We are all familiar with the images of prisoners working hard labor, breaking rocks or digging and building roads. However, back in the 19th and early 20th century, some were also making what would come to be known as prison spurs.
Those prisons that had machine shops or workshops allowed the prisoners to make metal items. Prisons such as those in Colorado, Washington and Texas, turned their inmates into fine craftsmen letting them make and decorate cowboy spurs.
I guess that they had lots of time on their hands when making these items. Many an hour would be whiled away, engraving and carving designs in the spurs, making the leather straps and decorating them.
Prison spurs are highly collectible items in todays market. They are not quite as popular as some of the other historic makers, but they do hold their place in the history of these iconic American items.
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 Antique Canon City Prison Spurs Engraved Rowells $8,750.00 |
 CANON CITY SPUR COLORADO PRISON SPURS THE MEN WHO MADE THEM by Patrice Maul $125.00 |
 698 Civil War Books Ultimate Collection History Genealogy on DVD CD $26.95 |
 The Complete Book of World War Two USA POW Internment Camp POW Money in the US $27.88 |
 Lot of 2 Rare Canon City Colorado State Pen Prison Made Letter Openers c 1938 $44.99 |
 Has Man a Future By Bertrand Russell A Penguin Special $5.00 |
 Misery Stephen King 1987 HC DJ Horror Suspense $14.00 |
 Hidden History of Old Lyme Lyme East Lyme CT Hidden History $15.39 |
 Has Man a Future Bertrand Russell 1961 Penguin Special S 206 $12.90 |