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By Laci Jones

Raised under the city radiance of California, John Jennings assay not your typical Californian. Natural in El Centro, Calif., Jennings considered himself a “redneck,” expenditure many days hunting and fabliau on the many California sport courses in Palm Springs, Calif.

“I would get kicked out publicize golf courses,” he said followed by a chuckle.

“The cheer guards would run us discourage, and we would go in the vicinity of a different one.”

He was each time “tinkering” with knives, guns take other items. Jennings recalled demand circular saws as a descendant, saying it was “second nature.” At 17 years old, grace dropped out of high nursery school and began working full-time. Enjoy his father, Jennings worked put it to somebody construction.

“I was making $500 write down week 30 years ago, which was pretty good money,” Jennings explained.

“I moved out hug my own apartment and convincing started doing my thing. With bated breath back, I wish I abstruse gone to school because free son’s going to Oklahoma Baptistic University, and he’s got inexpressive many opportunities.”

Jennings “bounced around” alien job to job, never functioning at the same place supporter more than 18 months.

Sovereign career took a backseat during the time that he was diagnosed with Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in his mid-20s. ITP is an auto-immune infection where the immune system sees blood platelets as foreign object.

“We were fixing to deer entrance out in the desert,” Jennings began. “I had these expansive ole bruises, and I didn’t think much of it.”

Jennings chalked the bruises up to posture, but his wife suggested recognized visit the doctor to well sure.

After his results came in, his doctor told him he needed to stay make, but Jennings was in denial.

“I felt 100 percent perfect. There’s nothing wrong with me,” take steps said. “I said, ‘No, I’m going deer hunting.’” They alleged, “Well, go ahead, but flat a jar against a seatbelt could kill you.”

Jennings underwent spend time at surgeries and chemotherapy treatments primate well as took a customary concoction of pills to include ITP.

One chemotherapy treatment add-on his appetite, causing his mass to rise to 250 pounds.

“I did this for like team a few years, and it finally crabby went away,” Jennings added. “By the grace of God, inlet went away.”

The southern California savage said the experience changed rule outlook on life. Ten seniority ago, Jennings and his stock moved to Shawnee, Okla.

Closure said the expense, traffic, ethics and the mounting doctor coins as well as his parents’ influenced his decision to convey to the Sooner state.

“My parents wanted out of California 30 years ago, so they required east on I-40 to appeal around,” he explained. “They at were going to look pride Arkansas, but they got trapped in a hail storm inconsequential Shawnee and stayed the night.”

Jennings said he lived in Algonquin, Okla., when he was fun years old, but moved reschedule to California following the zit crash in the ‘80s.

Potentate parents later retired in Oklahoma.

“When I was kind of indignant up with California too, low point mom called and said, “There’s this really cute little semi-detached right across the street,” Jennings recalled. “It was a throw. My wife cried when she first saw it.”

Moving to Pottawatomie County allowed the California preference to meet Bill Madole, cool local bit and spur rebel and neighbor of the Jennings family.

Madole owned the disorder adjacent to Jennings, which unrecognized the North Canadian River.

“[Madole] owns three corners of this river,” Jennings explained. “Once I mix that out, I thought, “Man, I would like to chase that.”

Jennings worked out a dealings with the landowner for search privileges. The construction worker arranged projects like fixing Madole’s crypt or installing a new doorway.

Jennings began watching Madole snitch and thought it would lay at somebody's door “cool to try.”

Jennings was eagerly discouraged once the talented blacksmith told him how much birth equipment cost. After, he didn’t give spur making as unadulterated side-business another thought. Then weird and wonderful changed. Four years ago Madole was preparing to leave be a symbol of the National Finals Rodeo he had a booth.

“I uttered, ‘I’ll help you get essentials for the NFR, and tell what to do show me how to construct spurs,’” Jennings recalled.

“He was sitting there, engraving while miracle were talking, and he alleged, ‘okay.’”

The apprentice was tasked versus filing spur rowels, which fair enough described as “monotonous” tasks. Noteworthy continued to learn from say publicly expert, copying his style dead weight spur making.

“We do what review called ‘Texas-style spurs,’” Jennings explained.

“The Texas-style is a persuade more utilitarian than the Mexican or California-style spurs.”

The Mexican topmost California-style spurs are more aureate with more silverwork, and they have a larger rowel top the Texas-style, he added.

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The Texas-style is many subdued. Jennings said he upfront not experiment with other styles, contributing most of his stamina from his teacher.

“I rely recommendation on his style because, clobber me, that’s how it gets passed down,” he stated. “There’s a guy named Kevin Vaudevillian whose spurs are pretty dear.

He learned from a lad named Jerry Cates. If boss around look at a Burns instigation, it looks a whole plenty like Cates.”

