old horse shoes

[AZFarrier]

I was wondering if any one has ever come across bits made of old horse shoes? I know that several spaecimans of horse shoe hoof picks were found throughout the south but I would think that bits would be made as the shoes came available, especially toward the end of the war, with iron being in demand. I have a surplus of old horse shoes and need something to do with them.

Thanks

Andy Miller
1st CAL Cav

[CeeBeeRebel]

Re: old horse shoes

Andy,

While I have never come across them being made into bits they make nice gun racks for around the house, are fairly cheap, easy to make and look pretty cool not to mention it gets rid of a few shoes. Take four shoes, weld two together perpendicular, then do the same to the other pair. Mount the final product on an old slab of barn wood and hang on the wall. For an added touch if your into that kinda thing and feel Martha Stewartish go around the outside edge of the board with a strand of barb wire.

[AZFarrier]

Re: old horse shoes

Brandon
Unfortunitly my wife will not allow me to hang horse shoes in my house, but it is a good idea, I've seen this type of gun rack before. I do turn them into bridle hooks (roughly the same way). Currently I give them to my brother, a hobby blacksmith, which he turns in to what ever. He is currently building me a new forge, and I thought I would like to try my hand at making a plain or plantation bit, and since I have a surplus of old shoes I submitted this post.

Thanks for the reply

Andy Miller
1st CAL Cav

[csabugler]

Re: old horse shoes

Dude, if you have any "ritzy" communities in your area, "quaint" items like that can sell for a nice price in the right kind of market!
Patrick

[paul9thky]

Re: old horse shoes

I have heard of pitch forks being turned into bits, but its hearsay and not entirely reliable.

Never seen an original made out of bits or horseshoes.

[Andrew German]

Re: old horse shoes

I have a hoof pick made from half a horse shoe, courtesy of Nick Nichols. That would be a practical use for some of your leftovers.

Andrew German

[AZFarrier]

Re: old horse shoes

Andrew
That was my final exam in Farrier school, the day of our final it was raining hard so we stayed under cover and forged hoof picks and what ever elase we wanted out of old horse shoes. I have a couple I still use, in fact I need to make some more come to think of it. As for the bit I think I will go ahead with it and see what I come up with, I'm hoping to reproduce a plain bit with a couple of horse shoes and see what I get, It's worth a shot.

Andy Miller
1st CAL Cav