12 Gauge Shotgun Shell Belt With Metal Holders Antique Vintage Help

[Oldtoolsniper]

Trying to locate any information on this shotgun shell bandolier. My intention is to harvest the parts and make a new belt so I can put it back to use. I want to check first to see if there is any information out there on these types of belts and if there is any reason not to remake it into a serviceable piece of gear.

It fits 12 gauge shells and has no makers mark or any indications as to who made or manufactured it.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Oldtoolsniper

[smirak]

I have absolutely no knowledge of it, but it looks really awesome. Will hold a box of shells to boot...not just "some" shells.

[Oldtoolsniper]

The clips are spring steel as a few have rust and the shells must slide in from the top, you can't tip them forward without a great deal of force so the belt kind of needs to fit snug or you just tug the belt up when you attempt shell removal. They are held on by very skinny copper rivets wth no burrs. The clip is the burr.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Oldtoolsniper

[club49]

That is really a great looking belt.

[Oldtoolsniper]

The attachments for the shells are in great shape. I don't think the belt would support a box of shells any more, it's pretty far gone. Once I find the right size rivets I'll dismantle it and make a new one with the shell holders.

[Mark Peters]

http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/collections/george.html

Looks to have similar shell retention clips, though smaller gauge, and a double row.

[Oldtoolsniper]

http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/collections/george.html

Looks to have similar shell retention clips, though smaller gauge, and a double row.

Thank you for that link. That's an interesting read. I would have assumed a makers mark would have a name not just an arrow. I'll recheck it and see if there are any marks I overlooked.

[Tannin]

The attachments for the shells are in great shape. I don't think the belt would support a box of shells any more, it's pretty far gone. Once I find the right size rivets I'll dismantle it and make a new one with the shell holders.

I expect you are looking for a good leather project. Personally, I wouldn't replace the leather - it looks very good to me. I might give it a v. light wipe of Ko-Cho-Line front & back, which would freshen it up a bit, add a little shine, moisture & protection from rain/mold - although it doesn't look like it needs it yet. At most I would tidy up or replace the buckle - although it seems a shame to unpick that neat original stitching, which looks well thought-out and well done, so I would probably just see what could be done with the buckle in place (recover it with leather perhaps). There is a trend (in the UK) currently for genuinely old, distressed/used things with original patina. And it has always been fairly popular with shooters here too: it is not unusual for well-to-do folk to shoot with high-end, handmade English shotguns that are a hundred years old or more, with cases and accessories to match.

I repaired my brother's cartridge belt a few weeks ago, for a shooting trip up north, it just needed one rivet replaced. He has been using it since he was given it by his Godmother on this 18th birthday, 36 years ago! I gave it a light coat of Ko-Cho-line - the first treatment of any kind it had ever received I am sure - as it was a bit dry and he was likely to encounter harsh, wet weather in the mountains. It's age and use are readily apparent and it works just as well as when it was brand new - we think it looks great.

My brother's belt doesn't have metal holders, it has the more common traditional leather loops. Have you considered making one from scratch like that instead?

[Oldtoolsniper]

Tannin,

Went ahead and ordered a can of Ko-sho-line, it is red or dark pink colored. First is this how yours looks and second does it impart the red color to the leather. I'm asking before I use it because if it's not supposed to look that way I'm going to send it back unused. Thanks for pointing me in a new direction as far as this stuff, I had never heard of it and I like new things to add to my tool kit.