damascus english spurs

[ironstein]

I spent two weekends making a damascus billet out of 15n20 and 1095. It was a workout! I used my diamondback propane forge, and had no problem welding in it. After folding 9 layers six times i ended up with 288 layers. The spurs themselves are a bit rough but i was happy with how the damascus came out being my first try.

[ironstein]

sorry. Heres the pictures.

[Rob Browne]

What else to say? Very nice work there you should be proud.

Cheers

[rokshasa]

those look really good.they look like they where made by hand rather than rough.

[clinton]

They look awesome ironstein
what are you going to do with all these spurs? Cowboy UP!

[Chad J]

Dang nice, yes by all means cowboy up! Chad

[Alec.S]

Very nice spurs...... !!!!!!!!
great damascus for a first try!

keep it up!

alec

[ThomasPowers]

I got 576 with 6 folds:
9 start
x2 first fold 18
x2 second fold 36
x2 third fold 72
x2 fourth fold 144
x2 fifth fold 288
x2 sixth fold 576

Don't sell yourself short the are very nice indeed!

[ironstein]

Thanks everyone. It was a fun project. The reason i keep making spurs is because i have family and friends who enjoy horses. I made some spurs for a friend of the family and a few more people have asked so i keep making them. I have actually made some money! Not enough to cover my time and materials, but since this is just a hobby at this point, it helps me do what i love for less money.

[Bentiron1946]

Nice looking Damascus spurs! I dare not show these to lady down the street that rides dressage or she be bugging me to start forging again. Dang those are nice! :D

[Frosty]

Thanks everyone. It was a fun project. The reason i keep making spurs is because i have family and friends who enjoy horses. I made some spurs for a friend of the family and a few more people have asked so i keep making them. I have actually made some money! Not enough to cover my time and materials, but since this is just a hobby at this point, it helps me do what i love for less money.

I'm thinking you've made some cowboy/girl a super bragging piece, those are terrific looking!

We used to buy hay in lancaster, Plamdale vicinity and though most of us didn't wear spurs I can't think of a one who wouldn't be wearing THOSE all the time, probably to bed in fact.

Frosty the Lucky.

[SoCal Dave]

Very nice looking pair of spurs. There is money to be made in spurs and bits. I think you wouldn't have any problem selling a pair of western spurs also.

[ironstein]

Actually dave i have sold a few pair of spurs made from a farriers rasp. I really enjoy building them. I'm almost finished with a pair where they still have all the file teeth on them, and i hot slit the strap holes. i will post pics when they are done. My stuff looks like total junk compared to some that i see on a bit and spur site, but i am making progress, and its nice to learn while making something people will actually pay money for. It helps the hobby! After i sell a few more pair, maybe i can convince the wife to let me buy a fontanini anvil like chad!

[ironstein]

The trickiest part of spur making for me is making the pair look the same. Even a subtle difference will stand out like a sore thumb. Thanks again for all the nice replies.

[Sukellos]

BEAUTIFUL work! I have to admit, when I saw the heading, ENGLISH SPURS, I had no idea what set English spurs apart from any other kind. Now I know. The English can't sing "I got spurs that jingle jangle jingle...."

I've been meaning to take a try at spur making. They probably won't be damascus, though. I will probably use a pair of silver spurs that my sister-in-law bought for me in Mexico for my cowboy action shoots costume, for a pattern.

So, how DID you match them for size?

You have every right to be proud of those.

[ironstein]

To match them for size i forged some templates out of some flat bar. I used some 4140 round stock with the proper diameter and bent the stock around it with a jig i made. It is essentially a heel band bender. When i need a different sized template i use a larger or smaller size round stock to bend around. When i have the template formed to the proper size (the inside dimension of the heel band) i weld some braces inside so it won't give when i bend the bands. My bender is similar to a press, i have a lever that i pull down with a rod that forces the tool steel past two rollers which in turn bend the band around the template.
I also have some templates so i can bend heel bands with a hammer or mallet if they are more delicate.