The Big Three Cowboy Spurs Makers
When buying antique cowboy spurs or heel spurs, you will probably come across some of the old makers known in the collectible circles as The Big 3. These 3 designers and manufacturers of cowboy spurs, bit and tack are famous for bringing the cowboy spur to mass market and also for providing us with supplies for our armies and cowhands who drove cattle hundreds of miles across America.
One of The Big 3 makers was August Buermann, born in Germany in 1842, he travelled to the US to complete training to become a locksmith. At the age of 22 he began to make spurs and equipment for civilians and military personnel and by the early 1900s the majority of the US mounted cavalry were wearing spurs that were commissioned and made by Buermann.
Eventually, in 1914 Buermann’s company was bought by North and Judd, a larger western hardware company. His spurs still fetch a good price at auction and can be identified by his logo – a Star, usually found stamped into the buttons on the side of the spurs that hold the leather spur strap on.
The North and Judd company went on to become one of “The Big 3″ makers and were eventually responsible for kitting out the US army and mounted cavalry in the American Civil War. Even though the company started before 1800, it is known that they had over 500 people working for them at their peak in 1878. The makers mark of North & Judd spurs is the Anchor Brand or mark which can be found stamped into the spurs.
The Crockett Spurs Company, started by Oscar Crockett in the early 1900′s is the last of “The Big 3″ makers in our list. Started after Crockett learn some blacksmithing skills from his brother, the company went on to make custom spurs to order as well as more mass market pairs made from steel or aluminum.
After buying the Shipley Spurs Company in 1940, Crockett was selling over 170 different types of spurs from their catalog which made them the largest at that time. All of the spurs they sold were stamped with their makers mark – CROCKETT or C&G. The latter was probably the initials of a business partnership.
Although we have covered the 3 companies in “The Big 3″, we also need to talk about the company owned by Jim Renalde. The Renalde spurs company ended up owning some of the other major spur making companies and at it’s height was the largest maker of spurs in America. Renalde owned the Kelly Bit and Spur company and also bought Crockett Spurs too.
The Renalde company was also a popular maker of saddles, buckles and other horse tack and blacksmith items. Eventually, Renalde became the largest manufacturer of Cowboy Spurs in America until it was closed down in 1980, taking with it a long history and smaller companies and names it had purchased over the years.
