Born in 1913, Don Hansen quickly became a horse wrangling prodigy and was aptly nicknamed "Tacoma Don, the boy wonder." doing numerous tricks on a pony at just the age of 9.
It was in 1934 that at the age of 21, Don Hansen began his military career serving in the Army National Guard as an infantryman until he was honorably discharged in August 27, 1937 to continue his practice with horses.
After volunteering to join the military following Pearl Harbor in 1942, Don Hansen became a World War II veteran as Navy Shipfitter First Class earning his keep as a deep sea welder on the destroyer USS Tingey operating in the Pacific Theater throughout World War II.
In an act of bravery, Don volunteered to jump in and swim to save the lives of two sailors who had fallen off of the USS Franklin aircraft carrier famously nicknamed “Big Ben.” On another occasion, he rescued a Japanese kamikaze pilot that missed the ship and was brought in for questioning. Don received numerous honors, medals, and ribbons for the brave rescues.
Whether through his work as a deep sea welder or as a servant leader onboard, Don was exemplary.
And, it was there in the depths of the sea, Don discovered in himself a talent for fusing metal wherever it might be. It was Don’s incredible talent for welding that would allow him to eventually go on to forge the very best horse bits in the world. And, pass that craft onto his son, Denny Hansen to carry on to this day.
As most great companies do, Don Hansen bits started small.
It was in Alamo, California where Don first started making bits. Don came up with the idea putting rollers on bits which propelled him to give it a try. He was a talented welder after all.
Having handled and ridden horses from a young age, it wasn’t surprising that Don Hansen had an impressive career at countless shows. Don won the Arabian Nationals competition twice. In 1966, Don won the championship Pacific Slope with bits he modified himself and went on to win the Pacific Slope five years in a row.
Don Hansen bits are in fact handmade (artfully tig welded) in Red Bluff, California to this day. Don Hansen bits has upheld its reputation thanks to the impressive craftsmanship of Don and his family.
“Don't be fooled by the copycats. The copycats might attempt to emulate our quality, but they don't work the same, and our customers know the difference." -Denny Hansen, Don Hansen’s son.
- 1913 Don Hansen is born.
- 1922 At 9 years old, Don was nicknamed "Tacoma Don, the boy wonder." doing numerous tricks on a pony.
- 1934 Don Hansen first served in the Army National Guard in the infantry until he was honorably discharged in August 27, 1937 to continue his practice with horses.
- 1937 Don continued his love for horses in San Jose, California, working at a horse ranch where he learned to become a horse trainer at Bernelle Brother's Ranch.
- 1942: Don volunteers to join the Navy after Pearl Harbor.
- 1945 Don Hansen was then honorably discharged from the military after the war and continued his practice with horses.
- 1946 Don gets out of the Navy and looks to apply himself. Don goes on his own and makes a living as a truck driver but does rodeo's on the weekend.
- 1948 While being employed as a trucker, Don meets his wife Sammy Jean Hansen who was an employee of the same trucking company.
- May 29, 1948 Don & Sammy are married.
- 1964 Don is on the cover of Horse Lover's Magazine for winning various horse riding competitions.
- 1966: After wanting to put rollers on the bits he had seen for years, Don began forging snaffle bits in the carport of his home in Alamo, California. Don Hansen’s snaffle bits sold with limited success.
- 1972: Don and the family moved their family from Alamo, California to San Jose where the first Don Hansen shop was later opened.
- 1980: At 67 years old, Don Hansen opened the shop in San Jose, where the famous Don Hansen 102 bit was first forged. The 102 was the breakthrough bit that made Don Hansen famous.
- 1988: Don Hansen moved the family to Red Bluff, California where for many years they forged bits in a room of a feed store.
- 1994: Don Hansen bits moved to the shop they operate from today in Red Bluff, California.
- 1996: Don Hansen has a major heart surgery and survives despite multiple complications. After what seemed like a swift recovery, Don Hansen passes away at 82 years old from a heart attack. Denny Hansen, his son, takes over Don Hansen Bits.
Don Hansen's business lives on even after his passing through his son, Denny Hansen. Thanks to Denny's efforts, Don Hansen bits ships bits to stores all over the country and all over the world where they’re sold into the hands of horse lovers everywhere.
“What most people don't understand is that Don Hansen bits are made completely by hand in Red Bluff, California. In his time, those hands were my father’s. And today, those hands are mine.” says Denny Hansen.