PAMPA, Texas (KVII) — A legendary bit and spur maker from Pampa was featured in the season premiere of “Yellowstone”, just two months after his death.
Billy Klapper, 87, appeared opposite actor Cole Hauser who plays Rip Wheeler.
In the scene, Rip was picking up an order from Klapper in Pampa, according to ABC affiliate WFAA.
When he walked into the shop, Rip was amazed by the old-school method in which Klapper made spurs, fashioning them from a single piece of steel.
“I didn’t know people made them like that anymore,” Rip told Klapper, who played himself in the role.
“I think there might be a few, but very few,” said Klapper.
Klapper let him take a pair for free, and Rip went back to the Four Sixes ranch, where another cowboy noticed his “pair of Klappers.”
“When he’s gone,” the cowboy told Rip, “we’re all out of legends … with nobody trying to be the next one.”
The scene was filmed in Pampa on Aug. 19.
Klapper died Sept. 10 at his home with his daughters by his side.
Below is a snippet from his obituary.
After high school, Billy started working as a ranch hand at the Buckle L Ranch in Childress and later at the Y Ranch in Paducah. Billy spent a great deal of time with the famous bit and spur maker, Adolph Bayers, and in 1966 he made his first pair of spurs. The demand for Billy’s spurs grew, and he started making gear full-time in 1968. He was well known in the ranching and cowboying industry and was one of the few bit and spur makers that still made one-piece spurs. Billy’s bits and spurs are now collected worldwide. He made 682 different spur patterns and 816 different bit patterns. His patterns have been used by bit and spur makers but have never been duplicated. Billy created his legacy and changed the cutting horse industry by listening to what the cowboys wanted and making functional bits for their horses.