drof99 Report post Posted January 17, 2009 I've heard many say a heavier belt is a lot better to carry firearms. I currently just have a normal department store type belt. I want to make a belt to carry my XD in. I'll be using an 8 oz. leather for the main part and lining it with a 4 oz. leather. I have several questions on the lining part. Should the entire belt be two layers? I would think that doing it this way would be tough to get a buckle installed on the belt. I plan on using rivets to attach the buckle. The belt is pretty much going to be for everyday use carrying the XD. On that note what about the end opposite the buckle? I'm thinking there should be a point on both ends where the 4 oz leather will stop. Is there a way to do this that will still make the belt look good? I know the belt is more for utility but I'd still like to make a nice looking one. This will be the belt for me. Any other suggestions would be a great help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2MadJacks Report post Posted January 17, 2009 I like to skive the lining down on the buckle end just before the fold for the buckle. this is the only end that doesn't have a lining all the way. good luck, James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shorts Report post Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) I've heard many say a heavier belt is a lot better to carry firearms. I currently just have a normal department store type belt. I want to make a belt to carry my XD in. I'll be using an 8 oz. leather for the main part and lining it with a 4 oz. leather. I have several questions on the lining part. Should the entire belt be two layers? I would think that doing it this way would be tough to get a buckle installed on the belt. I plan on using rivets to attach the buckle. The belt is pretty much going to be for everyday use carrying the XD. On that note what about the end opposite the buckle? I'm thinking there should be a point on both ends where the 4 oz leather will stop. Is there a way to do this that will still make the belt look good? I know the belt is more for utility but I'd still like to make a nice looking one. This will be the belt for me. Any other suggestions would be a great help. The entire belt should be the two layers glued & stitched together. On the bend end, makers often skive the leather so that the thickness is manageable enough to easily bend around for the buckle. Another option is to end the liner layer before the bend and only fold the outer layer over. I've done my carry belt this way and it works just fine. As for the opposite end, just run both layers and edge like normal. You can skive the 4oz to end it. Edited January 17, 2009 by Shorts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lobo Report post Posted January 18, 2009 Do a quick web search and look at a few belts done in what is called the ranger style. You can do the main body of the belt as heavy as you wish. The buckle and engaging belt tongue are done as billets, stitched to the main belt. Additional advantage: you can use quite a small buckle and not having it poke into your midsection every time you stand up or sit down. (Of course, I'm an old guy with a little bit of a beer gut, so this means more to me than to some of you young, svelt, slender folks). Check "ranger belt", Bianchi makes a very nice model, and you will see what I mean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
