Unique bar bit "made in England" "never rust"

RachelleAline17

RachelleAline17

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Good evening all,

Whilst rummaging through the old barn at out stables, I came across a rather unique-looking bar bit with interesting shanks that I have never seen before (see image). It has a bit of lever action, and the bar measures 13,5cm without including the width of the shanks. It is stamped "made in England" and "never rust", but other than that, there are no markings or brand names anywhere.

I have searched online tirelessly, and have found no information nor any other bit that resembles this one.

Who can help me out? What kind of bit is this? What sport/work is it used for? What company produces/produced it? Is it still in production? How old might this bit be approximately? I really hope someone recognizes this model, because I would like to learn more about it! I do not ride with a bar, nor have I ever and I never intend to, but I find the craftsmanship of it absolutely fascinating!
 

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Looks like a driving bit, and I have a feeling I have seen these before - just can't put my finger on it and remember precisely.
 
Is the metal magnetic? If so, this would suggest stainless steel, so later than 1913.

Could it be upside down in the photo? I.e., hanging by the curb chain?
 
Keith_Beef said:
Is the metal magnetic? If so, this would suggest stainless steel, so later than 1913.

Could it be upside down in the photo? I.e., hanging by the curb chain?
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It is not upside down. The reins would be attached to the hole at 90° turn at the bottom. I haven't tried to see if it is magnetic.

I have, since posting this original thread, found a similar bit (no joke, it has taken me 2 afternoons of googling...). It seems to be a Spanish Western style baroque bit. It is referred to as "S Shape and Rose". All the versions I have found since, are all made very differently than the one I have.

Thanks for your response! I will try a magnet tomorrow!
 
Since having posted this original thread, I continued my search (2nd afternoon... I couldn't let it go ?) and have finally found a similar bit! It seems to be a Spanish Western style baroque bar bit, and it is referred to as "S Shape and Rose". Though the shape of the shanks are the same, all versions I have found of this bit since, are all made very differently than the one I have. Now that I know the model and its purpose, I wish to find out more about the company that produced it, and discover its approximate age. Does anyone know which English companies stamped their bits with "never rust"?

Thanks for all your help so far! I greatly appreciate all the help during my neurotic search (I can't let go of things until I figure it out ??).
 

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Aha,
RachelleAline17 said:
Since having posted this original thread, I continued my search (2nd afternoon... I couldn't let it go ?) and have finally found a similar bit! It seems to be a Spanish Western style baroque bar bit, and it is referred to as "S Shape and Rose". Though the shape of the shanks are the same, all versions I have found of this bit since, are all made very differently than the one I have. Now that I know the model and its purpose, I wish to find out more about the company that produced it, and discover its approximate age. Does anyone know which English companies stamped their bits with "never rust"?

Thanks for all your help so far! I greatly appreciate all the help during my neurotic search (I can't let go of things until I figure it out ??).
Click to expand...
Aha!
https://www.tariqindustries.com/detail.php?live=1_2_0_2
 
Gloi said:
Keith, is this just the bit , the link is full of warning messages so I haven't opened it.
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It's a page to the product, which is described as "S Shape & Rose Horse Bit Traditional Friesian Rose Bit use for Driving and showing. German Silver mullen mouth, with Fixed Cheeks moveable cheeks".

Now that I'm looking on a decent sized screen, not my phone, I can see that it's the same as the one that OP had found in post #9.

The same product, with the same reference number and same description is also being sold through another window. Even the URL is the same apart from the host name...

http://horsehillintl.com/detail.php?live=1_2_0_2
 
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Keith_Beef said:
It's a page to the product, which is described as "S Shape & Rose Horse Bit Traditional Friesian Rose Bit use for Driving and showing. German Silver mullen mouth, with Fixed Cheeks moveable cheeks".

Now that I'm looking on a decent sized screen, not my phone, I can see that it's the same as the one that OP had found in post #9.

The same product, with the same reference number and same description is also being sold through another window. Even the URL is the same apart from the host name...

http://horsehillintl.com/detail.php?live=1_2_0_2
Click to expand...
It warned me I had to be over 18 to see it.
 
Gloi said:
It warned me I had to be over 18 to see it.
Click to expand...

I don't know why it would do that. I got no warnings, and there's certainly nothing unusual about either of those two websites; they are just a company in Pakistan that sells:
  • German Silver Horse Bits
  • English Western Stirrups
  • Spanish Type Spurs
  • Mole Traps & Curry Comb
  • English & Fancy Bridles
  • Farrier Tools
  • Halters
  • Riding Gloves & Stud Girth
  • Saddle Pads Blankets [sic]
  • Horse Riding Chaps
  • Decoration Horse Stirrups
 
Yes. It is a Liverpool Driving bit, made by Never Rust in England. It is a quality bit. The mouth looks to be mullen mouth or straight bar. Liverpools come in many types from low to high port, straigh and mullen + snaffle bits. It is made out of stainless steel, non rusting. Here in the States many equistrians prefer Never rust made bits. If you do a search on MSN : liverpool driving bits : you will see the many kinds. Also the prices.
 
justamorgan said:
Yes. It is a Liverpool Driving bit, made by Never Rust in England. It is a quality bit. The mouth looks to be mullen mouth or straight bar. Liverpools come in many types from low to high port, straigh and mullen + snaffle bits. It is made out of stainless steel, non rusting. Here in the States many equistrians prefer Never rust made bits. If you do a search on MSN : liverpool driving bits : you will see the many kinds. Also the prices.
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Have you read posts 9 and 10? They confirm what it is ....
This thread was 3 years ago, welcome to the forum
 
No idea but it would make a lovely loo roll holder 😂
I found an old driving bit that had been discarded at a previous yard and had (now ex) OH make it into a loo roll holder for me. Looks really good and they sell for over £50 on Etsy so I feel like I’ve had a real bargain there with my freebie find 😆
 
justamorgan said:
Yes. It is a Liverpool Driving bit, made by Never Rust in England.
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@justamorgan

From my further research ...

Never Rust is not a bit manufacturer or a UK brand name, though from Googling I see that's a common misconception on adverts for bits in the U.S.

Never Rust has been stamped on the bits made by many manufacturers, originally on nickel alloy back in the mists of time and more lately on stainless steel and the newer gold colour alloys that ..... never rust.

The bit is definitely not a Liverpool driving bit, which is defined by having long straight shanks with slots for the reins, most commonly 3 but sometimes 2.

I can't help wondering if there's a bit of a scam going on in the US with someone stramping Never Rust on bits and then selling them for a premium as English made. Because you don't really see them in England, and in fact most of our bits are made either in the Far East or by other European companies (and likely still manufactured in the far east! ), or Australia.

Welcome to the forum, do you have a Morgan? We have a long standing member who recently bought one and he's a cracker of a horse.
.
 
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