In the mid-s, the invention of barbed wire changed the landscape of the western prairies. Early farmers and ranchers were looking for a way to contain their herds and secure their newly acquired boundaries from the open range. Before this, barriers were simply made using local sources like trees or stones. These methods proved to be scarce in the frontiers of the unsettled plains. And natural materials were expensive, unreliable, and required a lot of maintenance. Weather conditions and wildfires caused the materials to fail without warning. And, the sheer amount of labor required to build these fence styles was more effort than most settlers could manage. A simple, economic, long-lasting enclosure was needed. By the s, barbed wire became an efficient, affordable method of enclosing property. It was extremely popular, and to this day remains the most-used type of agricultural fencing across the U.S.
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Since , hundreds of patents have been awarded for different styles of barb, or bob, wire. Of course, not all styles took hold and became popular with the public. The reasons were numerous. Some were designed to be safer, which took away from its intended effectiveness. Some styles proved too difficult to produce. Start-ups were expensive, so lack of capital prevented inventors from succeeding. And still others just didn&#;t have the experience to manufacture or market their products. In the end, the successful, enduring styles share common features. Farmers and ranchers need reliable, heavy-duty wire that won&#;t break under pressure. The steel should be high quality so that the wires maintain uniform tension and consistently react to changing weather conditions, preventing sagging or failure. The use of two wires, reverse twisted, adds strength and keeps the barb spacing intact to avoid slippage and gaps. In addition, the points of the barbs must be strong enough to resist bending and sharp enough to cause discomfort. Low carbon or high tensile wire are both good options for barbed wire, but either type should have a zinc coating to protect the steel from rust and early corrosion. Fortunately, you need not look further. Red Brand has barbed wire options that satisfy every requirement for a quality, long-lasting fence. When properly installed, you can expect your Red Brand fence to last 20-25 years. In fact, we&#;ve had customers tell us that their Red Brand Barbed Wire has lasted over 70 years!
Red Brand Barbed Wire is built to safely contain your animals and protect your property. All Red Brand Barbed Wire comes in a length of 1,320 feet. That&#;s the equivalent of one-quarter mile, or one side of a square 40-acre parcel. Consider how many lines of wire you prefer to have on your enclosure. You&#;ll also need to decide if you want to use traditional low carbon wire, or high tensile. Each wire has its own set of benefits. Finally, determine the number of barbs you&#;ll need on your fence line. To help you select the proper fence for your property, stop by your local ag store and talk to a Red Brand dealer for more information. For helpful advice on installing barbed wire, check out our Installation resources and video, where we share expert advice.
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It's no wonder historians call barbed wire the tool that tamed the Wild West. This simple invention changed the course of Texas history. The lack of stone and wood on the rugged frontiers of West Texas made it impossible to build fences. All attempts at any kind of containment system, such as ditches, hedges, and mud walls, ended in failure. As a result, thousands of free-range cattle roamed in a near-wild state. The cattle roundups were colorful and exciting (as well as dangerous), but the land could not be used for agriculture as long as the cattle were free to eat and trample the crops.
Beginning in , a series of patents was issued to several inventors for strong, mass-produced fencing made from interlocking strands of wire. These wires were outfitted with sharp barbs that kept even the toughest cattle from muscling through it. The varieties of barbed wire seen here include: the Kelly "Diamond Point" right twist (), Burnell four-point (), and Glidden two-point, (), H. B. Scutt "Y" plate () and T. V. Allis "Buckthorn" (). Barbed wire ended the open range and with it the cattle drives and the range lifestyle that created the Texas cowboy legend.