Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 14, 2023 Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 Howdy! I'm making an Old West style holster and gunbelt for a friend. He has a Cimarron .357 magnum SAA with a 5.5" barrel. He is undergoing cancer treatment and has lost weight, so I am wondering how to go about this. Here's what I think: He will gain back some weight, so his current waist size is not what to go with. Not sure how much more weight he will gain, so maybe go for his previous waist size. The wife has been a little uncooperative regarding telling my a size. Not on purpose, she just doesn't get what I am saying it seems, and thinks we should wait, but I heard him on the phone say he doen't want to wait. Plus, it will give him something to be happy about. So here are my questions: If I use a belt that he's used before, would this be good-maybe adding a couple of inches? Anyone ever make a belt that can be adjusted? I know there are the extenders, but I mean in the back maybe. Been thinking of a three piece belt: the two regular sides for the buckle with a center piece on the back that holds the bullet loops and attaches via lacing or something. Other than that, trying to decide on a money belt or regular. Based on the need for adjustment, I think the regular type belt will be better. Maybe a sort of cartridge belt type with the buckle and the part that go into the buckle (like a narrower belt) so then I can just replace the part that goes through the buckle with a longer one later. Quote
Contributing Member fredk Posted December 14, 2023 Contributing Member Report Posted December 14, 2023 I would make a three-piece belt, with billets at each end that can be replaced. eg; a wide belt with bullet loops and then narrow billets sewn on which can be replaced, in this manner Quote Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 14, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 1 hour ago, fredk said: I would make a three-piece belt, with billets at each end that can be replaced. eg; a wide belt with bullet loops and then narrow billets sewn on which can be replaced, in this manner Thanks! That's what I was thinking in my last sentence above-just had a mental block of the terminology. Thanks for the clarification and the idea. It may be the best bet. Quote
Members Dwight Posted December 14, 2023 Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 First thing is . . . have you ever made a western gun belt before?? If not . . . you WILL need a good pattern. Without it . . . .the belt will not fit right . . . period. But with that said . . . you need to measure a belt he is wearing now . . . find the most used hole . . . and add 4 inches to it. That is the measurement you will use to make his gun belt for his present size. That measurement . . . including the 4 inches . . . will be from the leather side of the buckle . . . to the center hole of the tongue.. Most makers give the buyer 5 holes . . . allowing for 2 inch gain or 2 inch loss. I put 7 holes . . . giving a 3 inch leeway . . . either way. Since you are anticipating his gaining back some . . . you might plan for his losing 1 or gaining 5 . . . which is probably where I'd be tempted to go. That means you make the belt 6 inches longer than the measurement you get from his present belt. Worst case scenario . . . you may have to cut it in the back and add a couple inches. To plan for that . . . leave a 2 inch gap in the middle of the back . . . put 12 bullet holders on each side . . . and if necessary . . . you can add a middle piece. That's the way I'd do it. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 14, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 2 minutes ago, Dwight said: First thing is . . . have you ever made a western gun belt before?? If not . . . you WILL need a good pattern. Without it . . . .the belt will not fit right . . . period. But with that said . . . you need to measure a belt he is wearing now . . . find the most used hole . . . and add 4 inches to it. That is the measurement you will use to make his gun belt for his present size. That measurement . . . including the 4 inches . . . will be from the leather side of the buckle . . . to the center hole of the tongue.. Most makers give the buyer 5 holes . . . allowing for 2 inch gain or 2 inch loss. I put 7 holes . . . giving a 3 inch leeway . . . either way. Since you are anticipating his gaining back some . . . you might plan for his losing 1 or gaining 5 . . . which is probably where I'd be tempted to go. That means you make the belt 6 inches longer than the measurement you get from his present belt. Worst case scenario . . . you may have to cut it in the back and add a couple inches. To plan for that . . . leave a 2 inch gap in the middle of the back . . . put 12 bullet holders on each side . . . and if necessary . . . you can add a middle piece. That's the way I'd do it. May God bless, Dwight Have made several western holsters but this will be my first gunbelt. I have a couple of patterns and they are simply a strip of leather 2.5" wide and whatever measurement the wearer needs. Of course there are the billets. Thanks for that information; I will put it to use! Quote
Members Dwight Posted December 14, 2023 Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 1 minute ago, ZARDOZ the GREAT said: Have made several western holsters but this will be my first gunbelt. I have a couple of patterns and they are simply a strip of leather 2.5" wide and whatever measurement the wearer needs. Of course there are the billets. Thanks for that information; I will put it to use! If you make it like a regular belt . . .examples were best seen on the old Bonanza show . . . straight cut belts . . . that worked fine for Pa and the boys when they stood up from their stage chairs and went off to do a scene. Put on the belt . . . do the scene . . . .take it off. If they wore it for any length of time in the day . . . it needed suspenders to keep it up . . . it fell off . . . or was cinched so tight it was not funny. A true western gun belt has to be cut on a slight curve in order for it to fit correctly . . . ride correctly . . . and not be uncomfortable. Cutting a straight wide belt will make your customer go find someone else when he wants the next one. Yours will wind up in an empty drawer . . . shoved towards the back. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 14, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 5 minutes ago, Dwight said: If you make it like a regular belt . . .examples were best seen on the old Bonanza show . . . straight cut belts . . . that worked fine for Pa and the boys when they stood up from their stage chairs and went off to do a scene. Put on the belt . . . do the scene . . . .take it off. If they wore it for any length of time in the day . . . it needed suspenders to keep it up . . . it fell off . . . or was cinched so tight it was not funny. A true western gun belt has to be cut on a slight curve in order for it to fit correctly . . . ride correctly . . . and not be uncomfortable. Cutting a straight wide belt will make your customer go find someone else when he wants the next one. Yours will wind up in an empty drawer . . . shoved towards the back. May God bless, Dwight Interesting. Where can I find such a pattern? The ones I have don't show a curve. Quote
Members Dwight Posted December 14, 2023 Members Report Posted December 14, 2023 13 minutes ago, ZARDOZ the GREAT said: Interesting. Where can I find such a pattern? The ones I have don't show a curve. Get me a couple of things . . . the size of his belt he is wearing now . . . and your mailing address. I'll conjure up something for you . . . This is one I did a number of years ago . . . it shows you a piece of the curve . . . May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 15, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 15, 2023 2 hours ago, Dwight said: Get me a couple of things . . . the size of his belt he is wearing now . . . and your mailing address. I'll conjure up something for you . . . This is one I did a number of years ago . . . it shows you a piece of the curve . . . May God bless, Dwight That's great! Thank you! Let me ask again and I will let you know asap. Thank you! Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted December 15, 2023 CFM Report Posted December 15, 2023 12 hours ago, ZARDOZ the GREAT said: That's great! Thank you! Let me ask again and I will let you know asap. Thank you! if you can get his old belt it probably has his natural curve already wore in to it. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
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