gun belt sizing

[Windom Leather]

I'm gettin ready to build a new gun rig. How do you determine the length of the belt to get it to hang just right like John Wayne does? And if its a double gun rig do you want it to hang low on one side like that?

[Luke Hatley]

BEST THING TO DO,...... get Al Stolmans book ,"Making Holsters" there is a lot of information on belt sizing

listed in it.

[hidepounder]

The very best method I've found for measuring belts is to make a "measuring belt". It is nothing more than a piece of leather (plain belt) with snaps for a buckle and a series of numbered holes starting at around twenty inches and ending at around fifty or sixty inches with an additional seven or eight inches of tail. The holes should be punched at 3/4" on center because that is the standard spacing for holes on belts. The numbering system should not represent a size in inches...it is just a reference point. The customer will put his buckle on the belt and put it on as he would a normal belt and pull it to where it is comfortable. Make note of the hole number. Now you can use the measuring belt to exactly duplicate the customers size. It is handy to make note of where the customer would like the tip to end by indicating a hole number there also.

This method will work for measuring for a gun belt also. One thing to watch out for. It is not a good idea to use a one inch wide measuring belt when measuring for a gun belt. You would want to use a much wider belt so that it will more closely simulate the way a gun belt will fit. Remember to put on the measuring belt exactly like you would wear the gun belt.

I keep two measuring belts around. One is 1" wide, the other is 1-1/2" wide. I use the one which most closely matches the width of the belt my customer wants.

Hope this helps....

Bobby

[ChuckBurrows]

What HidePounder said! Since using this method for over the last 20+ years I've only had one belt sized wrong and still can't figure that one out

[Windom Leather]

Thanks Luke and Bob. I will definately look for that book. I'm a sponge for info and that is why I'm on this forum. Always lookin for tips and tricks to improve my quality of craftsmanship.

Bob. That's a heck of s trick I will have to make me some of those. That will save me a heck of a lot of guess work when makin any belt which I now have 4 to make. Yes ill post some pics when I get them done. Thanks again for your help and am glad you guys are here so us newer guys can pick your brains. Happy stampin

Will

[Dwight]

I am no expert on gun belts, . . . but John Bianchi's method basically is to take the customer's belt that is being worn today, . . . lay it down flat, . . . measure from the inside edge of the buckle (pin on a cowyboy buckle), . . . to the hole that is currently being used.

Add 4 inches to it.

Make the gun belt so that the distance from the inside edge of the buckle to the center hole in the strap is that new dimension (belt + 4).

Of the few I've done, . . . this worked perfectly. All my gun belts I've made were 3 inches wide, . . . ranger style.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Jim]

Or you can try a method that I developed that includes its own Size Chart and tried and true templates.

I spent a lot of time and effort developing this so I could make proper fitting gun belts for customers that were out of state and had no old gun belt to go by. I can honestly say that everyone was happy with the fit.

Take a look below for the Tutorial. Any questions, holler at me.

Jim

Ranger_Gun_Belt.pdf

Ranger_Gun_Belt.pdf

Edited August 15, 2009 by Jim

[Leather Bum]

Wow, Jim. Thank you very much for that pdf!

Micah

[Jim]

Thank you. I have a short tutorial for it, but it's too big to post all at once, so I'll do two Posts.

Enjoy.

Ranger_Belt_Instrutions_1.pdf

Ranger_Belt_Instrutions_1.pdf

Edited August 15, 2009 by Jim

[Jim]

And here's part two of the tutorial.

Enjoy.

Of course when you read the tutorial you're gonna say "But where's the Plains Belt?"

Here it is.

Ranger_Belt_Instrutions_2.pdf

Plains_Gun_Belt.pdf

Ranger_Belt_Instrutions_2.pdf

Plains_Gun_Belt.pdf

[dbusarow]

Thanks Jim!

Dan

[Windom Leather]

Thanks Jim,

I was finally able to download. Great info. I appreciate it.

[Jim]

My pleasure Pard, holler at me if you have any questions.

Jim