The Art & Function of Iron….
2005 BHSSF Commemorative Spurs To Sell At Auction

Alzada, Mont. – When Ed Lawrence was a kid, he’d sit around cow camps where he trailed cattle for an extra dollar or two, and listen to the old timer’s – spur makers themselves – talk about their craft. “I didn’t say much, just listened. That’s where I learned to make a spur from one piece of iron.”

It’s a practice that’s all but vanished in today’s spur making business but for Lawrence he sticks to what he knows best. And remembers too, those times punching cows as a youngster, where “there was always a cowboy that had silver,” his term for a fine set of spurs. “I couldn’t afford it, but always admired those that had it.”

That’s where it started for the rancher who calls the short grass country on the Little Missouri River bordering Montana and Wyoming, home. “I tried my hand at making my own. Thought I’d make a couple pair and that’d be the end of it.”

Now he makes custom spurs for folks like western movie producer/actor Tom Selleck. Life’s funny that way.

For the cowman, that’s just an aside – like the orders he takes from Africa, Australia, Canada and 31 states in the U.S. They’re important and gratifying to an artisan but for Lawrence the bulk of his work can be found hanging up in tack rooms, “where it’s used, day in and day out. Ranch people are my biggest customers.”

Marty Rypkema of Rapid City who has donated the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation 2005 Commemorative Lady Leg Spurs made by Lawrence to the Foundation’s Stockman’s Auction coming up Wed., February 2, describes him as, “a rancher and a cowboy through and through. Ed builds other gear besides spurs. I’ve got a lot of his work on my place including bridles that’ll put a horse’s head right where you want it.”.

His Dad, Milo Rypkema is a founder and current director of the Foundation. Through his involvement, Marty (who is also a Foundation Stockman’s Club member) was familiar with the annual fundraising auction. “I’ve seen the items auctioned over the years and I thought this would be a good fit. It’s certainly a good cause – raising money for student scholarships.”

While most spur makers make spur shanks from one piece of iron and heel bands from another then weld them together, Lawrence adheres to the old style of craftsmanship he grew up hearing about. Beginning with a single piece of strap iron, he cuts about three-fourths of the way through it the long way. The metal is heated and the rough shape of the spur formed by spreading and shaping the portion which has been split - the heel bands. The outline of the finished spur is scratched on the metal and the spur is cut out using a cutting torch. Then the finish work begins.

Named among the top contemporary spur makers in the country in such published books as “Bits & Spurs: Motifs, Techniques and Modern Spur Makers”, Ed likes the history of the spur. “The lady leg (or gal leg) is a favorite of mine. The style came up from Texas where it’s said the early day cowboys there would wear them when they would go to town – to impress the ladies.” He speaks of a spur maker in Moorcroft, Wyo., who re-popularized the style beginning in the 1930’s. And after 28 years of spur making, people now speak of him.

When you’ve got an Ed Lawrence pair of spurs, you’ll want to hang on to them.

For Stockman’s Auction information and advance bids on the 2005 BHSSF Commemorative Ed Lawrence spurs or other lots, contact Foundation Director John Johnson at 605-347-2562 or the Foundation office at 605-718-0810.

 
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