Gunbelt for fluctuating waist...

[ZARDOZ the GREAT]

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.

[fredk]

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

 

[ZARDOZ the GREAT]

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.

[Dwight]

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

[ZARDOZ the GREAT]

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!

[Dwight]

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

[ZARDOZ the GREAT]

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.

[Dwight]

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

[ZARDOZ the GREAT]

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!

[chuck123wapati]

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.