Like all items of antiques, paintings, pottery or furnishings the makers of vintage spurs additionally left their “makers mark” on every of the merchandise they made. Because the spur was constructed from metals resembling iron, silver and later aluminum, the mark was bodily stamped to the spur with a hammer and chisel or by hitting the spurs with a pre-made stamp.
There are a number of the explanation why the spur makers used to do that. One was to establish their very own merchandise because the objects had been not often stamped or marked with a serial quantity. Additionally, it was widespread for customized cowboy spurs to be made on the request and design of the wearer and due to this fact a few of the spurs made wouldn’t be the identical every time. Completely different sizes, widths and patterns had been used when making the customized made spurs and due to this fact it was necessary for the maker to know which had been made by his personal hand. The markings additionally assist us perceive the worth and origin of the objects we would purchase at public sale at present.
The commonest marking can be the initials or the title of the maker. Spurs made by the Crockett Spurs firm had been marked both with the title CROCKETT or later, as soon as the corporate had been purchased by a bigger firm owned by Jim Renalde, they had been marked with the initials CR for “Crockett Renalde”.
One other of the bigger and extra well-known makers of cowboy spurs, North & Judd used a logo to mark their spurs and different cowboy gear. The North & Judd Anchor mark has now turn out to be a mark of distinction all through the world of western blacksmithing objects and horse tack and is a acknowledged mark of high quality and for us at present, a mark of the worth and authenticity of a real western American vintage.