My buddy Frank who is a farrier came to Washington State from Australia in the 1970's and got a job shoeing race horses at Long Acres race track and he got to meet John Wayne in the bar at the track. Frank and Duke got to talking for a few minutes. Frank is kinda a short and Duke turned to the bartender and said bring my little Australian friend the biggest beer you got! So they talked for awhile and bought each other a few beers.

Frank was also good friends with J.D. Wilshire who was a wrangler on some John Wayne movie sets. He died a few years ago and left Frank a pair of spurs that Duke had had made. The story is that another wrangler who worked with Duke had come home one night and his wife was in bed with another man and he ended up killing this guy and was sent to prison. He was a hand at making bits and spurs so Duke had him start making them in prison and Duke would give them out to friends. Duke ended up giving J.D. a pair of spurs which Frank now has. Frank told me that I could have them when he's gone. Just thought you guys would enjoy these stories.

Robert

Interesting story!

Is there a chance you could take a picture of these spurs and share it here?

Chester :newyear:

Yeah I will be sure to get some pictures of the spurs next time I'm up at Franks place. When Frank first showed me them I told him they look like they've been worn a bit and he said that he wears them riding sometimes. At first I told him what the heck are you thinking, you should keep them nice and hang 'em up and then I thought you know Duke would probably rather want them to be used instead of collecting dust!

Robert