Buckle in or buckle out is one of those issues that can cause some big arguments and has been an issue since the first cowpokes rode the range. Look at the old pictures and you can see they were worn both ways (and still are) by real working cowboys (of whom I have a few friends still) and not just by ground pounders.....I've ridden for umpteen years, including the rough string when I was much younger, and have always worn my straps buckle in when not wearing dove wings. because I like the buckaroo/Californio style with the big concho on the outside - but that's a personal preference (you can blame Charlie Russell and learning horsemanship from the old time caballeros in California during the 1960's). Look at original straps and you will find that a plethora of straps were made back when with those big conchos and were thus designed to be worn buckle in. BTW - The straps with the buckle over the instep and a big concho, which Ed Bohlin made so many of, are a turn of the century item
The idea that worn buckle in will hang up on the rigging is just that - an idea and like RT said the stirrup pretty much prevents hang ups - except for hanging ones foot up in the stirrup, but that's usually a matter of too big a stirrup and too low a heel. Besides when you're wearing spurs, getting them hung up in the rigging is a far greater possibility - been there done that and it is not fun! especially when you wind up having teh cayuse come unglued and you find yourself riding the hurricane deck - of course it really is fun when one is young and indestructible!
Spur ridges on boots is a modern thing - you do not find them on 19th century boots at all (caveat - at least I;ve never seen them). Look at the old photos and you will see that spurs were generally worn higher on the counter than is the norm today. Also the old time (pre-1850) vaqueros and mountain men wore spurs with their moccasins, including the often times huge Spanish Colonial style spurs with rowels up to 4 and 5". Back in the day spurs were (and still are to a degree) the sign of a horseman/caballero and - that was one who did not work on foot. Even as late as the 1960's I knew a few old time vaqueros and buckaroos that refused to do ground work - if it couldn't be done from horseback it was not done and if the rancher insisted they'd pack their gear and move on........
Spur chains are mostly decorative and never were used to lock ones spurs down the way bucking straps are used on rodeo spurs. The old time Spanish apparently loved the sound of jingling chains and other things, so used them on their spurs along with jingle bobs which were a Californio/Spanish Colonial addition, The style was picked up later by the buckaroo types who then spread them east to Montana and Wyoming. They also added rein chains to go with their big ring bits or spade bits which usually had chains attached as well.
JD - IMO you made a good choice for spurs, especially for some one who has never worn them before. While I dearly love (and sell
) the Californio styles with drop shanks and large rowels I generally do not recommend them for "newbies". One thing that can help with wearing spurs is walk slightly pigeon toed (like the Duke who copied his walk from a real cowboy Yakima Canutt, who was his stunt double for years) - this keeps you from getting your spurs tangled up. Also be VERY careful when walking down stairs - catching a spur and going butt side up is a real danger and our age that tain't no fun.............and FWIW - the largest straps I've made were to fit a size 16 triple E - had to order some 3" conchos for those (my norm is 2")
anyway just a few thoughts and some permabulations on the subject and as always everbodies mileage will vary.......
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