Antique Barbed Wire
Generally referred to as wire manufactured before 1925.

Antique Barbed Wire Society
A group of individuals committed to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting the historical heritage of barbed wire and related items, and enlisting interest and support for an on-going organization into the next century.

Appraisal
To determine the value of barbed wire, planter wire, fencing tools, and wire related items by the individual piece or collection. Documents will include an individual list of items, a value guide – where applicable, and information about any necessary IRS forms.

Barb Applier
Hand tool used to arm fence strands with barbs on usually older smooth wire.

Barbed Wire/Barbwire
Strands or ribbons of wire with attached barbs that are used as fencing for the purpose of containment and/or to prevent trespass.

Barbed Wire Association
A group or organization of barbed wire collectors.

Barbed Wire Club
A group or organization of barbed wire collectors.

Barbed Wire Hall of Fame

To recognize those individuals who maintain and promote the barbed wire hobby.  Sponsored by the Antique Barbed Wire Society and assisted by the Symposium Established in 1974 by the Wichita Barbed Wire Collector's Association

Barbed Wire Related Items
Pin backs, wire canes, medals, coins, tokens, paper items, letter openers, fence posts, stays, fence tops, staples, planter wire, tools, stamps depicting barbed wire, books, and barbed wire liniment bottles/tins are some examples of related items that enhance the barbed wire hobby.

Barbed Wire Show
Where groups of collectors and antique dealers gather to display their collections to buy, sell, and trade wire and related items.

Concertina Wire
Masses of military wire strung out to create barriers.

Cut
The accepted measurement for collection barbed wire is an 18” piece with the barbs being equal distance from each end. Specimens should not be less than 18”. Due to the features of some pieces it may be necessary to cut a longer length.

Devil’s Rope Museum

Located in McLean, Texas Dedicated to preserving the history of barbed wire and the displaying of artifacts Ranching history exhibit Texas Route 66 Museum The Kansas limestone rock quarry display is unusual as it shows the tools and procedure used in cutting rock posts for fence use War wire exhibit Fence making devices Harold Hagemeier research library Check-row planter Evolution of the American cowboy exhibit

Electric Fence
Normally a single line wire carrying an electrical charge that will “shock” the intruder. This fence includes a charger, grounding rod, insulators, and can be attached to existing posts or stakes. Electrified top lines of barbed wire fences with proper insulators have been successful.

Entanglement Wire
Masses of military wire strung out to create barriers.

Fence Post
Set in the ground to provide vertical support for wire fencing and can be wood, vinyl, steel, concrete or other materials.

Fence Tool
Implement used to assist in building fence, splicing wire, cutting wire, and other operations in fence building.

Fence Tops
A decorative ornament that is on the top of a stay or post.

Freak Wire
Occurred when quality control was absent at the wire factory and was usually caused by worn shears, dies, machinery malfunctions, and when making splices.

“Go Withs”
Pin backs, wire canes, medals, coins, tokens, paper items, letter openers, fence posts, stays, fence tops, staples, planter wire, tools, stamps depicting barbed wire, books, and barbed wire liniment bottles/tins are some examples of “go withs” that enhance the barbed wire hobby.

Horse Wire
Any barbless wire used for fencing that is intended not to harm horses

Humane Wire
Wires with shorter, movable, or less vicious barbs so livestock wouldn’t be injured.

Irregular Wire
Wire with factory errors such as extra barbs, badly formed barbs, or line wire variations.

Kansas Barbed Wire Museum

Located in Lacrosse, Kansas – “Barbed Wire Capital of the World” Only museum in the world devoted solely to the history and legend of what is often referred to as the “Devil’s Rope” Barbed Wire Hall of Fame Ladies Barbed Wire Hall of Honor Diorama of early barbed wire use Antique fencing tools Don Taylor library Military wire Barbed wire liniment bottles/tins Gary Spilger barbed wire collection with over 2,100 pieces Postage stamps that depict barbed wire

Ladies Barbed Wire Hall of Honor

To recognize the ladies who have actively participated in the barbed wire collecting hobby Sponsored by The Symposium and the New Mexico Barbed Wire Collector’s Association Established in 1999

Left Hand Twist
Barbed wire strands or barbs twisted in a counter clockwise direction.

