A life made from leather

Eagle Butte Saddle Shop approaching 50 years in business

  • John Bachman, owner of the Eagle Butte Saddle Shop, has spent the better portion of his life working with leather. Photo by Jon Flatland
    John Bachman, owner of the Eagle Butte Saddle Shop, has spent the better portion of his life working with leather. Photo by Jon Flatland
  • John Bachman’s creations at the Eagle Butte Saddle Shop include custom-designed, hand-tooled leather belts and he’s built a large following around his Pow Wow belts. Above, the signature stamp found on a belt by Bachman. Photos by Jon Flatland
    John Bachman’s creations at the Eagle Butte Saddle Shop include custom-designed, hand-tooled leather belts and he’s built a large following around his Pow Wow belts. Above, the signature stamp found on a belt by Bachman. Photos by Jon Flatland
  • A life made from leather
    A life made from leather

    Skills learned from his stepfather and a high school industrial arts instructor have served John Bachman well, you might say. The rest he just made up as he went along.

    Bachman, 67, is the owner of the Eagle Butte Saddle Shop - a downtown fixture in the community for nearly 50 years - built on what started out as a hobby and a way to make quick money and turned into a lifetime of working with leath…