Dwight

I have made a few leather belts in the past, nothing impressive.

I used veg tan skirting leather for the past projects.

I have heard people talk about “radius” or “curved” belts and I’m interested in how they are making them.

On your post you talk about starting off creating a 6” tall curve buy using a ruler.

From your post is seems as if the entire belt curves from end to end, is this correct?

Is the belt similar to a buscadero where the belt curves down at the small of the back?

Hi, Matt, . . . 

Probably close to 30 years ago, . . . I got to watch a set of videos on cowboy gun belts, . . . John Bianchi made the videos.

His pattern was a full arc of leather, . . . not curved at the small of the back, . . . but a symmetrical arc.  

If you drew a straight line from the tips of the belt, . . . measuring the arc at the center . . . like it was Robin Hood's bow, . . . it would be 6 inches tall.  That is how I make all my belts, . . . have never had a complaint from any customers.

If I remember correctly, . . . John was the one who perfected the buscadero style belt, . . . and the curve was a big part of it.  It allows the top part to be a bit tighter than the bottom, . . . making it fit on the hips and not slide down like a flat belt would do.

May God bless,

Dwight

That makes sense, I saw the illustration you posted back in 2010.

Just to clarify.....the buscadero looks like back of the belt dips down at the lower back.

When I curve this belt the arc travels up at the lower back to counter the sag and for better fit on the hips, is this correct?

I understand what you described with the Robin Hood Bow. Just making sure the bow arcs like a bridge and you wear the belt accordingly with the belt arcing upwards.

Thanks again