Article and Video by Colin Gibson
This video was shot in NC in the shop of Travis Finley, the owner of Slingin Shanks; a full time Spur maker. The build is performed by Travis, and the commentary and video was shot by Colin Gibson from Idaho. Colin is a hobby Spur maker.
Spur Makers Colin Gibson and Travis Finley
Travis and Colin met a year ago at the First Annual Bit and Spur Makers Gathering at Matt Humphreys shop in Spur Texas last August – almost a year ago to the day now. From the gathering the Finley’s (Travis and his son Tanner) and the Gibson’s (Carol i.e. Carolina Mornin, and C. Gib) went to Wilson Capron’s Spur School in Christoval, Texas in September.
The friendship has grown and on a recent visit to NC seeing family, Colin managed to also get in some shop time with Travis, and this video was produced. The video was made on July 22, 2022 on a hot and humid day in NC but by their excitement and enthusiasm you would never know it!
In the video you will see a one hour build of a pair of horse riding spurs that are built from laser cut parts. The spurs are built using a tried and tested process that is unique to Travis Finley. This is a spur building process that uses several basic machines in the construction of the build. The build is broken down step-by-step, and it takes the viewer through the entire Spur building process with not many questions at the end as to “how was that done again”? Lol
Spur Making Parts and Supplies
After I built one set of spurs with Travis earlier that week I knew this process had to be shared with the Spur making community. It was just too good of a process with too many tips and tricks not to share.
Travis asked the question on Hot of the Bench, a popular site for new builds or pieces that are “hot off the bench” if anyone was interested in seeing a one hour Spur build. The response was good, and so we elected to shoot the video.
Spur Maker’s Work Bench – Travis Finley Spur Shop
This process Travis has come up with, and perfected over the last nine years and 4000 pairs of spurs is effective, efficient, economic, and a great one.
Spur Making Video
Spur making process with maker Travis Finley
There is a little something in the video we hope for all levels and all abilities. The machines that are named in the video are mentioned in a tribute to the makers we admire and call our heroes.
Grab your popcorn and a cold beverage of your choice and get ready to see a very talented Spur maker get it done and his friend trying to explain the best he can what all is going on through the view of the camera.
Hopefully you will find some good information in the video and a little humor too. This is meant for educational purposes, and Travis and Colin give this information just as freely as we have been given information by everyone listed on the machines. We are all in this deal together!
Take care and enjoy!
Travis and C. Gib
Handmade Spurs by Travis Finley