Private 1:1 Leather Classes

Private 1:1 Leatherworking with Jack Smith


Step into the leather shop at NonPareil Ranch, just outside Bakersfield, California, and spend the day learning side‑by‑side with master leatherworker Jack Smith. With more than 30 years of saddle making and leathercraft experience, Jack brings the kind of knowledge you only get from decades behind the bench.

These private leathercraft courses are built entirely around you. Want to start with the basics—understanding different types of leather, learning to cut, punch, and stitch? Or maybe you’re ready to dive into tooling, carving, or building something more advanced. Whatever your goal, Jack works at your pace, answering every question and showing you the tricks and techniques he’s spent a lifetime perfecting.

In your one‑on‑one time, you might:

  • Learn to choose and cut quality leather
  • Use the tools of the trade with confidence
  • Create, assemble, and finish a custom project 
  • Build a saddle
  • Add Western‑style tooling, stamping, or carving

Set against the quiet backdrop of our working cattle ranch, these classes give you more than just skills—they give you the confidence to tackle your own leather projects at home. And when you leave, you’ll take with you a piece you’ve made with your own two hands.