S-shank style loose jaw spade with silver inlays, stripes, open cheeks, and slobber chains. In good condition, commensurate with its age, made circa 1920s-30s. There are very few known Coard Brothers bits extant, therefore they are very collectable. This unmarked S shaped cheek piece was fashioned after the early U.S. military cavalry bits. This bit has a very nice spoon spade mouthpiece and would be perfect for using, or adding to your California spade bit collection.

The s-shank style was a design that the Coard Bros. frequently used and became a distinguishing characteristic of their bits. The composition of their designs and pattern of engraving easily identify their pieces. Occasionally the Coard Bros. marked their work as a series of punched dots stamped in the figure of a running horse. Frank and James Coard are pictured in the second photo.

Frank S. Coard 1886 - 1963

James Coard 1891 - 1978

In 1912 the Coard brothers moved from Oregon and home-steaded with their mother in a remote area in Kern County, Califonia. They never married and lived all their lives on the homestead making bits and spurs part time while doing ranch work. They never had a telephone or electricity and made everything by hand. Frank died of a heart attack in San Luis Obispo, California, in 1963. Jim died in Mono County where he lived with a friend in 1978.