The late Earlon Shirley grew up in a ranching family and at the age of seventeen started working at a cotton gin and the managing a farm co-op. At some point and time in life Earlon had the desire to make things and while on a vacation with his family he met an Indian silversmith and picked his brain about the silversmithing trade and that visit gave him enough information to get started making jewelry and eventually hunting knives, but Earlon was looking for something else so he turned to making handmade cowboy spurs. At first all of his spurs were one piece handforged spurs and then he started making two piece spurs that were just as good due to the high quality metal he used. The mountings on Earlon Shirley’s spur were pretty much always sterling silver and occasional gold highlights. The custom spurs pictured here a a low number {#13} and they appear to be one piece spurs due to the look of the shank and heel band. Earlon Shirley really became recognized as a top spur maker and some of his clientele included Red Steagall, Charlie Daniels, Michael Martin Murphy as well as truly great horseman and cowboys.
A very nice pair of Earlon Shirley handmade spurs feature sterling silver mounting and large buttons holding the spurs straps on.
Sterling Silver mounted spur shanks with wheat stalk engraving all hand done by Earlon Shirley the spurs rowels are approx. a inch and a half diameter with fourteen spokes.
# 13 spurs handmade spurs by the late Earlon Shirley, Earlon has influenced many a spur maker to become better spur makers.
The metal work on these handmade Earlon Shirley spurs is top notch and very clean. This is a view of the inside of the heel band, notice the large steel spur buttons that hold the spurs straps in place.
This is a closeup of Earlon Shirley’s maker mark and the number thirteen. Thanks to Larry Peck for allowing me to photograph these fine handmade spurs by Earlon Shirley.