spurs

[buckskin billy]

does any one have a source for info on historically correct spurs for the late 1860's early 1870's that a civilian would wear? such as a buffalo hunter.

[jameshunt]

If you walk about the Cowboy Action Shooting crowd, SASS and even NCOWS, spurs are one of the most poorly represented accouterments seen from a historical standpoint. Like everything else, spurs evolved relevant to need, culture and geography. So often I see 20th century spurs - some even collectible - being proudly worn that never saw the light of day during the trail drive era. So you are right to want to study them.

Unfortunately I don't know of a compendium of spur information. Dorsey's book on the military spur is outstanding, but limited to military spurs. Fay Ward's outstanding "The Working Cowboy" gives credible treatment to spurs also, but his work are his recollections of information told him and are not really sourced. Now for two that come with some sticker shock.

"Bit and Spur Makers in the Texas Tradition" and Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition" both by Ned and Jody Martin (Hawk Hill Press) are coffee table like books. The former is still in print and runs about $75. The latter is out of print and can be found for the price of a car payment.

Both contain American style spurs from the mid 19th century thru to the mid 20th century, identifying makers and styles. Both are a wonderful source of information, not to mention many hours spent looking at the great color pictures. They also include an introduction on spurs and bits that give a feel for where the American spur came from.

For our period and to keep things straight in my mind I divide spurs into military, Texas style, Chihuahua, and Sonora (evolving to California style, think ornate Sonora). The styles can cross over, and of course you have to consider both commercial (North and Judd, and Buerman) and private makers. It is really very fascinating. But you must select spurs that are correct for the era. Catalogs are also a great source.

Finally the question is - would you have even worn a pair? Barring the need to have an immediately responsive horse, why bother? They are a pain to take off and on, and unless you have on a pair of military style (1859) cav spurs - they are nothing but troublesome when moving on the ground. Someone who is not working cattle or a horseman I would question why they would own a pair. Just taking old bob down the road to the neighbors would not require them. I can not recall an image of a buffalo hunter ever wearing a pair even though (according to Billy Dixon) they often had saddle horses. For this reason I don't use spurs in my buffalo hunter impression.

Having said that there is an undoubted cool factor in wearing spurs. And, I confess to wearing them. The bigger the rowel the better of course, and if they jingle, well all the better. I do not consider myself a horseman, and I am certainly no cowboy, but I do wear them in mounted shooting but honestly I don't think I have ever touched my horse with them. Reining and some leg seems to work fine for me even in a tight spot. However, I am a sucker for a pair of Chihuahua's or a flashy pair of California's.

Come to think of it, perhaps the only reason I do a cowboy impression is so I can wear those spurs on some high heeled boots.

Original 1859 spurs:


1880's North and Judd (rather plain CA style) spurs with original leathers (purchased from an estate sale in the Oregon basin country):


Texas Spurs - The OK


Great pair of old large rowel (and they come much bigger) Chihuahua style spurs that clank wonderfully when you walk.


Sonara style (unmarked I see these around from time to time suggesting 20th century made but still represent sonara spurs to me) shown with matching bit.


Very nice pair of old Garcia's (I'm guessing $2000 - $4000, these aren't mine)

[Boot]

I'm in agreement with James in as much that, I don't believe spurs are practical for buffalo Hunting. If they were used to get to the herd, I think they would of been removed on arrival.
They're not at all practical for kneeling or squating on the ground, they tangle in undergrowth and they make a noise. Having said that I do own a reasonable collection of original pre 1900 western spurs.

Boot.

[malpaso]

Pretty Fancy outfit and shirt, but i like it. Never seen Spurs on mocs before

[hangtownfrye]

Plenty of references to spurs being worn on moccasins in the pre-Civil War era, so I'm not at all surprised to find a photo of it from the post-war period. What does surprise me however is that the soles of the mocs are beaded! My understanding was that only the mocs of babies and dead folks were beaded, since they weren't going to be needing to walk on them. Of course this could well be true, and the fellow in the photo may be wearing them just because they're cool, in complete ignorance of the fact that he should be dead when wearing them. Like the Indians et al wearing Eurpean clothing inappropriately, I'm sure that White's wore native clothing in ways inappropriate to the origins of the clothing items as well.

Also of interest is that while he signs his name "Maj.", he is obviously wearing Colonel's shoulder straps. Odd, that! I wonder if he was part of a Wild West Show of some sort? That would explain the otherwise outrageous clothing.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Chuck Burrows]

Jan 29, 2011 16:56:07 GMT -5 hangtownfrye said:

What does surprise me however is that the soles of the mocs are beaded! My understanding was that only the mocs of babies and dead folks were beaded, since they weren't going to be needing to walk on them. Cheers,

Gordon

Howdy Gordon - that's actually a mistaken view promulgated by collectors who didn't know better. In fact such fully beaded mocs were worn for dressup when meeting for a "conference" - dugring such meetings the men sat cross legged and this the soles were exposed to view. Adolph Hungry Wolf in his book "Blackfoot Craftworker's Book" mentions this and so have several old timers I've met on the Crow rez, Pine Ridge rez, and my current home the So Ute rez.

[malpaso]

Interesting fact, nice piece of history.

[hangtownfrye]

Chuck;

Thanks for the info! I actually appreciate being corrected on things like this, I'd hate to have to show my ignorance to more people than I already have on this!

I'm going to have to pull my camera out and snap some photo's of my spurs. Most of them are either military or Mexican, for some reason I really, really like those big ole' Chihuahua spurs!

Cheers!

Gordon