Very early California silver snake spade bit from the San José, California area, circa 1880s by Juan Francisco Echavarria (1847-1917) featuring his very unique and distinctive trademark - alternating foliated and cross hatched silver design patterns of engraving. In fine condition. Check out the mouthpiece and look how cool it is!!  I acquired this spade bit from a prestigious Santa Barbara collection  There is a brass tag attached that’s numbered from a museum display when the bit was loaned to a California vaquero exhibit at a museum.

This beautiful spade bit is attributed to Juan Francisco Echavarria, an Early California Bit and Spur maker renowned for his exceptional iron work and fine silver engraving. Echavarria made bits and spurs for many of the pioneer San Jose makers including Hernandez, Atanasio Larios, F M Stern and Messing and Sons. Chilean born, Juan arrived in the States at age 22 settling in San Jose, California where he became a blacksmith, then a bit and spur maker. By the turn of the century his reputation was widespread, making spurs for Main and Winchester and his spurs appeared in the L D Stone catalogue. Asking $1650 obo.