will prove to be a major compromise to the comfort I experience wrt the real thing?What does the panel think.
I also wonder if I have the bottle to cutncarve the B17 Narrrow
I wonder too if,having done the deed I'll still have all my digits in place

Has anyone here done this & have something to add to the article?

 

[alans]

Actually I do have a Brooks saddle that looks as if it was made at the time when god was boy but it is so hard I suspect oxy-acetylene would be needed to cut it.

 

[alans]

Bucket of water for a week. That should sort it out.

Of course! an excellent suggestion.Thanks for that.
I may do that & then practice on the corpse.

 

[simon.r]

I know what you mean about 'once easily affordable' - I have several Ti Swallows, all bought for <£50. With the benefit of hindsight buying a few dozen would have been a better investment than any ISA

 

[Tim Hall]

"Have you been mis-sold a leather saddle?"

(people called Clarion need not apply)