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Up #110 Snake Bit G.S. Headstall #75 Eagle Bit 1904 World's Fair Bit #1 Eagle Bit #16 Crescent Bit #80 Bit & Ortega Reins #60 Crescent Bit 1890's Kissing Bird #6 Bit (1) #6 Bit (2) #6 Bit (3) 1890's Sta. Barbara (1) 1890's Sta. Barbara (2) #78 Unmarked Bit Garcia Salinas Bit Schnitger Bit 1 JWL Peacock Bit #78 Capriola

 

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Item #B990    /   $4,800.

1890's Original Santa Barbara Bit

We were exceptionally gratified to be able to acquire this piece from the estate of a third generation rancher and cowboy who made good use of this bit until just a few years ago.

This fantastic early G. S. Garcia bit is extremely collectible and carries all the traits of those bits made prior to 1900.  The style of bit is found in the first G. S. Garcia catalog.  Additional silver, changes to the mouth of the bit and "improvements" to the manufacturing techniques that happened after the turn of the century are evident upon studying catalogs from 1902 and examples of bits known to be manufactured post World's Fair (1904).  Those more modern features are not present in this bit.

This early G. S. Garcia Bit is likely to have been engraved by Juan (John) Estrada between 1896 and 1906 - based upon the silver engraving style. *

The bit measures 5 & 1/4" wide by 8" long.  The silver dots are 3/8" in diameter.  Notice that one dot on each side is missing.  The engraved buttons are 1/2" in diameter.  There are 8 copper bands attached to the mouth of the bit (4 on each side).  The rolling mouth piece is striated in a diagonal pattern within a slide that measures 2 & 1/2" long by 3/4" wide. 

The bit is hand-forged and hand inlaid with coin silver, as was the practice of the time.  This piece marks the beginning of the use of crescent shapes, sunburst dot patterns and the signature cheek conchos that are to mark Garcia bits as well as most other Western bits to come.  The maker's mark is authentic and period correct.  The mark is present on the inside of both cheeks and reads: G. S. GARCIA / ELKO NEV. -- The Dutch or 'backwards' N is evident. This is a true piece of Western bit history.  Unquestionably early and extremely collectible.

 

Other examples of Estrada engraving for comparison:

G. S. Garcia Early Silver Engraved Bit / Item #B990  /   $4,800.

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Bits Spurs Chaps

#110 Snake Bit G.S. Headstall #75 Eagle Bit 1904 World's Fair Bit #1 Eagle Bit #16 Crescent Bit #80 Bit & Ortega Reins #60 Crescent Bit 1890's Kissing Bird #6 Bit (1) #6 Bit (2) #6 Bit (3) 1890's Sta. Barbara (1) 1890's Sta. Barbara (2) #78 Unmarked Bit Garcia Salinas Bit Schnitger Bit 1 JWL Peacock Bit #78 Capriola

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Updated: Thursday May 17, 2012

Please contact us at your convenience:  michael@purecowboy.us or sarah@purecowboy.us

Members: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association

The American West is celebrated and collected by people all over the world -- we offer easy international shipping, by either the US Postal Service, UPS, Federal Express or Container.

Pure Cowboy, 1770 West State Street, # 315, Boise, Idaho 83702

 208.342.5019 or toll free: 888.575.1890

All items sold by Pure Cowboy are for decorative purposes only.  All other uses are exclusively the buyer's responsibility

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