A&S Antique Auction Company announced this week that legendary cutting horse trainer Buster Welch, 79 (photo by Sam Franks), will offer his collection of rare spurs and bits during their sale of Western collectibles on Saturday, June 7, at their facility in Waco, TX.

“Buster has an incredible collection of early cowboy spurs,” said Scott Franks, owner of the 30-year-old auction company. “These are not only great spurs by great early makers, they’re Buster Welch’s spurs. You can just throw out the price guide.”

A&S Antique Auction Company recently concluded the sale of 1,760 pairs of spurs for the W.F. Reynolds Estate, a two-year process that involved multiple auctions. Four years ago, A&S sold a gun belt and holster, along with a pair of E.H. Bohlin spurs, for $370,000.

While Bohlin items appealed to early twentieth century Hollywood cowboys, spurs and bits such as Welch’s were produced as hand-forged custom items for early-day working cowboys and ranchers. Welch tried out each of his purchases. A few even became favorites when he showed great champions like Mr San Peppy and Peppy San Badger.

“I didn’t want any of those Rose Bowl Parade kind. I just wanted the sure enough working rancher or cowboy kind,” said Welch of his spurs and bits. “Way back there, you could sometimes pick up a real good pair of spurs in a little old junk store and I just went to picking them up.”

In my next post, Welch talks with me about his bits and spurs.