In Yellowstone’s mid-season premiere, the show paid tribute to Billy Klapper, known in the cowboy and ranching communities for his artistry.
In the episode, Rip (played by Cole Hauser) stops by a loriner shop in Pampa, Texas, to pick up a bit for Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith).
There, Rip admires the impressive craftsmanship of Klapper, who is celebrated for his spurs made from single pieces of metal.
Who Was Billy Klapper?
Billy Klapper, who passed away on September 10 at the age of 87, left a legacy that lives on in the cowboy world.
Known for his “27” bit design and the unique Billy Klapper spurs, his first set of spurs dates back to 1966.
He began his career in metalsmithing after learning from famed spur maker Adolph Bayers, who taught him the skill of creating spurs without welding.
Klapper’s exceptional craftsmanship led him to shift from cowboy work to full-time loriner artistry in 1968.
Over five decades, he created nearly 900 bit designs and around 800 spur designs, all documented in his spiral notebooks.
Yellowstone has often celebrated real-life cowboys, as seen in Season 4’s “Under a Blanket of Red,” where legendary horse trainer Buster Welch appeared alongside Barry Corbin, an actor and experienced cowboy.
Another Season 4 episode was dedicated to singer John Prine, whose music closed out the tribute.
