50th Anniversary of Montana Silversmiths
Montana Silversmiths Shines with The World’s Largest Buckle
Columbus, MT
“It’s said that every buckle has a story.” That’s especially true when the buckle was won by a world champion, or specifically designed as a gift for a loved one. As handcrafted pieces of art, treasured buckles become family heirlooms passing from one generation to the next, the story of the origin of the buckle as sacred as the buckle.
Buckles are the crowning glory for Montana Silversmiths. Having designed and hand-crafted thousands, Montana Silversmiths is the official silversmith of the NFR, PBR, and PRCA and has placed buckles in the hands of hundreds of world champions.
“The buckle is a perfect way to celebrate the industry and come together to showcase our lifestyle in iconic fashion. It’s a culmination of a lot of people’s hard work. We are paying homage to a quintessential piece of the West and cowboy way of life. It’s a way for the world to see the Western Lifestyle in a different light. This is who we are: authentic and innovative, and it all started with a dream.”
Headquartered in Columbus, MT, the company pioneered the development of western fashion in both buckles and jewelry beginning in 1973. 50 years later they are still going strong. Known for their skilled craftsmen, the combination of traditional western designs and crisply executed engraving styles makes their products stand out far above the competition.
It was with this reputation already achieved that Montana Silversmiths decided something BIG would need to take place entering into their 50th year in business.
The team at Montana Silversmiths came up with the idea to craft the “World’s Largest Buckle.” Spearheaded by Chief Marketing Director, Judy Wagner, Montana, Montana Silversmiths came up with a vision to incorporate everything they have perfected in the prior half-century. Hoping to break the world record, Montana Silversmiths took on the challenge and strictly followed the guidelines which stated the item had to be an authentic replica to scale of an existing buckle available for sale.
The iconic Big Horn Trophy Buckle was chosen as the model, having been a customer favorite for years. The artwork for the reproduction was curated in collaboration with Priefert Manufacturing Company of Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The design elements were meticulously fabricated, with no detail left undone.
“We needed to bring it to life and share our story authentically,” Judy said, “and the buckle needed a story of its own. Our passion, artistry, and teamwork made this dream a reality.”
The result is a buckle measuring 10 ½ feet x 14 ½ feet. Weighing 1000 lbs, the piece was broken down into quarters for transportation from its home in Texas to the first stop at the NFR in December. In late January, it will be relocated to the Billings Logan International Airport.
The scale and curvature of the beautiful buckle was created to exacting specifications. Each design element was scrupulously constructed to assure accuracy in the creation of the large-scale genuine buckle that took over six months to achieve.
“The buckle is a perfect way to celebrate the industry and come together to showcase our lifestyle in iconic fashion,” Judy continued. “It’s a culmination of a lot of people’s hard work. We are paying homage to a quintessential piece of the West and cowboy way of life. It’s a way for the world to see the Western Lifestyle in a different light. This is who we are: authentic and innovative, and it all started with a dream.”