Really wide belt

[Mike in FL]

I cannot find the kind of thick wide belt I so often see in muzzleloading publications that serve to secure hawks, knives, and possibles, etc. The kind of heavy leather to go around the waist of winter clothing such as long woolen hunting shirts or capotes. Does anyone know who sells them? I know a sash is often used?, but I'd really like to find a belt with a period buckle. I am not opposed to making my own if I could find the materials. I have been away from historical methods long enough to have lost or forgotten the resources I once had.

 

[deerstalkert]

one source of a wide belt is from the lumber yard that sells nail bags and belts.

 

[BlazingIron]

Try a place that sells leather nack supports for weightlifting ( powerlifting) or shot putting.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Santa uses a wide belt!

 

[BlazingIron]

Try here amsterdam heritage. Or google 3 inch wide leather belt.

 

[Pete G]

Crazy Crow

 

[waarp8nt]

Check the local farm store horse section for leather. Many times they have 3 or 4 inch wide belts to go around a horse, should be able to make what you want from it (maybe two).

 

[user 48702]

I can cut you any width you want, but our leather is heavy English Bridle leather in either London Tan or Chestnut Brown, not an unfinished strap/skirting leather, and it averages 11 to 13 oz which is roughly 3/16" thick. It turns to a darker finish when oiled, but you can't dye it since it already has oils and waxes in its finish from the tannery. Length would be 60" +.

 

[French Colonial]

Finding hand forged or PC/HC buckles can be an issue.

I used to have a guy that made them but he is gone and I used what I had on different projects.

 

[Brazos John]

I found one at Goodwill. I wasn't looking for one, but I bought it, and found I needed it.
Right time, right place...

 

[BlazingIron]

I cannot find the kind of thick wide belt I so often see in muzzleloading publications that serve to secure hawks, knives, and possibles, etc. The kind of heavy leather to go around the waist of winter clothing such as long woolen hunting shirts or capotes. Does anyone know who sells them? I know a sash is often used?, but I'd really like to find a belt with a period buckle. I am not opposed to making my own if I could find the materials. I have been away from historical methods long enough to have lost or forgotten the resources I once had.

Although you weren’t specific on what time period you might try googling three inch belt.buckles mountain man series. Could head you in the right direction for a buckle.

 

[Freedom]

I have a few made up with brass buckles...What length do you need?

 

[2 shots]

what size do you need ?? where are you located?

 

[kansas_volunteer]

What waist size are you looking for?

 

[Notchy Bob]

I cannot find the kind of thick wide belt I so often see in muzzleloading publications that serve to secure hawks, knives, and possibles, etc. The kind of heavy leather to go around the waist of winter clothing such as long woolen hunting shirts or capotes. Does anyone know who sells them? I know a sash is often used?, but I'd really like to find a belt with a period buckle. I am not opposed to making my own if I could find the materials. I have been away from historical methods long enough to have lost or forgotten the resources I once had.

Mike,

Somebody, somewhere, probably sells those belts readymade. I don't know who, though. If you are not averse to making one yourself, the components are readily available. Belts are probably among the easiest leatherworking projects to get you started, or re-started if you are out of practice.

Dixie Gun Works has a rectangular solid brass buckle to fit a two and one-half inch leather belt. This is item number BG0241, the "Early Brass Buckle" (web link right HERE). Dixie also has some forged buckles and one enormous brass "Trapper's Belt Buckle" for a 3" belt, if you really want to go all the way. Check out Dixie's Buckle Page. They also sell a leather strap to fit the monster buckle. It is shown on that page, too.

Wandering Bull and Crazy Crow both sell strap leather in various widths and lengths. I have gotten strap leather from both of them and find it is more supple and considerably cheaper than Tandy Leather. Wandering Bull has it in four colors (white, black, brown and natural) and they have it in the 2-1/2" width you need for the rectangular buckle from Dixie. Here is a link: Strap Leather from Wandering Bull

However, did people back in the day really wear belts that wide? I think those really wide belts may be a "reenactorism." Rex Norman completed a systematic study of the clothing in Alfred Jacob Miller's mountain man paintings, and summarized the findings in a neat book entitled The 1837 Sketchbook of the Western Fur Trade:

He addresses belts on page 16, stating that "All belts shown [in the Miller paintings] are plain leather. No beaded or tacked belts are seen. Belts appear to be no more than two inches wide. Buckles, when seen, are worn to the side instead of in front."

