Hail Mary Magazine — July Issue | The Master

THE LAST WILD AMERICAN

A master. He shrugged.
Just rides, designs, lives—.
Black Bear Brand is his. So is the road.

American. Wild. Free.
Doesn’t sit still. Doesn’t ask for approval.

He builds what he wants. Wears what he makes.
Black Bear Brand—original wool coat. 1930s. Virgin wool. Diamond quilted. Talon zipper.
Still alive. Still strong. He’s making it again—this fall.
New version. Harris Tweed. Wild pattern. Grit in every thread.
Canvas pants. Over 100 years old. His size. Rare. Heavy. Perfect.
The boots. Shell Cordovan. Custom. Not vintage, but look it.
Helmet from the ’60s. Beat-up, sacred. Rode Japan. Rode America.
Rode through everything. His favorite thing he owns.

Montana. January. 17 degrees. Northern Dream jacket. Horween Horsehide. Lambskin inside.
Gave it to a girl when they stopped. She was cold. He rode on.
Zach Bryan jacket. Ivory rough-out horsehide. Soft. Off-white. Veg tanned.
Zach wanted the first one. They’re friends. Both ride. Both live wild. Drops this summer.
Cowboy jeans. His favorite. Designed for real cowboys. Long inseam. Big buckles. Strong pockets. Finished with his mark.
Not fashion. Function.
At home—Eames lounge chair. Art you sit in. Old Nicholas Coleman painting. One of one. A black bear.
It watches him work. Watches him rest.
Panhead chopper. 1948. His first. Still rides it. Daily. Won’t ever sell.
Flathead ’37. Built it with friends. Piece by piece. Every part has a story.
’66 Lincoln Continental. His childhood dream. Still has it. Still loves it.
Defender 90. Daily beast. Old. Tough. Never fails.
Books—Mystic Warriors of the Plains. The Hokusai Sketchbooks. History. Art. Power.
Flipping pages in between chaos. His archive—Black Bear Brand catalogs. 108 years old. Original pieces to match.
He doesn’t collect. He keeps what matters. What tells the story.
He doesn’t talk legacy. Doesn’t say much at all. Just nods— hits the road again.
Master? Maybe.
Just watch.