#46 Sliester with Salinas Mouth Piece

This marked Sliester curb features the classic 2½-inch Salinas mouthpiece with a center roller, a design known for offering a defined signal and a bit more authority than a low port while still allowing tongue room. The mouthpiece is paired with Sliester’s surgical-steel shanks, a material the maker favored for its strength, longevity, and clean finish.

Sliester bits have a long-standing reputation in the Western performance world for dependable craftsmanship and consistent feel. Their mouthpieces—from mullen to correction to Salinas—became “standards” that many horsemen trusted when stepping a horse up into stronger equipment.

This connection is a key part of why Jim Paul owned so many Sliesters. Jim often deconstructed Sliester bits to repurpose the mouthpieces he liked best, adding his own shanks to customize leverage, weight, and balance. The result was gear that aligned perfectly with his program but began with proven components. This example remains in its original Sliester configuration and represents the exact type of bit Jim purchased in bulk for modification and daily use.

The bit shows honest patina across the shanks and roller but retains strong structural integrity. For collectors, it is both a classic Sliester and a meaningful representation of Jim Paul’s approach to equipment—practical, adaptable, and rooted in what worked.

Key Features

• Maker: Sliester (marked “Surgical Steel”)
• Mouthpiece: 2½" Salinas port with center roller
• Shanks: Surgical-steel Sliester pattern
• Material: Surgical steel with cold-steel mouthpiece components
• Design Notes: Defined port with tongue relief, roller encourages softness and mouthing
• Provenance: From the Jim Paul collection, reflecting his longstanding practice of using and modifying Sliester components

Condition

• Consistent patina on mouthpiece and roller
• Light surface wear from use, typical for age
• Structural integrity solid
• A clean, original example of a Sliester curb with a desirable Salinas mouthpiece