In 1875, Captain King acquired four 12-pound naval boat howitzers. They still stand guard at Santa Gertrudis. Two are rifled Dahlgrens, and two are smoothbore Ames.

Photography by Wyman Meinzer

These cannon are not props. They’re the real deal. More than a century ago, Captain King situated them at the Main House on King Ranch to defend against raiders crossing the Wild Horse Desert.

Below you will find more of the same: tools hefted by honest hands on the land. That is how each came to be this editor’s choice. – Eric O’Keefe

Brands of Distinction

Drive along any of King Ranch’s thousands of miles of roads and odds are you’ll soon see a Ford Super Duty F-250 King Ranch on the job. Why? Because America’s best-selling pickup truck found the perfect partner in this South Texas legend. [www.ford.com | From $50,825]

Double-Edged Sword

Buddy Gonzalez has long been a fan of Moore Maker knives. He likes the Trapper’s two-blade construction. “I use the rounded blade for all-around work: cutting rope, opening boxes, things like that.” He keeps the pointed blade, which he uses on leather goods, razor sharp. [www.mooremaker.com | From $42]

King of Cool

Groceries, pop, adult beverages? Think again. When it comes time to work calves, vital antibiotics and other medications are kept out of harm’s way in YETI’s kick-proof Tundra cooler, which locks out heat and seals in cold. [www.yeti.com | From $300]

Sweat Shirt

There’s only one outfitter that has an 825,000-acre R&D lab: King Ranch Saddle Shop. The result? Classics like this 100 percent cotton shirt, which has been field tested again and again and again. [www.krsaddleshop.com | From $60]