Bohlin buckle set

Edward Bohlin is without question, the greatest cowboy silversmith. 

Born in Sweden in 1895, Bohlin ran away at the age of 15, traveling across the ocean on a four masted schooner to come to America and pursue his cowboy dreams.

He cowboyed in Montana and opened his first saddle shop in Cody, Wyoming, doing rope tricks outside his store to draw business.

After his second failed marriage Bohlin joined a traveling wild west show traveling to California. 

Bohlin met Tom Mix at a Pantages performance and the actor convinced him to move to Los Angeles and set up a shop in Hollywood, to capitalize on the American thirst for things western, which had skyrocketed after the Buffalo Bill Show toured the country and globe. 

He opened the Hollywood Novelty Leather Shop in 1922 and struggled to make a living for a while. 

credit: Old West events - High Noon Auction

He rebranded in 1926 as the Edward H. Bohlin Co. 

He secured his success by supplying the Rose Parade, the Rancheros Vistadores group and the leading western actors and figures of his day, creating a wide variety of saddles, belts and accessories.

America's premier saddle smith, it is estimated that he crafted over twelve thousand fancy saddles, usually adorned with his beautiful and unmistakable silver work. 

Bohlin passed away in 1980.

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I am always on the lookout for Bohlin material but rarely find it. 

Scarce as hen's teeth.

I sold a nice 5A buckle about thirty years ago. 

Never had another one since.

So when I was offered this beautiful buckle set out of an artist's estate I jumped on it.

Crafted with silver, rose gold and rubies, it is a real beauty.

And it has the early Hollywood mark.

I actually bought it to keep, not to sell. Never had a fancy dress belt.

And I never keep anything for myself but I do seem to hold on to my belts for a long time or at least until I physically grow out of them. 

I am going to make an exception here. I deserve something nice to keep. And I will give it an extra inch or two, in either direction. Just in case I swell or shrink. 😛

I wasn't exactly sure which buckle set I had so I asked two friends that know the Bohlin material cold, Brian and Joseph.

Brian told me that it was a #357 from the catalogue, pretty rare and refined. It is one inch across rather than 3/4" a plus for me. Early, 1930's.

So now I had a buckle and I needed a belt to put it on. The old one was about ten inches shy of necessary circumference. I had recommendations on a bunch of saddle and belt makers, never saw anything I loved and much of it too expensive.

And then cruising the worldwide web, I found this saddle maker from Oklahoma, Jeff Feil. 

Bingo, I instantly knew that his belt style would be perfect.

Jeff has been making saddles since 1968. Reminds me of my old pal Gary McClintock, who built my old saddle and has sadly passed away. I told him what I wanted and he is making it for me.

I decided to go with this California rose motif.

Exactly what I was looking for, natural color and, most importantly, in my budget. I liked it better than belts four times the cost!

I sent Jeff my buckle set and measurements and he is now sizing it with the proper leather before he starts the tooling on the tapered ranger belt.

He sent me this picture today, sizing the tip with a leather sample for fit.

I am anxiously awaiting to see what the finished product looks like and will be sure to post pictures of the finished belt for you to enjoy.