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We are a family owned silversmith company, created in 1882 by my great grandfather, Robert Schaezlein, in San Francisco .The Son was added a few years later when my grandfather became part of the business. My father became the Son when he joined my grandfather in the late 1940s, and I in 1986 when I officially came to work alongside my dad. My dad's sister Louise also worked at the shop in the 1930s and 40s, as well as my older brother Gary and sister Nancy in the 1960s. A family business all the way!
By the early 1900s, What had started as a society badge/souvenir silversmithing shop soon evolved into a company that made belt buckles and saddle trimmings for such well-known companies as Visalia Stock Saddle Co., Nolte-Olsen, and Keyston Bros. who were located here in the City. Starting in 1929, we made the annual World's Grand Champion Cowboy buckles awarded by Levi Strauss & Co. At that time, almost everything was marked with the particular store’s name – few, if any, pieces were marked Schaezlein. You may own a vintage Schaezlein buckle and not even know it.
In many ways, we make the same things we’ve been making for those now-famous saddle shops, using many of the same dies we used back then. We focus on high quality, traditional style saddle/bridal trimmings and belt buckles. We also make many custom pieces based on our customers’ ideas and specifications. All our products are hand made here in America, as they have been for 130 years. In a time of disposable, cheaply made products, our belief is in creating work you can be proud to own for a lifetime, and pass down to the next generation.
Rather than sell our work through this website, we believe the best way to market our products is through retail stores with a knowledgeable staff who understand what their customers’ needs are. But it's nice to explore product choices before walking into a store, so we hope this website will help you get to know us a little better (we will have pictures coming soon, so check back from time to time). For more information, you can find us on Facebook under R. Schaezlein & Son, or contact us at info@rschaezlein.com for a fine retailer in your area.
We understand you have many choices for a nice belt buckle or saddle appointments. We believe you'll find our work a balance of classic timeless designs, and highest quality materials - all beautifully engraved by hand .As a family-owned company for 130 years, we have the experience and tradition that's hard to find in today's world. Own a genuine piece of Western history today.