Tom Tobin, who was a sure-enough mountain man, did not read that part about the buckle off to the side, but he did follow Mr. Norman's recommendations for width:

Jim Bridger liked a skinny belt:

Long Jack, painted by Charles Deas (pronounced "Daze") also got by with a narrow belt:

Bigfoot Wallace's belt does not appear to be more than about two inches, if that:

Col. Dodge, in this painting by George Catlin, liked his military belt. I think these typically run around an inch and three quarters wide:

I know Bill Cody posed for a famous photo wearing a very wide belt, and some of the hired performers in his Wild West Show followed suit. However, they were showmen. I think a lot of today's buckskinners also like to put on sort of a show, which is fine, as this is all for fun. However, if you seriously want to get it right, it looks like a belt of two inches or less may be most authentic.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[fox.44]

Try an Amish harness maker,

 

[Campbell]

I bought a nice wide one from Dixie about 25 years ago. I bet they still have them.

 

[Stantheman86]

Ebay has the Amish made work and gunbelts , one or two prong. I use a black one for a cartridge box and a cap pouch for my P53 Enfield.

Also, there's a guy on Ebay who makes very reasonably priced western gunbelts, that are just heavy, wide plain leather belts that are about 4" wide.

 

[tenngun]

Mike,

Somebody, somewhere, probably sells those belts readymade. I don't know who, though. If you are not averse to making one yourself, the components are readily available. Belts are probably among the easiest leatherworking projects to get you started, or re-started if you are out of practice.

Dixie Gun Works has a rectangular solid brass buckle to fit a two and one-half inch leather belt. This is item number BG0241, the "Early Brass Buckle" (web link right HERE). Dixie also has some forged buckles and one enormous brass "Trapper's Belt Buckle" for a 3" belt, if you really want to go all the way. Check out Dixie's Buckle Page. They also sell a leather strap to fit the monster buckle. It is shown on that page, too.

Wandering Bull and Crazy Crow both sell strap leather in various widths and lengths. I have gotten strap leather from both of them and find it is more supple and considerably cheaper than Tandy Leather. Wandering Bull has it in four colors (white, black, brown and natural) and they have it in the 2-1/2" width you need for the rectangular buckle from Dixie. Here is a link: Strap Leather from Wandering Bull

However, did people back in the day really wear belts that wide? I think those really wide belts may be a "reenactorism." Rex Norman completed a systematic study of the clothing in Alfred Jacob Miller's mountain man paintings, and summarized the findings in a neat book entitled The 1837 Sketchbook of the Western Fur Trade:

View attachment 149120

He addresses belts on page 16, stating that "All belts shown [in the Miller paintings] are plain leather. No beaded or tacked belts are seen. Belts appear to be no more than two inches wide. Buckles, when seen, are worn to the side instead of in front."

Tom Tobin, who was a sure-enough mountain man, did not read that part about the buckle off to the side, but he did follow Mr. Norman's recommendations for width:

View attachment 149123

Jim Bridger liked a skinny belt:

View attachment 149124

Long Jack, painted by Charles Deas (pronounced "Daze") also got by with a narrow belt:

View attachment 149125
Bigfoot Wallace's belt does not appear to be more than about two inches, if that:

View attachment 149126

Col. Dodge, in this painting by George Catlin, liked his military belt. I think these typically run around an inch and three quarters wide:

View attachment 149127

I know Bill Cody posed for a famous photo wearing a very wide belt, and some of the hired performers in his Wild West Show followed suit. However, they were showmen. I think a lot of today's buckskinners also like to put on sort of a show, which is fine, as this is all for fun. However, if you seriously want to get it right, it looks like a belt of two inches or less may be most authentic.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

Here here, I was about to post similar. For so long I wore one, 3” wide and round forged iron belt, some pumpkins.
But they were not for HC,and if you wear one and then change to 2” you’ll know why.
That said, no one is going to kick you out of a ‘voo for one.
Crazy crow offers them and Tandy leather sells fat straps

 

[Dubya62]

Here's one that I have
https://cooperstowntradingpost.com/products/leather-belts-and-buckles-3