This is a vintage lightly rusted sweet iron Lopez Espana bit with a low port curb featuring copper ring rollers mouthpiece and "Cavalry" S style shanks sold to the original owner by Arnold "Chief" Rojas in the early 1970's. Chief Rojas was a icon among California Vaqueros and sold these bits to trainers and their clients throughout California in the 1950's through the 1980's. Amazingly, the bit appears lightly used if it was ever used at all!
Arnold R. Rojas (1896 - 1988) or "Chief Rojas" as he was known, has the distinction of being the most celebrated chronicler of the life and lore of California's Vaqueros. He did this in a series of books that he started publishing when was in his mid-50s, his first being, "The California Vaqueros" in 1953. Ultimately he would publish seven books over the years, including "Bits, Bitting, and Spanish Horses; The Chief Rojas Fact Book about Successful Horse Training and the Proper Use of Equipment" (1970) and "Vaqueros and Buckaroos" which was his last, in 1979. He wrote about what he knew and loved, the life and ways of the old California vaqueros: men he rode and worked with for over fifty years. "These are stories as seen through the eyes of old vaqueros, they are something of the splendor of those days, for there will never be another cattle ranching era in California that produced such men."
His was a style of grace, writing that, "If I wrote in a lighter vein, it is because most vaqueros and buckaroos never took life too seriously. If what was written was pleasantry, it is because my experiences were pleasant. If I do not write of hatred, it is because I saw none."
He was a voracious reader and yet never progressed beyond the third grade in formal education, rather he worked at what he knew as a vaquero throughout the central part of California in and around the vast San Joaquin Valley. In his writing, he constantly asserted the importance of the quiet pride the vaquero took in his work.
He was a true throwback, a man who showed respect for the old ways and for the viejos - the old ones. Additionally, he was an important figure in ethnic writing of the era and held an uncompromising pride in his heritage - his family coming to California in the 1820s from Sonora, Mexico. His books were part of the foundation of ethnic pride that was built upon in the tumultuous era of the 1960s. Arnold Rojas has found his place in history as an important literary contributor to the legacy of a region in the west where the horse and horsemen were king and the value of a man was placed in his character and competency.
Chief Rojas imported these bits from Spain and then had them reworked to his specifications. Even in the 1970's, the Sterling Rojas bits were more expensive to acquire than the Vogt's and Flemings' that were more common at the time. The Rojas bits although heavy were popular because almost any horse accepted them and most really liked the larger diameter mouthpiece with copper roller rings.
The shanks measure 8 inches long with a 2-1/2 inch purchase for a 3.2 to 1 leverage ratio. The tapered mouthpiece measures 5 inches wide by 3/4 diameter at the outside edges tapered down to 5/16 inches in diameter at the port. The port is 1-1/2 inches tall by 1-3/4 inches wide with 6 copper rings. This heavy bit weighs in at 1 pound 6 ounces and demonstrates great balance. This piece of California Vaquero history will make a great addition to your Vintage bit collection and you might even find that your horse likes it too!
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