Prison Made Spurs

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries some prisons had well equipped machine shops and allowed prisoners to use them.  Prisoners had a lot of time to learn to forge and engrave their work.  Canon City, Colorado, Walla Walla, Washington, and Huntsville, Texas are a few of the prisons that made spurs.
Prison made spurs, hitched horsehair items, and braided leather items are very collectable. 

These old spurs are attributed to an inmate of the Carson City, Nevada state prison.  They are made of steel, with a top edge overlay of brass, and copper, and overlaid with engraved silver.  The rowels have inlaid circles of brass and copper.  They have serpentine stamped original spur leathers.

Canyon City, Colorado spurs. Most of these spurs do not bear maker's marks, but have recognizable characteristics.

Note the shape of the chap guard, the style of engraving, and the little bill protruding from the back of the shank (bottom right in front of the rowel, below.)

A visitor sent the following text and photo.  Anyone who has information on Oklahoma prison spurs is invited to email us.  Thank you.

"My Grandfather was an Oklahoma State Representative for the 15th &16 Districts back in 1935 and 1937 respectively  He was given or had made as the story has passed down a pair of spurs from a prison. 
I always heard it was a local State Prison , but being from Beckham County, Elk City I do not  think there was such a thing. Anyways I have attached a picture of them, which doesn’t seem similar to any 
of the pairs you shared in your article about spurs made in Prison. Any information you may be able to share would be wonderful. No marking are on the inside. 
Thank you in advance for any assistance,
NR Hand"

More pages about spurs:        A number of interesting spur pages with more photos and information are listed below:
[E F Blanchard Cowboy Spur Maker]

[ Garcia Bits and Spurs ] 

[ Amozoc Spurs ]

[ Adolph Bayers Spurs]