The perfect accessory for any western wear piece whether that be just a classic western shirt or an entire ensemble with woven dungaree pants would have to be the belt buckle. Many are given out as prizes at rodeo competitions, but even you the city slicker can have a fantastic looking belt buckle to tie that western outfit together. If you are looking for something special, look no further than silversmith Clint Orms. Clint designs very intricate and elegant belt buckles for all tastes. Named after counties in Texas, they can be found in 1”, 3/4”, and trophy buckle sizes, or you can have one custom designed to fit your exact desires. If you are in the market for a great looking belt buckle, look no further than ClintOrms.com.

And hey Clint, as a fellow Texan, how about naming your next buckle after our home county of Brazoria? You know how bad Texas pride can be.

The Western genre has been a major part of movie and television history. Americans and the world have been fascinated with the “The Old West” and we have seen the western genre merge with other genres such as comedy, science fiction, and even musical.

One of the first true films ever created was the The Great Train Robbery in 1903 by Edwin S. Porter. The twelve minute film is considered legendary for the use of ground breaking film techniques like double exposure and cross cutting. To this day film students all around the world study it for it’s innovation and historical value.

I thought it would be interesting to compare one of the first western films ever created to the 2008 film Appaloosa which will be released to theaters on October 3rd. Appaloosa has a star studded cast including Viggo Mortenson, Jeremy Irons, Renee Zellweger, and many more.

The Great Train Robbery

Here is the full 12 minute film. However, there is no sound in this video because motion pictures did not have reliable sound and film synchronization until 1923.

Appaloosa Trailer

It’s obvious things have come a long way since 1903.

If you would like to delve deeper into the history of western films wikipedia has a comprehensive list of western films.

Photo: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department/Associated Press

Southern Texas was hit hard by Hurricane Ike last Friday, and we wanted to share this amazing image of cowboys herding a group of cattle up Texas highway 124 away from Bolivar Peninsula. The cowboys were trying to save the herd and get them to fresh water after contaminated sea water flooded the surrounding lands. Of course our thoughts go out to those affected by the hurricane. Just goes to show you that a cowboy’s job is never quite done.

I knew Walker Texas Ranger had amazing skills in variety of disciplines but had no idea about his bull riding abilities. I must have missed the category of Rodeo checked on his resume when it came across my desk last week.

For many college students and people in their 20s, vintage and thrift store shopping has been their primary clothing source. Along with that love of vintage clothing has come a resurgence of western wear, and as many “kids” find western shirts from decades gone by, they have made the look very fashionable once again.

But you’re not a kid anymore, and I doubt that sifting through racks and racks of clothing at a thrift store appeals to you. The look however, you still like. So why not check out some of the great classic western shirts in our collection? You still get that great vintage look, but in a quality product that will stand the test of time. All things that the “kids” would approve of.

It’s not July 4th but we here at Cacties believe that our great country’s independence should be celebrated every day. On that note we bring you this video of a brilliantly designed bottle rocket launching device that uses the finest of redneck engineering and skill.