Length
The accepted measurement for collection barbed wire is an 18” piece with the barbs being equal distance from each end. Specimens should not be less than 18”. Due to the features of some pieces it may be necessary to cut a longer length.

Military Wire
Vicious barbed wire with extraordinary impaling features intended to restrain, contain, and inflict disabling harm on opposing troops.

Moonshine Wire
Patented wire made without consent or license of the patent owner. Also any wire produced that was never patented.

Net Wire
The advantage of this type of fencing is to control smaller game, animals, and birds.  Ranged in height from a few inches to more than six feet.

Ornamental Wire
A wire without barbs that is of some ornate form. It is often used around cemeteries or special areas.

Patent
A monopoly granted by the U.S. Patent Office to an individual for his/her invention. In the early 1800s the patent life was 14 years. It was later extended to 17 years, while today it is 20 years from the date of application.

Planter Wire
A generic term used to describe all forms and materials of check-row, check-lines, and their related knots. The accepted length for collection planter wire is an 18” piece with the knot being equal distance from end of the wire.

Punch Press
Continuous metal strap with various designs stamped out. Used for decorative fencing and stays.

Rare Tool
A tool is considered rare when it is extremely difficult to obtain because of limited availability.

Rare Wire
A wire is considered rare when it is extremely difficult to obtain because of limited availability.

Re-Issue Patent
A later version of a patent where ownership may be assigned to others, or the text is expanded, or figures are clarified, or an element is separated for exclusive coverage. The duration of the re-issue patent is for whatever time remains of the original patent. The original patent is surrendered.

Right Hand Twist
Barbed wire strands or barbs twisted in a clockwise direction.

Sheet Metal Barbs/Wire
Barbs or wire stamped out of metal rather than being continuous rolled.

Shorty Wires
A short piece of wire that is usually 4 ½” long and displayed in shorty collections.

Signal Plate
A means of wire fencing developed to make a fence more visible to livestock. Sometimes called a warning plate.

Splice
A joining of two pieces of wire.  Can be either factory made or field made.

Staples
Nails, clips, or wire used to secure fence wire to posts.

State Barbed Wire Associations

California Barbed Wire Collectors Association Colorado Wire Collector's Association Kansas Barbed Wire Collector's Association Nebraska Barbed Wire Collectors’ Association New Mexico Barbed Wire Collectors’ Association

Stays
Vertically installed wire, rod, ribbon, or slat between two posts for the purpose of keeping the fence wire separated and tight.

Stretcher
Fence tool developed to stretch and tighten wire when building or repairing a fence.

Super Show
The Super Show was established to help keep the hobby of collecting wire, wire tools, and other related items viable and to allow continued fellowship among all collectors. The Super Show was intended to bring together collectors that normally only attend one show a year.

Tags
Metal plates attached to new rolls of wire that give the manufacturers name plus other information.

“The Barbed Wire Collector”
The global publication for the barbed wire collecting hobby, since 1983.

The Symposium
A meeting of members of all wire associations and interested persons to discuss ideas, come to a consensus of opinions, and publish ideas and suggestions for preserving and promoting the collecting of barbed wire, wire tools, and related items.
Held in October of each year.

Tightener
A mechanical device placed at a post or in the fence strands to twist or wind the wire to original tension. The device is left in position in the fence.

Top Runner Wire
The top strand of a wire fence.

Value Guides
The accepted price list for barbed wire, planter wire, fencing tools, staples, and fence posts/tops.

Variations
A partial change or deviation from the original patent.

Warning Plate
A means of wire fencing developed to make a fence more visible to livestock. Sometimes called a signal plate.

Water Gap Wire
Used as the top wire stretching across a small gully or arroyo. After a heavy rain or flood, the lower portion of the fence may wash out. The fence can then be easily re-constructed to the water gap wire.

Wire Gauge
A device that measures the size of a cross-section of round wire – The accepted American Standard Wire Gauge utilizes Washburn and Moen specifications from 1833.