Cowboy Spurs Markings

Like all pieces of antiques, artwork, pottery orhand. The markings also help us understand the
furniture the makers of antique spurs also leftvalue and origin of the items we might buy at
their "makers mark" on each of the item theyauction today.
made. As the spur was made from metals suchThe most common marking would be the initials
as iron, silver and later aluminum, the mark wasor the name of the maker. Spurs made by the
physically stamped to the spur with a hammerCrockett Spurs company were marked either
and chisel or by hitting the spurs with a pre-madewith the name CROCKETT or later, once the
stamp.company had been bought by a larger company
There are several reasons why the spur makersowned by Jim Renalde, they were marked with
used to do this. One was to identify their ownthe initials CR for "Crockett Renalde".
products as the items were rarely stamped orAnother of the larger and more famous makers
marked with a serial number. Also, it wasof cowboy spurs, North & Judd used a
common for custom cowboy spurs to be madesymbol to mark their spurs and other cowboy
at the request and design of the wearer andgear. The North & Judd Anchor mark has
therefore some of the spurs made would not benow become a mark of distinction throughout the
the same each time. Different sizes, widths andarea of western blacksmithing items and horse
patterns were used when making the customtack and is a recognized mark of quality and for
made spurs and therefore it was important forus today, a mark of the value and authenticity of
the maker to know which were made by his owna genuine western American antique.