Jim Dunlap: Bits and Spurs

Building Custom Spurs

2009-06-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Building custom spurs is always a challenge. Everyone has a different idea what they need in a pair of good using spurs. The pair pictured here is a California style with a 1 1/2" rowel. With the California style, there is less room for customization on the spur itself. But in turn offers a lite spur. The brand or initials can always be added to a strap concho for a very cool, custom look.
This is a pair I built for my son as a graduation gift.

I prefer to use the Texas or arena style spur. The offer a little more weight, but don't require heel chains or tie downs. The wider band gives the builder more room to be creative with brands or initials. They don't move up one the heel or require the strap to be too tight.
I do love the more traditional look of the California style, so as with everything it becomes a matter of preference.

You should know what you have in mind when you contact your custom maker. The with of band, length of shank. amount of drop in the shank, size of rowel, are some of the things they will need to know to be able to complete your order. I like to, if possible, have a picture to work from so I can get as close to what the customer wants as possible.

One thing I have enjoyed doing is matching a single spur with a missing mate. As a craftsman, it gives you an opportunity to leave your style and work in the style of someone else. It always becomes a learning experience.

Building Custom Bits

2009-05-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

I got started building bits because I wanted good bits to use for my self. My first attempts were crude to say the least. My wife, Julie, gave me some "how too" videos for Christmas and I started to learn how to build quality silver bits.

We work full time as cowboys, managing ranches in Oregon and California, so riding and using good equipment is something we confront on a daily basis. Quality hand made equipment is expensive, so my plan was to learn to build the thing I needed to get my work done in a price range that I could afford. Well being the kind of person who likes to have the proper tools for a job, I started acquiring the tools I needed to make bits. After spending 10 times the amount of money I would have spent buying a few good bits, I find myself in the bit making business.

As this blog goes on I plan to talk about the different things that have influenced me as a craftsman, and a horseman. Also the things that one should look for when ordering a piece of custom tack.

I try real hard to keep my quality as high as my ability will allow, while keeping my prices affordable to working cowboys, because that's what I am, ans I know the struggles we all have making a living in this business. I hope you will tell your friends about this site, and comment on the topics I plan to write about. If you have something in mind you would like to have built, please contact me so we can talk about it and figure out what you need and want. I'm like Gumby, extremely flexible, so don't be afraid to get a hold of me.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, and I will post more soon.

Custom Bit

2009-05-04T16:40:00.001-07:00

This is a custom bit I built for a lady in Williams Ca. I really like the Nevada cheek because of the balance and the amount of area available for engraving. It has a loose jawed Mona Lisa mouth piece. It is a little different than mast Nevada cheeks because the mouthpiece is mounter in the center so I could mount the custom concho.

Silver Spurs

2009-05-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

This is a pair of California style spurs with a nice shank. It is turned out of 1" rod to give it a round transition to the rowel. It has a silver strip inlayed in the transition. These big 24 point rowels have a great sound.