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Below are
several representative sets of Blanchard spurs.
We appreciate all the calls, letters, and pictures from you folks that
saw a version of this article in April, 2003 Western Horseman
Magazine and those who have come here looking for history and
validation. |
 I really enjoyed your feature on Ed Blanchard, who was my uncle. I
didn't know about your web site until my daughter told me about it
recently. Attached is a picture of spurs that he made for me when I was
6-7 years old (circa 1949-1950), which was just before he, my dad and
the rest of the entire Cook family moved from New Mexico to Arizona. As
you can see, the spurs are in very good condition, except for tarnishing
of the copper trim and silver initials over the years. Thank you, and please keep up the
good work. Bob Cook, March, 2006 |
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Some of Blanchard's earliest spur work. The mark is E.
BLANCHARD DATIL N.M. Spurs owned by Mike Laughlin. |
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Two pair of San Antonio, New Mexico marked
Blanchard spurs (Town marks appear in article above) courtesy of Misty
Pugmire. She says about the spurs, "The spur
with AVW belonged to Audie (Dink) Van Winkle (my granddad) and one with
the moons and star belonged to Jerry Van Winkle (my dad) They were a
gift from Mr. Murphy on the Diamond Bar Ranch in Southern New Mexico in
1955 or 1956, my dad said. They now belong to my family."
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"I
thought you might like to see the pair of Blanchard spurs I have, made
for the man who taught me to ride-John Brunson- in the 40's or 50's, I
don't know when for sure. But they are marked Seligman, Ariz inside.
John Brunson was good friends with Don Dodge, and Slim Trent. All
were cutters in PCCHA. I think John had the spurs made while he and
his wife lived in Tucson. They lived at SaRita and then out on the
Benson Highway. Of course, that was years ago, probably in the last
of the 40's or the first couple of years in the 50's. They then moved
to Valley Center in So. Calif. and as I remember, Don Dodge used to
come over to practice. Then John and Mildred moved to Fallbrook and
there was a lot of cutting going on there. From there to Ramona and
they both passed on at that location. John and Mildred were very
close friends of my parents for many many years, and Mildred saw me
in a laundry basket when I was 3 weeks old. I am now 61 so it has
been a looooooooong time. And I only wanted John's spurs when he
passed on. He helped me when I got my first horse and I used to
follow him around like a puppy trying to learn all I could. Slim
lived on the place in Valley Center and had 2 boys, Lonnie and
Marvin. Lonnie had a terrible scar on the corner of his mouth where a
stud bit him when he was really little. It was an interesting time.
John and Mildred Brunson were very close friends and believe me when I
tell you, those spurs will be with me until I die. I also have a very
old pair of Visalia's from my friend Joe Pike. They are about 65
years old now and Joe died about a year ago. I have them hanging on
my wall so I have two pair of "treasures". I suppose I have quite a
bit of money in those two pair but if I sold them, it would be like
selling my kids!!!" Shared by Ann
Hathaway, Central Point, Oregon |
#3.TS
E. F. BLANCHARD YUCCA-ARIZ Silver mounted spurs owned by J.K. & M.E. Rhoads, Raymond, CA. The
silver engraving was added after-market by a famous California
silversmith. |
On
the right is a photo of a pair of unusual Blanchard's that are said to
have once been owned by Billy Simon. The spurs were purchased
from Porter's and the silver work was done by McCabe. The
buckles on the straps are marked with McCabe's marks. The spurs
are marked E.F. Blanchard, Yucca, Ariz. No other marks inside
the heel band. They are iron spurs. Courtesy of E D Allen. |

