Garcia Bits and Spurs
By Becky Prunty-Lisle
With that, Garcia was vaulted into world-wide fame, and the little saddle shop remained a successful part of the Elko economy until 1933, when Guadalupe Garcia passed on. The legacy was left to his three sons, Les, Henry, and Eddie, who moved the business to Salinas, California. Bits, spurs, and saddles were all crafted at Garcia Saddlery until 1957, when Les took the silversmithing business to Reno, Nevada, establishing Garcia Bit and Spur Manufacturing Company.
In 1978, Doug and Paula Wright, owners of the J. M. Capriola Company in Elko, bought the Garcia company, thus bringing the name, and the legend, full circle. Today, Garcia bits and spurs continue to be built by carefully trained Mexican craftsmen who proudly continue the tradition of quality and beauty expected of the Garcia name. The same mouthpiece and cheekpiece designs are used that were used in Guadalupe’s time, with the addition of a few new cheekpiece patterns. Just as they were at the turn of the century, Garcias are still used by working cowboys everywhere. 
However, cowboys and horsemen are no longer the only ones in the market for Garcia bits and spurs. Collectors, enchanted and intrigued by the mystique of the old West, seek the vintage pieces like a pirate seeks treasure. Unfortunately, the market has recently been flooded by imitation Garcias, built by unscrupulous makers seeking to profit unlawfully from the trademarked Garcia name.
J. M. Capriola’s in Elko, Nevada is the only place where new Garcias are sold, making it easy to be sure a new bit or spurs purchased is the real thing. However, it is not so easy to be sure of the origin of older pieces, which are by far the most sought after. Garcia pieces built prior to 1978 are generally divided into three distinct periods: G. S. Garcia, from 1896 (when the shop began building bits and spurs in-house) to 1933; Salinas’ Garcia Saddlery from 1945 to 1958; and Les Garcia, Reno, from 1960 to 1978. (The hiatus between 1933 and 1945 was due to a shortage of materials caused by World War II.) G S Garcia pieces bearing a backwards N (in NEV) are commonly believed to have been built between 1910 and 1920. The pieces from each era are distinguished by different makers marks, which are stamped into the inside of the bit or spurs. Pieces from the G. S. Garcia period bear a variety of marks in different sites, depending on the maker and the year made, but all are a variation on the basic “G. S. Garcia, Elko, Nev.” A few pieces bear an additional initial that represents the maker, though few of Garcia’s employees were allowed this privilege. Pieces bearing a backwards N (in Nev.) are commonly believed to have been built between 1910 and 1920. Pieces from the Salinas period are marked with the words “Garcia Saddlery Co./ Salinas, CA.” Les Garcia’s work sometimes bears the mark “Les Garcia/ Reno,” or simply “Garcia.” Current pieces bear the mark “Garcia/ Elko Nev,” along with a serial number. This numbering system has been in use since 1985. It must be kept in mind, though, that any mark can be easily duplicated with modern equipment, and also, according to Paula Wright, there are some older Garcia pieces that are not marked. Fraudulent Garcia makers have been known to age the imitations artificially, rusting and rubbing them to simulate wear and use. Paula Wright told of a pair of fake Garcias spotted on the internet, which had well worn heel bands on the inside, but brand new, untarnished silver on the outside. Another point to consider is that while sterling or fine silver is used today, older bits and spurs were built using coin silver, a much harder metal. Taking into account the harder silver and the more primitive tools of the time, it is only natural that early pieces bear engraving much coarser and less detailed than today’s work. Although these few pointers may offer a little insight, they are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to be considered in seeking a collector’s piece. Research is priceless to any collector, no matter how experienced they may be. Paula Wright emphasizes the importance of “doing your homework,” strongly recommending Ned and Jody Martin’s book, “Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition,” available in a hard-bound coffee-table edition, as well as a pocket-sized version. “They’re truly a must have for collectors,” said Wright. Wright added that she does not believe true collector’s items would be available on the internet, and of course true new Garcias are not available through any source except J. M. Capriola Co. The internet has opened up a whole new market through which imitation Garcias are sold. The nature of on-line auction sites allow anything with the word “Garcia” in its description to be displayed on screen, with just the touch of a button. The name is well known enough to draw people to it, except most people surfing the web in search of a collector’s piece lack the experience to discern the real thing from the rest. Descriptions of pieces often contain the words “marked Garcia, Elko, Nev,” which indeed, the fake pieces are marked this way, but the clever wording leaves somewhat of a loophole for the sellers should they be caught. Bidding for pieces on the internet pushes the price up far beyond the actual value because people are afraid they will get out-bid on a sought after item, a situation frauds take advantage of. Many times, a set of fraudulent bit and spurs are offered for as little as $280. An individual piece (a bit OR spurs) that is a true Garcia will sell for at least that much. Wright also compared the counterfeit bit market to the counterfeit money market. Just as the most frequently counterfeited bills are hundreds, the most frequently imitated bits and spurs are G. S. Garcia’s. Wright explained that the best place to obtain a true collector’s piece would be at a well-known collector’s auction, where the promoters and sellers are not only well educated about such things, but their reputations are at stake concerning the origins of pieces sold. Another place would be from someone who has had a piece in their family for years, but unfortunately for collectors, families willing to part with their heirlooms are few and far between. Above all, the Wrights want people to be aware that there are many frauds out there, and to offer their assistance to anyone wishing to research collectors pieces, built not only by Garcia, but by other reputed makers. Paula Wright passed away in 2012, but John Wright continues at Capriola’s and is at (775) 738-5816, 500 Commercial Street, Elko, Nevada, 89801. e-mail: [email protected] . Everyone wants to believe they are getting a good deal on a piece of western heritage. More often than not, though, a little research will reveal that a “great” deal isn’t so great. Shopping for a collector’s piece is a lot like shopping for a car; it takes patience and research to ensure you won’t get stuck with a lemon. More pages about spurs: A number of interesting spur pages with more photos and information are listed below:
[E F Blanchard Cowboy Spur Maker] [ Amozoc Spurs ] [ AdolphBayersSpurs] [ Spurs: Prison Made Spurs ] |
Les Garcia spurs circa 1960 with original leathers.
Les Garcia - maker's mark
Here is an unusual GARCIA, ELKO, NEV. marked piece. It is an ashtray decorated with a blued and silver-inlayed spur.
It was won as a prize in the old Ranch Inn in Elko, Nevada in 1978. Photos courtesy of the late B. DePaoli.
Note: Garcia of Elko is in no way connected with Eduardo Garcia of San Ysidro, California, whose pieces are distinguished by the maker’s mark,
* E Garcia.
A version of this article with extensive pictures of original Garcia bits and spurs appears in the January, 2001 issue of Western Horseman Magazine. Note: All bits and spurs in the pictures on this page are authentic Garcias, G.S. Garcias, and E. Garcias. Some are old, some contemporary. We want to thank Becky Prunty, Royce Hanson, Mitch Moiola and Buster Aldred for the privilege of photographing their gear. All photos by Lee Raine We are told that the following sites carry authentic collectables and list them here as a convenience for your research. With regard to purchases, a buyer should be absolutely certain that they are sure of what they are buying, its authenticity and any guarantees implied. www.purecowboy.us High Noon (the Western America Tradeshow) http://www.highnoon.com/bits-and-spurs.htm page of Biographies of Bits and Spurs Makers. |
