Glossary

chap guard a small bar usually sticking up from the shank that keeps chaps from falling over the rowel
double-mounted spurs decorated on the outside and inside of the foot
heel band the metal band that goes on the back of the boot, the leather mount and the shank attach to the heel band
heel chains chains that go under the boot to hold the spurs on
jingle-bobs small metal bits that are usually attached off the rowel pins that create sound as the cowboy walks or rides ( usually associated with Mexican style spurs )
leather mounts a leather strap that goes over the top of the boot to keep the spur attached. It usually attaches to a swinging or stationary button on heel band (in rare cases these were made of materials other than leather)
locking rowels rowels that can lock into place and stop spinning ( these were frowned upon by many as they can easily cut or gouge the horse unnecessarily )
one-piece construction spurs where the heel band and shank are made from one piece of material ( this style is usually associated with Texas style spurs)
rowel the round and / or pointed piece that is applied to the horse, rowels are a large part of the decorative scheme in many spurs (rowels come in many shapes and sizes from 8 inch or larger rowels seen in Mexican espuela grande to circular pieces of metal as small as an inch in diameter)
rowel pin the pin or axle that holds the rowel into the shank
shank the straight piece that sticks out of the back of the heel
single-mounted spurs decorated only on the outside of the foot
stationary button a button that cannot move and the mounting leather goes over it
swinging button a button that can move to attach the mounting leather
two-piece construction spurs where the heel band and shank are two seaparate pieces that are put together

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