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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
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 #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
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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. |
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E F Blanchard
cowboy spur maker
Blanchard
Spurs - Help with How to tell an authentic pair.
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