The 3 best makers of Cowboy Spurs The Big 3 Cowboy Spurs Makers The Big Three Cowboy Spur Makers Cowboy Spurs Makers – The Big Three Who are the Big 3 Cowboy Spurs Makers

There are 3 main makers of cowboy spurs and they are referred to as “The Big 3″. These 3 makers of spurs and also western tack, horse bits and saddlery are the people that are responsible for making the spur what it is today and also taking it to mass market. These are the 3 who made cowboys what we know them as today.

The first of “The Big 3″ is August Buermann. Buermann was born in Germany in 1842 and eventually travelled to America to be trained as a locksmith. His career took a turn when, at 22, he began working at a blacksmiths making cowboy spurs for the army as well as the locals. By the early 1900’s, Buermann’s spurs and name were on the heels of all of the US mounted cavalry, through an amazing commission he had been awarded.

Buermann spurs are easily identifiable by their Star Brand logo which is usually located under or near the buttons of the side of the spur. Despite his success and fame, the Buermann company and trademark was bought in 1914 by North and Judd, another large and established hardware company.

North & Judd are also one of “The Big 3″ makers who originally began life as a maker of saddlery and cowboy equipment. The company was started before 1800 and in 1878 became the North and Judd Manufacturing Company. At it’s peak they had over 500 people working for them making spurs and other equipment. North and Judd were responsible for equipping the soldiers of the American Civil War and the US army. All of the spurs and equipment was stamped with an Anchor mark which is the sign of North and Judd.

The last of the 3 is the Crockett Spurs company. Started by Oscar Crockett in the start of the 1900’s, Oscar had learnt to make cowboy spurs from skills taught by his brother. He started his company and soon began to design and make pairs of custom spurs to order. He was also making pairs of cheaper aluminum spurs for the public too.

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.

Another company to mention and perhaps the largest member of this group is a company called Renalde spurs. The owner of this company eventually ended up owning the other major spur making companies. He bought the Kelly Bit and Spur company in 1965 and the Crockett Spurs company in 1951.

Until the Renalde company closed in 1980, it was also making other saddles, buckles, horse tack and cowboy equipment and was the largest maker of spurs ever. When the company closed down it took with it decades of history of the manufacture of cowboy spurs from the smaller companies it had bought on it’s way to the top.

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