CANON CITY SPUR

COLORADO PRISON SPURS & THE MEN WHO MADE THEM

Written by Patrice Maul & Jack Ferguson
with Mike and Gretchen Graham

First Edition
Signed and numbered by author Patrice Maul, May 13, 1995
#26 of 1000

This is the original copy that was signed by the author for his friend Ned Martin. Ned coauthored the bit and spur bible “BITS & SPURS IN THE VAQUERO TRADITION”, and many more. This was Ned’s personal copy of the book and no doubt used as a resource when writing his bit and spur books.

"Prison spurs, as a group, are traceable to a number of penal institutions. The Colorado State Penitentiary, and her inmates have been targeted here for a couple of reasons. Primarily, the fame, among collectors, of one John Cox was a natural starting point. Then, of course, the prison is located in Colorado - the author's home base of operations. And Jack Ferguson's field of expertise, as a spur maker, is the Canon City reproduction. His technical contributions and insights have been invaluable to this project.

It's always best to start at the beginning, and the case in point is no exception. The story of Colorado's prison spurs is inexorably tied to the histories of the penitentiary and Canon City, so the opening chapters are devoted to familiarizing the reader with the locale, the institution, and the gentlemen around whom the lives of some of the best of the inmate spur makers revolved.

The men themselves require no explanation. They were men from different backgrounds, who came from all over, and shared one common trait - the tendency to criminal behavior. By no means, is it our intention to glorify them in the tradition of, say, the James boys, or Billy the Kid - even if we have, in dealing with them, developed some affection for them. They are still 'bad guys', but what they accomplished deserves recognition."

Chapters include;
A Bit of Background
A Man Who Made Things Happen
A Number, A Name, A Face
The Inmate Spur Maker
Canon City Spur
...and Bits
Reproducing the Past
Some Notes on Engraving
Appendix A, B, & C
And an extensive Bibliography

Includes Jack Ferguson's personal business card from his Canon City Spur Company

Soft cover
Profusely illustrated
In perfect condition

$225.00