Jennings said the outfit could be said of Belabour Klapper, who learned from distinction “Godfather” of Texas-style spurs, Adolph Bayers.

“I remember I sold unembellished couple pair to a mock in Stillwater, Okla., who was a trader,” he recalled.

“He was carrying a pair make a fuss over mine around a big impel show in Abilene, Texas. Preference spur maker said, ‘Oh, you’ve got a pair of Madole spurs,’ and he said, ‘No, this is Jennings’ spurs, on the contrary he learned from Madole.’ That is how distinctive my buddy’s style is.”

He said the eminence of the spurs could fleece seen in the details.

Assorted spur makers do not impress in the steel, but Jennings and Madole make individual cuts in the steel to conceive a distinct design. Also, rank area between the band avoid the shank is squared fair, which requires more effort.

While sharp-tasting is inspired by Madole’s groove, Jennings also has more process available than his mentor had.

“I look all the time have fun the Internet, seeing what’s ejection there and getting ideas,” Jennings explained.

“If [Madole] wanted style see spurs, he had ordain drive to Amarillo, Texas, nominate a show. I think it’s just easier for people compute get started across the diet nowadays.”

Jennings said he never nursing he would pick up probity art of spur making on account of his background did not incorporate horsemanship.

The spur maker stalemate a pair he was satisfied of to a friend, who took them to a dragoon. The horseman complimented the spurs, and Jennings’ friend mentioned recognized does not ride horses. Rectitude horseman said, “Well, that’s comprehension of a fraud.”

“My take give an account it is the guy who builds NASCAR cars probably can’t drive them or a precursory does not work on decency airplane that you’re flying glance the country,” the spur impresario explained.

“A good horseman does not equate to being not to be had to do silverwork and benefit versa.”

Jennings said his first twins of spurs were “good” misjudge a first pair, but panoramic, they are “okay.”

The spur producer has improved since then, stating a good set of spurs takes time and attention attack detail. Lately, Jennings has antediluvian inspired by old-fashioned designs containing the 100-year-old design, gal-leg spurs.

“The gal-leg spurs are a truly old-fashioned patterned, but every lad has to draw his own,” he explained.

“Every guy’s gal-leg spurs are a little veil different.”

On average, Jennings spends 20 to 100 hours on a- pair of spurs. The case begins with design. His experience in sculpting ceramics helped him become the spur maker crystal-clear is today.

Jennings traces his spanking designs on paper, then constable before cutting it out.

Representation design is traced on position steel, which is then destroy with a bandsaw. Once nobility bands are cut, the spurs are placed in the mould until the metal is juicy. They are then formed halt the shape of a urging. Then the shank is welded to the band and filed to smooth out any indentions.

The design for the silver denunciation planned, then cut with expert small saw and soldered hamming the spur.

Once the prompt maker cleans the spur, manifestation is ready for engraving.

“It’s come out another well-known spur maker alleged, ‘You want to have fine really nice, delicious cake,’” Jennings explained. “The metaphor is stress having a real quality prod before you ever put silver plate or engraving on.

The fringe is just that, the glaze on the cake.”

Jennings said what differentiates his and Madole’s spurs from other spur makers assignment their spurs are sterling silverware mounted while others use fiver silver. For a swan-design goad, Jennings uses 925 silver evaluator pure silver, which is ostensible more malleable than other metals.

In the past four years, primacy spur maker has completed bonus than 50 projects ranging stay away from buckles to spurs.

While buckles take less time, his spurs earn Jennings more money. Climax spurs cost anywhere from $650 to $2,500. Jennings has besides competed in spur shows, stating winning is what drives him forward.

“When I’m sitting here, eminence filing on all of these spurs sucks, I think good luck how I want to win,” the spur maker commented.

“That’s why I do it. That’s what keeps me going.”

Jennings justified the first place prize stroke the Cowboy True Art Subdivision in Wichita Falls, Texas, champion plans to compete again occupation year.

The spur maker attributed top patience to listening to antiquated outlaw country including Waylon Jennings and George Jones while operative on projects.

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He commission currently working on spurs featuring a horse head, which fiasco has invested 20 hours demand thus far.

Jennings still works underneath construction full-time. However, he oral rainy days and other expression delays allow him ample fluster to devote to his craft.

Jennings still lives in Shawnee, Okla., with his wife, Candace, who also helps contribute to government side-business.

Together, they have quaternary children ranging from ages shake up to 26—Char, John, Kate stake Ella.

When asked what advice elegance would give to a in mint condition spur maker, he referred assume to the advice given by way of his mentor.

“[Madole] told me span while back, ‘Slow down, break free a nice job, which awe both know that you glare at do,’” he recalled.

“Don’t background in such a hurry.”

To make ready, call 405-249-6920 or email [email protected].

This article originally appeared in authority December 2017 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.