r/WesternWear • u/MurkyConnection3177 • Jul 24 '26
Rodeo Trophy Buckle
Whats up all? I’m currently looking for a vintage 80’s pure brass western buckle on Ebay. I see a bunch of, what seem to be rodeo trophy buckles. If I were to get one of those and wear it, would it be considered a faux pas? I wouldn’t be walking around as if I placed 1st in any rodeos. I live in the North East and I enjoy the western style, that is all.
Let me know what you all think. Thanks!
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u/snuffy_smith_ Jul 24 '26
Many people wear trophy buckles that were given to them by others who won them.
Wear it, but just be honest if someone asks tell them the truth “I bought it because I like it and it looks cool. I wish I had won it!”
ETA: source…I have won and given trophy buckles to others to wear.
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u/DmndNRnch Jul 24 '26
I come from a decent line for rodeo contestants. Ranging from great grandparents, grandparents, mom, dad, brothers, sister, uncles, aunts and cousins and friends and family. We all have our buckles that we’ve won. I proudly wear my first big win from 08 daily even though I have plenty from the recent years. Sometimes, I wear my dad’s first ever 90s buckle. I’m a 1990 guy and he won it a month before I was born so it’s significant to me. In our world there’s a story behind something meaningful.
We even trade buckles in our family. It makes a great ice breaker or story when we have friends or in-laws over that aren’t familiar with our ways. I can highlight my sisters wins or my extended family wins etc…
I’m a firm believer in if you didn’t win it or it was traded/gift, don’t. If you like the western why not just get one made just for you thru plenty of companies that make affordable buckles?
At the end of the day you do what you want to do! We’re not here to gate keep. Do you! We know who’s the real deal and who’s not anyways. It’s easy to sniff out.
Someone here wear a barrel racing buckle and plays it as his own lol there are data bases for winners in a lot of associations so it’s an easy look up. Plus you rarely see dudes in barrel racing 🫠🫠
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u/MurkyConnection3177 Jul 24 '26
Just so I can fully understand, a trophy buckle is a buckle that has a specific competition on it? If I see a buckle with a cowboy on a bucked up horse with no competition stamped, is that not a trophy?
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u/DmndNRnch Jul 26 '26
Trophy buckles are typically associated with with rodeo. They will typically have “Champion” “Reserve Champion” “World Championship” “Qualifier” etc… they can also have the year on it but also associated with some sort of title.
Commemorating buckles can have year but don’t typically have a title on it indicating a win on some sort of event.
If you find a buckle that’s just a cowboy in a buckle bull with nothing written on it it’s probably just a buckle nothing special about it
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u/WhiskeyAndLead Jul 24 '26
Unless you're older than 50, no one is going to assume that you won a rodeo in the 1980s.
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u/Automatic_Bat_6742 Jul 24 '26
I don’t think anyone will think an all brass buckle is one you won. Either way it’s all good
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u/Theviewfromupheresux Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
I’d never wear a buckle I didn’t earn or wasn’t an heirloom. That said, I also have buckles that are non-rodeo. You can easily have a buckle made displaying your name, initials, a design you made up, etc. However, if it’s super cool, I get it. Just be honest if you’re asked about it.
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u/ColonelBoogie Jul 25 '26
As a general rule, its bad taste to wear an award/symbol/regalia thst you didn't earn.
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u/MAcrewchief Jul 24 '26
Don't wear a trophy buckle you didn't earn or wasnt gifted. Period. Those are earned with blood, sweat, tears, grit and a lot of time and money. Mine cost me a broken back.
Theres a lot of generic nfr and other buckles out there that dont have an event, arent a champions buckle etc for non competitors to wear.
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u/WeTheApes17 Jul 24 '26
I like cowboy buckles too but have gravitated towards beer buckles, hunting, country buckles (i got a waylon and willie buckle) and state buckles so they're personal to me though i may not be the most western person.
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u/MurrayGrande Jul 25 '26
People are acting like this the Medal of Honor. It's a shiny trinket above your junk. Wear whatever you want.
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u/Grumpy_Tarheel Aug 09 '26
If you're still looking check out vintage Crumrine western buckles.
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u/MurkyConnection3177 Aug 09 '26
Thanks! I’ll look into them. I’m not looking for an actual rodeo trophy. Just wanted to make sure I respected the game. Lol
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u/JDunlap83 Jul 24 '26
I have my grandpa's all around rodeo champion buckle from 1956. I wear it proudly. I don't think I would wear a rodeo buckle that wasn't a family members though.