About the Maker
Growing up in the city, Gene Klein always wanted out. His first dream was the outdoors and every chance he got as boy he went camping in the mountains. He grew to love the forest and mountains enough that he decided to make a career out of them. After graduating high school when it came time to further his education Gene sought a degree in forestry at Northern Arizona University. After struggling through the first two years of college level 'three Rs' his next two years immersed him in the forestry program he was there for and he did well.
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Lucky for him, his first job out of college was as a forester on the Vermejo Park Ranch in Northeastern New Mexico. Picking up the job at the last minute out of school and not really knowing what he was getting in to you can well imagine how Gene felt when he found that Vermejo was a working cattle ranch and big game hunting operation of about a half million acres. He thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Aside from his duties as forester he was able to guide elk, deer, antelope, and turkey hunters over the next 35 plus years. Never had he dreamed while growing up he could get paid for having so much fun. Vermejo's primary big game is elk and Gene once figured he must have field dressed over 300 bull elk during that time and about that many cow elk too!
Being a cattle ranch of that size meant they had to keep a pretty good sized crew of cowhands. Gene soon made friends on the cow crew and at every chance he was in the saddle helping out. That started a friendship with a circle of men that now stretches over the entire western US. He came to learn a few things about handling horses and cattle and genuinely loved it. He also learned that most cowhands cherished well crafted handmade gear. Being somewhat handy with tools Gene occupied his spare time trying his hand at building a few bits and spurs in the ranch shop. That is at least when a cranky ranch mechanic would let him have the space!
Even though every fall and spring would find him back guiding hunters at Vermejo, Gene finally left his forester position with them to seek new horizons. A couple of times he tried his hand on the crab boats out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska and finally vowed 'never again'. He worked a couple of cow outfits around and at one of them met a well known maker who was gracious enough to show Gene the basics of bridle bits, spurs, and engraving. At one point he decided to shove off and go back to his old stomping grounds in New Mexico.
Gene set up shop and got to work doing the best he could trying to make a name for himself in the business. He participated in several shows where he could display his work and built up a fair base of customers. Up until about 2014 the mountains had always lured him out of his shop to go chase big game with clients from all over the world. That part of his life is pretty much over now and Gene has renewed focus on his silver work. His home and shop have been located in Miami, NM now going on nearly 33 years and every day he can look out fondly over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where he's enjoyed so many good years horseback and hunting.
Being a cattle ranch of that size meant they had to keep a pretty good sized crew of cowhands. Gene soon made friends on the cow crew and at every chance he was in the saddle helping out. That started a friendship with a circle of men that now stretches over the entire western US. He came to learn a few things about handling horses and cattle and genuinely loved it. He also learned that most cowhands cherished well crafted handmade gear. Being somewhat handy with tools Gene occupied his spare time trying his hand at building a few bits and spurs in the ranch shop. That is at least when a cranky ranch mechanic would let him have the space!
Even though every fall and spring would find him back guiding hunters at Vermejo, Gene finally left his forester position with them to seek new horizons. A couple of times he tried his hand on the crab boats out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska and finally vowed 'never again'. He worked a couple of cow outfits around and at one of them met a well known maker who was gracious enough to show Gene the basics of bridle bits, spurs, and engraving. At one point he decided to shove off and go back to his old stomping grounds in New Mexico.
Gene set up shop and got to work doing the best he could trying to make a name for himself in the business. He participated in several shows where he could display his work and built up a fair base of customers. Up until about 2014 the mountains had always lured him out of his shop to go chase big game with clients from all over the world. That part of his life is pretty much over now and Gene has renewed focus on his silver work. His home and shop have been located in Miami, NM now going on nearly 33 years and every day he can look out fondly over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where he's enjoyed so many good years horseback and hunting.