According to experts and collectors, the history of bits and spurs in North America dates to the Spanish conquistadors who first came to the new world in the 1500s, bringing horses with them. Six hundred years later, the making of these essential and often ornate devices is widely practiced as art and craft, as well as working, practical design. At Matt Humphreys’ Outlaw Waterjet & Design shop south of Dickens, Texas, makers from all over the U.S. gathered last weekend to share their specialized knowledge. In an atmosphere part trade show, part family reunion, sparks flew from grinding wheels and forges heated to red as 75 to 100 practitioners and guests traded ideas and techniques.
The event, which Humphreys launched last year as an outgrowth of what he saw happening in the knife-making world with “hammer-ins,” took place in the spacious Outlaw barns, where objects of the machinist’s trade from hand tools to the large laser cutter and the room-sized waterjet cutter provide ample room for folks to mill about and also get a close-up view.
Demonstrations and discussions covered topics such as engraving, soldering, design/ layout, welding, metal finish, machining and forge work. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24. Featured guests included TCAA (Traditional Cowboy Arts Association) members Wilson Capron and Ernie Marsh, Jim Poor, Troy Flaharty, Chad Cunningham, Cotton Elliot and Humphreys himself.
Colin “Gib” Gibson traveled from Burley, Idaho, to polish up on his hobby after recently attending Wilson Capron’s spur school in Christoval, Texas.
Travis Finley of Jacksonville, North Carolina, has been building spurs—primarily for top-15 bull riders—in his Slingin’ Shanks studio since 2013. Together with Gibson, he has produced a YouTube video titled “Spur Making 1 Hour Build (it can be viewed at https:// youtu.be/KpQBw9uGxgY).
Humphreys’ small machine shop providing CNC abrasive waterjet cutting services for industrial and artistic applications, specializes in bit and spur making and has also done cut signs in the past. He works solo in his shop—but organizing this craft event has brought dozens of elite makers and their families to experience Dickens County, fill room nights and enjoy local meals.
It’s a tradition he hopes to continue in future years. Reach out to Matt Humphreys at matt@outlawwaterjetdesign. com.
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