CFM chuck123wapati Posted December 15, 2023 CFM Report Posted December 15, 2023 plus I would make it to fit him as he is now. He may lose weight or he may gain weight but he will be happy with the fit now and if you do have to enlarge a ranger belt it isn't hard to do down the road as Fred said just change the billet. 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!
Members Dwight Posted December 15, 2023 Members Report Posted December 15, 2023 46 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said: plus I would make it to fit him as he is now. He may lose weight or he may gain weight but he will be happy with the fit now and if you do have to enlarge a ranger belt it isn't hard to do down the road as Fred said just change the billet. That only works if you make the nose the projected "extra" you might need. Otherwise . . . the nose doesn't slip into the loop and overlap . . . and you wind up with one of the most uncomfortable wrecks of a belt imaginable . . . And if you make the nose big enough for a projected 8 or 10 inches . . . that is almost as uncomfortable as the other way. Really it's a quandary any way you go . . . just have to guess right on what his weight will do 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
CFM chuck123wapati Posted December 15, 2023 CFM Report Posted December 15, 2023 8 minutes ago, Dwight said: That only works if you make the nose the projected "extra" you might need. Otherwise . . . the nose doesn't slip into the loop and overlap . . . and you wind up with one of the most uncomfortable wrecks of a belt imaginable . . . And if you make the nose big enough for a projected 8 or 10 inches . . . that is almost as uncomfortable as the other way. Really it's a quandary any way you go . . . just have to guess right on what his weight will do May God bless, Dwight your right as usual, my opine is if he wants it now then he wants it to fit now. 8 or 10" inch difference means a completely new belt of any type especially with bullet loops added. I didn't read that large a difference into the mix. 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!
CFM chuck123wapati Posted December 15, 2023 CFM Report Posted December 15, 2023 But maybe a guy could make each end of the belt replaceable. Such as I have done to this buckle end to add inches to this belt. that would allow any bullet loops or designs to stay centered on the belt as it gets enlarged or shortened. 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!
Members dikman Posted December 15, 2023 Members Report Posted December 15, 2023 The problem with a Ranger-style belt, as has been mentioned, is the overlap adjustment if it has to be enlarged too much (billets lengthened). I have two that were given to me where this has been done and not only does it look dumb/funny/stupid it has effectively ruined the belt. Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 16, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 16, 2023 10 hours ago, chuck123wapati said: if you can get his old belt it probably has his natural curve already wore in to it. Yeah, thanks. I just asked for one of his old belts and a current one. Maybe I can make it to fit both. Let's see. Quote
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted December 16, 2023 Author Members Report Posted December 16, 2023 I've though of something maybe like this: I If I add to it later, I would disguise it with a design or something. Quote
Members ZARDOZ the GREAT Posted January 30, 2024 Author Members Report Posted January 30, 2024 Howdy. I'm about ready to make the belt. For the curve, is there a formula for how much curve based on belt length? I see western gun belts that are lined on the inside. I am thinking that a money belt would eliminate some of that stitching of extra material on the inside and have just one seam. Does the money belt also need a curve? Can;t see how that would work. Please advise. Thank you! Quote
Members Dwight Posted January 31, 2024 Members Report Posted January 31, 2024 2 hours ago, ZARDOZ the GREAT said: Howdy. I'm about ready to make the belt. For the curve, is there a formula for how much curve based on belt length? I see western gun belts that are lined on the inside. I am thinking that a money belt would eliminate some of that stitching of extra material on the inside and have just one seam. Does the money belt also need a curve? Can;t see how that would work. Please advise. Thank you! I learned to make gunbelts and holsters from John Bianchi . . . a premier leather worker. I watched his lessons on making western drop down gun rigs . . . and while he told you how to do it . . . he did not supply any pattern ideas. I guess he figured if you were hoss enough to jump into it . . .you'ld figure it out. I had to do a bunch of "print screen" shots . . . then print them . . . and measure them and scale them . . . to figure out how to do a bunch of things . . . the belt curve was one. I made a pattern as you can see in the pictures . . . that will open up for bigger or smaller patrons. Look at the edge of the big picture . . . and you'll see the numbers that correspond to the size belt I'm making at the time. For your example . . . I picked a 42 inch belt . . . which is the gun belt size for a person whose normal belt size is 38. In the close up . . . you can see that there is a 4 1/2 inch difference on the curve. I have used this pattern for 20 some odd years now . . . never had anyone complain about it . . . And yes . . . you can save yourself some stitching by making money belts . . . and I've made a few . . . and the sorry things would never stay up like I really wanted them to . . . unless I put them on like a girdle trying to hide 50 lbs of pig fat. They are not one of my favorite items to make. You also have to glue the moneybelt layers together just like a regular gun belt . . . or otherwise it will roll and flop up and down if you are in a truck or car seat. Making a full open money belt might be "authentic" of a few folks from back then . . . but certainly not many. AND . . . I don't make gun belts that are anything but lined. I started that way . . . plan on continuing. 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 January 31, 2024 Author Members Report Posted January 31, 2024 (edited) 17 hours ago, Dwight said: . . . I don't make gun belts that are anything but lined. I started that way . . . plan on continuing. May God bless, Dwight Thank you for that information and the pictures! Helps a lot! Can you tell me what leather weight you prefer for the belt and the lining? I think I have 8 ounce and also 2 or 3 ounce. Seems like a money belt also saves in material. I understand you don;t like them, but do you know if money belts also need to be curved? Regards, Me Edited January 31, 2024 by ZARDOZ the GREAT Quote
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