Davy Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Whats the most popular size belt width you make . I've noticed that 30 yrs ago 2" belts were most popular . then jeans belt loops shrunk to 1-1/2" and now thats the most popular I found , with the occasional 1-1/4" . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shorts Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Whats the most popular size belt width you make . I've noticed that 30 yrs ago 2" belts were most popular . then jeans belt loops shrunk to 1-1/2" and now thats the most popular I found , with the occasional 1-1/4" . Most of the holsters I sell are for 1.5" (and is my standard for loops and slots). Occasionally I get a 1.75" or a 1.25". I'm just starting my first belt for myself and that is going to be 1.5" as my standard belt lineup. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I have not made or sold to many but 1.50 and 1.75 inch seems to be the most popular. Thicker ones like a double layer are the way to go for holsters as they give support but do not have the obvious look of a holster belt like a wider one would. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArtS Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Most of mine are 1 1/2" Art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I sell a lot of belts, and I can tell what width belt a person will want from 3 aisles down at the fair. Older heavy set guys will look at nothing else but 1.5" belts. I only make the 1.75" on request. Most pants now do even fit more than a 1.5". And there's a new trend that's dropping the pant loops down to 1.25". They buy an 1.5" and come back to me to buy 1.25" cause most of their pants wont take the wider one. Yuppie/businessmen types, and 30ish women finger the 1.25. Not saying their equated...lol, but I'm just reporting the facts. The Y/B types go for the plain black and brown, sometimes Tan bridle leather type, both the shiny finish ones, and the more matted finish from bridle sides. Designwork is not important to them The women seem to want just a tad of design. They like colored ones, red, blue, green, etc. I made a bunch of 1", and 1/2" belts because all the "fashion indicators" said the skinny belt was in. Forget that hogwash, nobody wants them, unless they want me to cut a full length one down for a kid. In most cases, I just make one right therefor the kid, instead of cutting. The Spanish guys love to look at my 1.5 stamped ones, because they all are attracted to the fancier type design belts, but so far I'm not selling to them much. I think it's because mine are a bit sedate in even the more heavily stamped belts. They are buying the Arrowhead basketweave ones though, but price breaks on those tend to put many of them off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted October 15, 2008 I've also been trying to decide between making 1.25" and 1.5" belts. Nearly all of the 1.5" buckles I have seem larger than I want and the 1.25" buckles will end up requiring a belt that is a bit narrower than I want. It also seems that not all 1.25" buckles are the same width and that each one will allow for a variance in belt width; same with the 1.5" belts. I think my ideal belt size is somewhere between 1.25" and 1.5". Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted October 15, 2008 "...Most pants now do even fit more than a 1.5". And there's a new trend that's dropping the pant loops down to 1.25". They buy an 1.5" and come back to me to buy 1.25" cause most of their pants wont take the wider one.I made a bunch of 1", and 1/2" belts because all the "fashion indicators" said the skinny belt was in. Forget that hogwash, nobody wants them, unless they want me to cut a full length one down for a kid. I have found much the same thing over here, RDB. 1.5" is standard and 1.25" is next. I have sold some plain 1" belts to business suit wearers but I can't sell the .75" too easily. The big hassle for me is length as once you have got the width thing sorted they all want belts of different lengths. I keep all my plain belts long now and only make tooled belts up in different sizes. I don't mind cutting down a plain belt but it breaks my heart when they ask for a chunk to be lopped off the end of something that took time to tool. If they insist then I'll do it because I charge the same price for long or short. The money in my hand quickly makes me feel a whole lot better! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted October 15, 2008 Apart from the State Police which use 1 1/4" belts, most other belts I make are 1 3/8" and sometimes 1 1/2" but 1 3/8" are the most popular. Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted October 16, 2008 What are you guys using for leather on your double layer gun belts? Do you use veg tan strap on both layers? Latigo and natural veg tan? Drum dyed veg tan and natural veg tan? Other combos or tannages? I'm curious because I just got a Weaver Leather Sample book today and I was marveling at all the possible combinations of leathers that might be used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted October 16, 2008 What are you guys using for leather on your double layer gun belts? Do you use veg tan strap on both layers? Latigo and natural veg tan? Drum dyed veg tan and natural veg tan? Other combos or tannages? I'm curious because I just got a Weaver Leather Sample book today and I was marveling at all the possible combinations of leathers that might be used. Well, I'll jump in. I use bridle leather on both layers. I know of another guy around me who uses bullhide both sides. Some use the veg. But whatever one you use, reverse the grain, meaning ...turn one upside opposite to the other, that way the weaknesses won't match, instead will even out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
