bitsandspurs

Larry Fuegen · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Prescott, AZ USA

Here are 3 photos of traditional 2 piece style spurs I made last fall. They are forged and carved Damascus steel ( that I made) with a rattlesnake theme. They have extra fancy pierced rowels, and carved Damascus conchos. All the parts are hand made, including the heel chain links and rattlesnake jinglebobs. They also have 22 k gold wire inlay.
Larry Fuegen

Romey · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 3

Incredible work Larry!

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Romey
www.highcountryknives.com

silverchip · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 64 Location: Twin Falls,Id

NOTHIN LIKE A LITTLE HUMBLE PIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great work,Larry,Did you keep time on them?I 'm sure that some of these guys would be amazed at how long it takes to do a project of this magnitude.

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I'm only as good as you think I am.

Larry Fuegen · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Prescott, AZ USA

Dave,

Thanks. Yes I managed to get a few hours wrapped up in this set. I didn't keep real close track but I know I have at least 200 hours in them. I had tried to forge them a one piece but because the heel bands were close to a 1/2" thick they were tearing the welds at the bottom of the cut for the heelbands so I lost a couple of days work and a billet of damascus steel. The learning curve can be a little rough at times. The 2 piece approach was the way to go on this set. Once I got the rough work done the fileing and hand sanding took up a lot of time I haven't figured out how to use power tools to get into all the carved and beveled places yet so I always end up doing it by hand. There aren't to many wide open areas on these spurs that will let you use a lot of power tools. It actually a fun project and the snake jinglebobs and snake conchos were cool to make.

I think sharing photos of our work is a great way to pass along a lot of info which will advance the craft of bit and spur making. Maybe some day it will get more organized like the custom knife market has and there will be magazines and shows just for bits and spurs.

If I could ever figure out how to do metal work as good as you I'd figure I'd really accomplished something.

Larry

Stewart · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 156 Location: Portales,NM

Larry,
I've been back and looked at the spurs several times now. Absolutely beautiful! The straps are really neat too. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures with us.
Stewart

Larry Fuegen · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Prescott, AZ USA

Stewart,

Thanks. I really think a person can learn a lot from looking at photos and hope more makers will post their work. I know I always see something that catches my eye when I look at other makers work. We are all scattered around the country and can't always get the meet or talk to each other so this forum is really great.

Glad you liked the straps. I wanted to create the feeling of the coiled rattler under a big leafy bush.

Larry

Steve223 · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Deming New Mexico

WOW just absolutlly amazing work!!!
Sorry for the double post....i tried to delete it but dident have any luck

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The winds of heaven blow between a horse's ears
Black Mountain Bits and Spurs & Big Game Hounds

Steve223 · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 92 Location: Deming New Mexico

WOW just absolutlly amazing work!!!

_________________
The winds of heaven blow between a horse's ears
Black Mountain Bits and Spurs & Big Game Hounds

The_Silversmith · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 4 Location: New Mexico

These are blow me away beautiful! Are these nickel/steel damascus? The only damascus I have played with was low carbon/high carbon - and I decided it was too much hand work for me. But these are really exquisite!

Otto · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:42 am Post subject:

Absolutely beautiful work. The rowels blow my mind.

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www.ottocarter.com
Abilene, Texas

Larry Fuegen · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Prescott, AZ USA

The damascus I made to use on these spurs consisted of 1018 mild steel, 203E mild steel with a high nickel contect,a few pices of pure nickel, and a couple of pieces of 5160 carbon steel. I forged these into a 150 layer billet. The problem with damascus steel is the uncertain nature of the finished billet. You never know for sure untill your finished with the project if it will turn out the way you wanted. It sure adds another deminsion to bits and spurs.

Larry

K A Willey · Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 24 Location: Nw SD

Larry
Those are some awsome spurs thanks for posting them.

jason g howell · Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Brazoria, Texas

Hey Larry,
Nice! but I'd expect nothing less from you... Been working on knives but working on spurs now and again, still have not put my steel in any, soon though. See you in Reno for sure. Again, very nice!

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Jason Howell
ABS Journeyman Smith
http://www.howellbladesmith.com

spurmarks · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Dallas, Texas

Holy Moly - those rattlesnake jinglebobs alone must've taken an age to create. Yet again I am amazed beyond comprehension how someone can make something so achingly beautiful!

Jim

Larry Fuegen · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Prescott, AZ USA

Thanks Jim, I have an idea for a different set of rattlesnake spurs and matching bit with a fancy headstall and hopefully a set of rawhide reins and romal from Kevin Willey. Just need to find the time to work on it.

Larry