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  #17 Chip Merchant

  Chip Merchant-

  Chip and his family live in Beavercreek, Oregon, where he enjoys building bits and spurs and various other silver pieces.  Chip has been blessed with good mentors and making good friends along the way.  Chip attended two Ernie Marsh workshops and an engraving class with Diane Scalese.  Chip is extremely thankful to have been given the knowledge and tools from these expert craftsmen.

  Chips goals are to create traditional one of a kind pieces that are of exceptional quality.  Chip challenges himself to improve on each piece he designs, engraves and creates.  Function and quality craftsmanship are the two elements that Chip strives to have in every piece he creates so that the gear he builds will be passed down for many generations to come.

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  #15 Stephen Hoyt

  Stephen Hoyt-

  Stephen Hoyt is from Washington, Missouri. His current occupation is in agriculture. He is also a certified welder.
  Stephen enjoys working in silver and steel as well as making saddle silver, buckles and bits. He started his engraving business 2016.
  He has taken engraving classes and workshops from Diane Scalese and Ray Cover, that have helped him improve his talent.

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  #21 Tell Deatrich

  Tell Deatrich-

  Tell has been a full time rancher since 2015 and he is able to work in his shop during the winter months.  Tell generally makes knives but has started engraving in recent years.  Building western jewelry and gear has mostly been an exercise in engraving, though he has had a long time interest in building bits and spurs.  The artistry involved in creating functional pieces that are pleasing to the eye is a great challenge.  Tell enjoys seeing other makers tackle the artistry aspect and he also enjoys this challenge himself.

  The 2023 bit entry was challenging, but he wanted the viewer to recall the original diamond shape that was prominent in the original Garcia bit.  Keeping this bit traditional Tell also wanted to have his own original style in his design.  The border of the concho reflects the modified diamond shape and the slight engraving on the cricket.  It was also important to have the viewer be reminded of the crescent moon as they look over the mouthpiece and the rein chain stirrups.

   

  It should be noted that the mouthpiece is 5 1/8^th inches wide.

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  #1 John Wright & Jon Peters

  *All proceeds on the sale of this bit go directly to the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum*

  John Wright-

  John is from a ranching and rodeo family in Nevada where he has crafted fine leather working gear from a very young age.

  As a third generation owner of J.M. Capriola Co. John grew up knowing the importance of artistry and quality.  Early on, John knew he wanted to be an artist and continue making and creating traditional cowboy gear.

  John manages J.M. Capriola Co., helping to preserve the quality and authenticity of the western tradition in making gear.
  John lives in Spring Creek Nevada with his wife Susan, son Charlie, and daughter Audrey.

   

  Jon Peters-

  I am a maker living and working in Southern California.  Over the years, my work has evolved from automotive pinstriping and airbrushing to leatherwork and metal engraving, with many other mediums sprinkled in along the way. Throughout my career, my work has been influenced by the iconography and motifs of the West. As a teenager, my first jobs were in feed stores and bucking hay as a ranch hand on horse and cattle ranches.  I spent my twenties working with horses, riding, and travelling to horse shows. This time gave me a deep love and respect for horses and the people who ride and care for them. During this time, I became interested in the gear used in riding and roping and began to think about the engineering behind the gear and how the pieces were put together.  That still resonates with me today as I create bits and spurs. I love looking at pieces to see how they were made and constructed. That is the fun and challenging part about creating gear. I am always looking for a way to improve my skills and products while experimenting with new designs. My goal is to create one of a kind pieces. When each piece is unique, I am driven to my most creative edge, and this is where I thrive as an artist.  Making something different than anything I have ever made before keeps my work interesting, and constantly evolving.

   

   

   

   

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