Custom Blanchard spurs made for the late Charlie Benson,
Colorado. YUCCA-ARIZ E.F. BLANCHARD #2. TS Courtesy of Cade and Mona Benson,
Elizabeth, Colorado. |
Bobby
Ray Martin has two pair of Blanchards. This unusual pair with
stationary buttons was a gift, from his former boss at Arivaca Ranch
in AZ. Martin worked for him for 15 years, and the
boss had them custom made for Martin in1966. The initials on the spurs
are BRM. The mark is E.F. BLANCHARD YUCCA-AZ |
E. F. BLANCHARD #2.SS
YUCCA-ARIZ These decorated stainless steel Blanchard spurs were won by Steve Medlin of the Medlin Ranch, Wickiup,
Arizona, at the Kingman, Arizona Junior Rodeo in 1961. The
Diamond W brand on the spurs is the Medlin ranch brand. They have no chap guard.
The
spurs now belong to Audrey Hankins of Congress, Arizona.
click on pictures for larger views
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E. F. BLANCHARD NO 2. PS
YUCCA-ARIZ plain steel spurs. They show drill marks where someone
apparently was going to put tie-downs and a great deal of wear.
Spurs came out of Texas, unusual style of spurs for that area.
Owned by Mike Laughlin, Eureka, Nevada.
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Blanchard #3 Stainless steel spurs
owned by Mike Laughlin. The #3 style were bronc spurs with short shanks and bronc
rowels. Marked E. F. Blanchard #3 SS
YUCCA AZ. click on pictures for larger views
E. F. Blanchard #3. TS YUCCA-ARIZ, tool-steel
bronc spurs owned by Mike Laughlin.
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A
set of Blanchard style #4's owned by Mike Laughlin. These are plain steel.
Note the chap guard.

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E.F. Blanchard SS #4 Yucca, AZ These spurs originally belonged to Bob Clark, Elbert, CO. Now
owned by Mike Laughlin. Click on pictures for larger views
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E.F. BLANCHARD #4SS YUCCA AZ Spurs owned by Jim Stewart, Congress, Arizona. Stewart stamped
his own name and Kingman ARlZ on the outside of the heel bands.
Stewart was a cowboy in the Kingman area at the same time Blanchard
was making spurs.
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Blanchard
style number 5 plain steel owned by Mike Laughlin Marked: E.F. BLANCHARD NO. 5 PS YUCCA-ARIZ
click on pictures for larger views

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Blanchard
style number 5 stainless steel owned by Mike Laughlin Marked: E F BLANCHARD NO 5 SS YUCCA AZ
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E. F. BLANCHARD
#6.TS YUCCA-ARIZ
A pair of Blanchard style #6 tempered steel
spurs owned by Buster Aldred, Wetmore, Colorado.
click on pictures for larger views

The name CHUCK is stamped on the outside of the band on one spur. |
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Blanchard style number 6 tool steel owned by
Mike Laughlin. These spurs have been chrome plated. Marked: E.F. BLANCHARD # 6 TS YUCCA-ARIZ |
Blanchard
style number 8 stainless steel owned by Mike Laughlin Marked: E.F. BLANCHARD NO. 8 SS YUCCA-ARIZ |
Blanchard
silver mounted plain steel spurs with Mexican coin buttons. Owned by Mike Laughlin Marked: E.F. BLANCHARD YUCCA ARIZ.
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A
pair of Blanchard stainless steel spurs belonging to Clay
Rodgers of the C O Bar Ranch outside Flagstaff, Arizona. They were his
grandfather's. Note, they have no chap guard.
click on pictures for larger views
 inside the heel band of Rodger's spurs no number is visible E F BLANCHARD YUCCA ARIZ
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This custom pair of Blanchard stainless steel spurs was made for Harley Saddler of
Miles City, Montana in 1959. Mr. Saddler drew out the shape and
had his two ranch brands mounted on the heel bands. The rowels
are replacements. The originals, however, were also large and
made of horseshoe nails, because he wanted "big rowels that
rang." Note the hole in the shank where a pin can be placed
to "stop" the rowels. You stop the rowels from turning
when you want to "get ahold" of a bronc or colt. There is no number and the maker's mark is E.F. BLANCHARD YUCCA-ARIZ. |
 Well-worn pair of
E. F. BLANCHARD SELIGMAN ARIZ. marked spurs belonging to Mike Laughlin. Buttons are Mexican un peso coins. |
| E F
Blanchard cowboy spur maker
Blanchard Spurs - Help with How to
tell an authentic pair. |