We are interested in buying Old West and Western Americana vintage, antique and collectible artifacts made by legendary makers in the Vaquero, Buckaroo, Californio and Texas traditions.
We also appraise, for insurance purposes, vintage saddle, bits, spurs and other Old West and Western Americana artifacts in our realm of expertise.
To discuss any used western saddle, tack, bit, spurs, any old piece of cowboy gear, leather and saddlemaking tools, or, items appearing to be of the Old West or Western Americana, please stop by the shop, call (661 619-4545), or, email me, Jack D. Smith, at Jack@GraniteStation.com - We would like to see what you have and talk with you.
Likewise, if you have an interest in acquiring Old West and Western Americana artifacts, please connect with us - Even if we do not have it, we can help locate it for you.
Old West and Western Americana Artifacts of Interest
Bits
The following seven images are of a pair of vintage Abbie Hunt bits with silver inlaid Santa Barbara cheeks with spade mouthpieces - We have these bits in the shop and thought everyone would like to see these rare artifacts.
Close-up of Abbie Hunt's famous silver tear drops on the Santa Barbara cheeks.
Classic Abbie Hunt spade mouthpieces.
This is a good example of why Abbie Hunt bits were so sought after by working cowboys and great horsemen in the San Joaquin Valley, and beyond - Abbie Hunt inlaid zinc into the bottom side of the spoon so as to encourage the horse to pick the bit up in its mouth and carry the bit properly.
The next three images are examples of Abbie Hunt's maker mark on the bits above - And, an inscription Abbie Hunt made on one of the bits.
The following five images are of a R. M. Hall silver inlaid bit with Santa Barbara cheeks with a half-breed mouthpiece and small spoon - This bit was custom made for Jim Hight, of Bakersfield, CA, ordered in 1994, and, shipped to Jim on 2/5/1997 - We have this bit in the shop and thought everyone would like to see, what we believe to be, one of the last bits on which Bob Hall worked.
A close-up example of the silver engraving on this Santa Barbara cheek.
The next two images are examples of Bob's half-breed mouthpiece with a small spoon covered with copper and engraved.
All types of catalogs & posters
Bridles
Bronze sculptors
Chaps
Coins
Conchos
Gun holsters and belts
Guns
Knives
Leather tools
Quirts
Rawhide Braid
Riatas
Rifle scabbards
Saddles
Silver buckles
Spur Straps
Spurs
Legendary Makers of Interest
Abbie Hunt
Al Tietjen
Alsalio Herrera
Atanasio Larios
August Buermann
Bakersfield Saddlery
Bernard Valenzuela
Blake Miller
Brydon Bros. Saddlery
Clarence Nelson
Colt
Crocket
D. E. Walker
Dick Fleming
Ed Fields
Eddy Hulbert
Edward Bohlin Co.
Eliseo Valenzuela
Elmer Miller
F. A. Meanea
F. M. Stern
Frank Olzer
G. S. Garcia
Garcia Saddlery Co.
Goldberg, Staunton
Gus Goldberg Saddlery
H. P. Pollard
Hamley and Company
Heiser
J. C. Johnson
J. F. Echavarria
J. R. Lamdin
J. Walsh-Richardson Co.
Jesus Mardueño
John Estrada
Jose Figueroa
Juan Flores
Jumbo
Ken Ramoni
Keyston Brothers
L. A. Saddlery & Finding
L. D. Stone & Co.
Lichtenberger Ferguson
Main & Winchester
Manuel Gil
Mike Morales
Olsen Nolte
Ortega
Osborne
Otto F. Ernst, Inc.
P. B. McMillan
Phillips & Gutierrez
R. M. Hall
Raphael Gutierrez
Renalde
Rex Schnitger
Robert F. Schaezlein, Sr.
Tom Hildreth
Tom Hunt
US Military
Van Voorhees-Phinney
Visalia Stock Saddle Co.
W. Davis & Sons
Walsh-Richardson Co.
Wilson Saddlery Co.
Winchester
Source Material References
Portions of the above list of Legendary Makers of Old West and Western Americana vintage, antique and collectible artifacts made in the Vaquero, Buckaroo, Californio and Texas traditions were drawn from Ned and Jody Martin's definitive work entitled “Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition - A Historical Perspective”, published by Hawk Hill Press - Currently out of print.