A stunningly intricate antique California bit from historic LD Stone Saddlery of San Francisco, California. The condition is truly amazing. It is unused with the original bluing remaining, and the mark is clean and sharp. Double Stamped deeply inside both cheekpieces: "L.D. STONE & Co. / SAN FRANCISCO". The original double slobber chains and rein chains remain. The chased iron design and inlaid silver twisted rope was done by Atanasio Larios, and is crisp and of the highest quality that Larios was known for. One of the best examples of an LD Stone bit we’ve seen. Asking 3500 or best offer.

Established by Lucius D. Stone in 1852. L.D. Stone Saddlery remained one of California's premier makers of saddles, bits, spurs and saddlery hardware through the turn of the century under the proprietorship of A Kempkey, F M Gilham and W T Sawyer. As their popularity grew so did their catalogue - 430 pages in 1894 - the same year their top-of-the-line saddle was put on exhibition at the Chicago World's Fair. Their catalogue represented the most comprehensive selection of fine California bits and spurs ever assembled. L D Stone consolidated with the other pioneer San Francisco firm of Main and Winchester in 1905 before disappearing with the Keyston Brothers merger in 1912.