Pure Cowboy

Member: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association and Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America

Item #SA400 / $1,500.

Billy Cook Trophy Saddle, Autographed by Country-Western Great Carl Smith

The original Billy Cook saddles were made in Greenville, TX where he had his own shop and did custom saddle work from his own patented designs.   Hi saddles were hand made by skilled artisans with Billy being in direct control of each saddle.  The maker mark of the original Billy Cook saddles was found etched in metal atop the saddle horn: "BILLY COOK / SADDLERY / GREENVILLE / TEXAS" and all the original saddles also had a leather stamp "Billy Cook / Maker / Greenville, Texas" with a model number.

This saddle has Serial Number "894   83" deeply stamped in the leather under the jockey.  The last 2 numbers are for the year 1983, the year of manufacture.  Also stamped in the latigo keeper is "Billy Cook / Maker / Greenville, Texas" Model Number 791.  It is autographed on the right seat jockey leather: "To Ed, Carl Smith" in black marker.

In the late 1980's, after a run-in with the Internal Revenue Service, Billy Cook closed his shop and The sold his patents to Long Horn Saddle Company with a non-compete clause for a certain number of years, at which time the maker mark was changed to Billy Cook/ Saddle Maker / Sulphur OK.  The Sulphur saddles are assembly line saddles with the Billy Cook name on them.  They can easily be spotted by the presence of a Longhorn Saddlery stamp under the right jockey.  Original Billy Cook Saddles (those made in the 70's and 80's in Greenville, TX) are still one of the better made barrel and cutting saddles made today with real wooden rawhide covered trees and larger jockeys and skirts to distribute the weight of the rider.

This wonderfully tooled trophy saddle was custom made for the Middle Tennessee Cutting Horse Association Rodeo in 1983 and awarded to the Non-Pro Champion.  Both of the fenders are stamped: "M.T.C.H.A. / NON-PRO / CHAMPION / 1983" and bear the oval early (Original) Billy Cook stamp: "Billy Cook / Maker / Greenville, Texas". 

It's a 16" seat cutting saddle with a white-leather-laced horn bearing a silver metal cap engraved "BILLY COOK / SADDLERY / GREENVILLE / TEXAS" and deeply engraved leather decoration on the 13" swept back swells.  The floral engraving is continued on the cantle and skirt, though the seat and the jockey are left smooth.  The metal stirrups are leather-wrapped at the foot.  There is a hoof pick / knife holder on the left rear skirt that is also engraved with the floral motif it is 6" long x 2" wide.  The saddle sports 4 ornate silver conchos- two of them measure 1 & 1/2" and two of the are 1" in diameter.  They match and are engraved with a flower inside a stylized silver ring border. 

About Carl Smith:

Carl Milton Smith (Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame) was from Maynardville, Tennessee.  In 1983, he lived on his 500 acre horse ranch in Franklin, TN- south of Nashville, where he spend most of this time performing and recording his famous brand of Country and Western music.  In 1950, Mr. Smith landed a contract with Columbia Records and began working with the Grand Ole Opry.  In 1952, he married June Carter (who later married Johnny Cash) and they divorced in 1957, the same year that he married Country star Goldie Hill, who remained his wife until her death in 2005. 

Carl Smith's early career began at age 15 and with a break in performing while serving in the Navy between 1944 and 1947, rose to fame with such hits as "Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way" [#1 on the Billboard Charts in 1951], "Hey Joe" [#1 on the Billboard Charts in 1953], and an amazing 30 other songs that made the Charts between 1951 and 1978, when he retired from the music business, though he remained in the public eye with occasional special appearances on television and stage.  Additional notable titles he recorded are "If Teardrops Were Pennies", "Let's Live A Little". 

Mr. Smith was active in the Middle Tennessee Cutting Horse Association for which this saddle was made, his own cutting horse was named "Jelly Bean Jones".  "Mr. Carl" was a treasured member of the association and actively rode for many years on his cutting horse "Jelly Bean Jones".  In the year 1983, Mr. Smith recorded his last album- The Legendary Carl Smith.

Mr. Smith's career spanned nearly his entire life, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He is fondly remembered for his kind acts and good personality and his music is just as edgy and relevant today as it every was.  Mr. Smith passed away on January 16 of this year, 2010.

About Ed Gregory:

Ed Gregory Jr. (to whom the saddle is autographed) was an old-time carnival operator who befriended celebrities and booked them in his shows.  He was born in California and raised in Florida and Mississippi.  He ran a thriving carnival business, known as United Shows of America, which operated at the Florida State Fair and about 30 other venues.  His ties with the Grand Ole Opry assisted him in booking acts for his shows.  He staged carnivals on the White House Lawn in 1998 and 2000 (President Clinton). 

Mr. Gregory Jr. and his wife, Vonna Jo Gregory, were convicted of bank fraud in 1986, but received a Presidential Pardon from then President Clinton three years after Mr. Gregory retained Mr. Clinton's brother-in-law [Tony Rodham] as a consultant.  They were contributors to both political parties.

This saddle is from the estate of Mr. Gregory Jr. and is sold with a letter of provenance and a copy of Mr. Gregory's Obituary, published 4-15-2004 in the New York Times.

Billy Cook Trophy Saddle #791,  Autographed [Carl Smith]  / Item #SA400 /$1,500.

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