Leather Belts

ItchyTasty

ItchyTasty

Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
557
So I've just worn through about my 3rd leather belt (the generic ones you get at clothing stores). At this point I'm thinking if I can put down some good clams for a nice blade, I see no reason why I can't do the same for a good leather belt. I just don't know where to look, and some feedback would help. Not really looking for any material other than leather, or anything asides from buckle like dual ring etc. But while on the subject; what do you other forumites wear around your waist?
 
Check out Cabelas. They have a wide selection, are well made, and relatively inexpensive. As for me, unless I'm at work (and sometimes when I am), I wear a black rigger-style belt from The Wilderness.
 
There are many excellent leatherworkers out there who do work specifically for police officers and agents who have to carry lots of gear. A bull leather belt (or something similar) is well worth the price. I have a belt made from buffalo hide that is well over 15 years and is just broken in. Leave the cheap belts for the ninnies. GO find a leatherworker in your hometown or search the net for a good one.

Matthew
 
uduman said:
There are many excellent leatherworkers out there who do work specifically for police officers and agents who have to carry lots of gear. A bull leather belt (or something similar) is well worth the price. I have a belt made from buffalo hide that is well over 15 years and is just broken in. Leave the cheap belts for the ninnies. GO find a leatherworker in your hometown or search the net for a good one.

Matthew
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+1 on the local makers and maybe a few of the sheath makers here do belts as well.

If not, I can vouch for both Filson and duluthpack.com leather belts :)
 
I use a gun belt from Dillon's. I've had it quite a few years now, and it's still in great shape.
Bob
 
My ten year old daily use belt is from Gould and Goodrich, it is the underbelt from a Sam Brown rig, real leather and still has some years left on it.

So my recomendation is if you don't know of any good leather workers or want to buy something off the shelf, check out Galls or some other police uniform provider.
 
Got this one from Duluth Trading Co. It is one of those that takes a week to "break in" then fits perfect. Had it several years and still going strong...
 
I bought a hand tooled leather belt for $20 from a leatherworker at our county fair. He trimmed it to length and punched the holes while I waited. I've seen belts at other fairs, too.

It is 1-1/2 inches wide, considerably thicker than store bought leather belts, and looks good. It does not say "Made in Mexico" or "Made in China" on it. :)
 
i have to give a big shout out to idaho farmers. i was working on a potato farm, and i got word that a small amount of cattle was going to be cut for meat and hide. i put my name in for purchasing some beef and a piece of hide for a belt. while i was there, i was given my things, and my boss came over and asked if i knew what i was doing. i stated that i didnt, so he showed me how to dress and tan cowhide. now i've got a beautiful black cowhide belt sporting a few different buckles
 
I wear plainclothes with a western flair, I went to a Western Store and eyed a cute salesgirl who I later found out was a wrangler jeans model. She was a little knock out. I needed a belt,she sold me an Ariat belt.If I cant clip my gear off and on my belt (Safariland pancake Holster,Radio,Minitor Pager,Cellphone,Badge clip,Cuffs-not all the time)I wont wear it.I beat the hell outta belts,and this one is a year old.Admittedly,I would have bought the belt regardless cuz the sales girl was a Southern little cutie. I asked her out,shocked she said yes. 6 months later,I married her. I am the luckiest ugly guy in the world. I come home with a new gadget or knife every month or so and she says," oh,how much did that cost,honey? Looks Cool!"

Also, I will always give a thumbs up to Galco leather.Some of the best leather in the world. Also,being from California I must also say Tex Shoemaker leather is great.

My duty or Station belt is a nylon Blackhawk rescue/Instructors belt. They look cool even with Jeans. I can always spot others in my Biz or Spec ops guys in a crowd by seeing the 'D' ring.
 
I just got a custom-tooled belt from Vadim Grynko of www.vessleatherworks.com. It's flawlessly tooled, and made from thick quality leather. It's got a simple but heavy-duty stainless buckle. This is in a different league from anything I've seen in a store.

Vadim is a great guy to buy from too.
 
Hondo.3 said:
I just got a custom-tooled belt from Vadim Grynko of www.vessleatherworks.com. It's flawlessly tooled, and made from thick quality leather. It's got a simple but heavy-duty stainless buckle. This is in a different league from anything I've seen in a store.

Vadim is a great guy to buy from too.
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I just got done visiting his website,looked at his Gallery and agree, That guy is GOOD, his work is serious custom. Nice stuff. Didnt see any of his belts, I take it you asked him to custom make it? If so, what kind of tooling? Is he one of those, "if you ask how much, you cant afford it" guys?
 
Go to Glocktalk.com carry section and they have a sticky with links for belt / holster makers websites.

I have also gone through my share of nice department store dress belts. A couple years ago, I bought a couple sharkskin belts off individuals on Glocktalk. They continue to look very good. One's a Wilson and the other is a Sparks. Got them both very slightly used (person lost weight after ordering or something) and got them for roughly half price.

I needed a brown belt so I just recently ordered a brown sharkskin belt from a maker I found listed on a sticky on Glocktalk. I can't recall his name and the sticky is currently missing; but I anticipate receiving the belt soon. The belt cost eighty some dollars if I remember correctly. Quite a bit for a belt, but they should certainly outlast several $30 dept store belts and look better / be more comfortable in the process.

I'm a fan of sharkskin for belts. If it weren't so much more expensive, I'd probably give elephant a try.
 
I think a gun belt is the way to go, though a double thickness rigger style nylon belt works well, too. I've used both, but went back to a medium width gun belt with glued double thickness natural finished tan leather, slightly decorative stitching, and a plain solid brass buckle. I've bought them at gun shows, but they were handmade and I don't know the brand or a source of them commercially. Glued and stitched double thickness leather is a little stiff and takes some wearing to break in, but that's also what make it a nice belt. Part of the reason I now wear a leather gun belt is the profile it presents. It just "fits in" better in normal everyday use. The stranger one looks, the more he will be scrutinized. Scrutiny is seldom good. Trivia of the day: Who said, "Move among the people as a fish through water."
 
FireInvestigator said:
I just got done visiting his website,looked at his Gallery and agree, That guy is GOOD, his work is serious custom. Nice stuff. Didnt see any of his belts, I take it you asked him to custom make it? If so, what kind of tooling? Is he one of those, "if you ask how much, you cant afford it" guys?
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He was doing a bunch of work for me, modifying one sheath (IWB to OWB), repairing another, and making a new one from scratch. I asked him to make me a belt too. He did a medium dragonscale for me. I've attached some quick pics for you.

I think that his prices are very reasonable. I don't want to put him in an awkward position, but I can say that his prices are lower than some of the more popular names that appear on these forums.

BTW, he once made a guitar strap for my head-banging brother. I downloaded a "metal" font, and he custom tooled my brother's name into the strap, and painted it red. It's an awesome creation, and I think it was his first ever guitar strap. The guy is a wizard with leather.
 

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