Spur Straps

[cmantz]

I need to make some spur straps. I have the Tandy patterns and am going to make something that looks like the attached.

These will be award straps...so they will have the rodeo logo on them. So does that go to the outside when worn? If so, that means the buckle will be on the inside and my daughter says the buckle is always on the outside so they don't rub together. So..which way are they supposed to be worn?

I can't find any images of trophy spur straps similar to this ON a pair of boots ...so I apologize in advance for the question that to many will seem pretty obvious! LOL

[JJs Leatherworks]

Christine,

Buckles are on the outside.

The large 'center section' should have your 'feature pattern' on it and will sit more or less on top of the boot facing forward.

If your logo is small and round, it could go on both pieces, aroung the point they attach to the spurs and would be visible from all sides.

JJ

[cmantz]

Thank you. It didn't seem right with the buckle on the inside but then I found this picture and thought that was the way it supposed to be.

I did a prototype with some inexpensive leather and I think I finally have my sizing down for my pattern. One thing I am still not sure on is the size of my "circle" on the buckle end of the strap. Seems like it should be the same size as the one on the inside of the boot. But from the pictures I have seen online, it seems it doesn't really matter.

Now for the question of leather...what weight leather should I use on these? I plan on lining them with something lightweight.

Thanks again for your response!

Chris

[GrampaJoel]

I have seen spurs worn with the buckle both ways. I prefer out, but that's just me.

[oltoot]

Buckles on the outside, particularly nice buckles like those. A possible solution would be the so-called buckaroo style with the buckles (and decorative conchos) on a large piece on the outside with the billet on the inside and threading through a keeper on the top of the large piece which comes across the arch of the boot, leaving a space to be decorated onthe outside which would also be framed with the buckles and conchos. as to wt, 4-5 oz tooling leather lined with 2 oz calf or kip. Look on some maker websites: buckaroobusineses.net, bigbendsaddlery.com etc

[cmantz]

Not ready to tackle the buckaroo straps yet ...and they don't seem to leave much room for putting award information on them.

As far as the wt of the leather...thanks for the info. Somewhere else I saw 8-9 oz but that seemed really heavy to me.

[GrampaJoel]

Make your own design. I always do.

That way you can get room for the information you want.

[oldtimer]

Christine, the straps in your first post are worn with the buckles inside!

[cmantz]

Christine, the straps in your first post are worn with the buckles inside!

That's the problem...everyone that I have talked to that actually wears spurs while riding (so the straps serve a purpose...not just an accessory) say buckle on the outside!!! This coming from a pro-rodeo calf roper all the way down to my daughter who barrel races. The buckles on the inside are not fun when it is time to ride as they just pushed against the ankle when spurring the horse. I did talk to another tack maker and her's are the same design and she confirmed that the buckle is supposed to be on the outside however many chose to wear them backwards.

So really the only way to get the buckle and the design area on the outside of the boot would be to do a "buckaroo" style strap and this customer doesn't have the budget for those as they would be more expensive.

Although this style does look better with the buckle on the inside and the design on the outside, that is not how they function best for the rider.

Edited March 21, 2013 by cmantz

[oldtimer]

I just made a note that this style is designed with the buckle inside, as it looks a little silly to wear this style with the buckles outside, like putting on your boots on the wrong foot.