Gunbelt is too loose

[CaptQuirk]

Thanks Dwight. Suede liner will work, since it is too late to recut the belt now. But in the future, how much of a curve do you cut?

[Dwight]

Years ago I made up a sliding template, . . .  that makes a bit less for a short belt, . . . but more for a longer belt, . . . but at about a 40 inch belt, . . . there is a 4 1/2 inch curve in there.

This is my belt, . . . I'm a 38 right now, . . . was a 40 when I was eating pancakes for breakfast.  This is my gun belt, . . . made for a 40, . . . and if you count the squares there, . . . it's about 4 1/2 inches.

This has worked for me for a number of years, . . . don't get any complaints, . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[dikman]

I'm assuming we're talking a single holster if putting in a curve?

[plinkercases]

Dwight,

Thanks for you photo. Would it be safe to assume that a 40 is to the middle billet hole so the entire finished leather length is approx. 45 inches so 4.5 over 45 is about 1 inch curve for 10 inches of finished leather?

 

[Dwight]

Actually it is really close to 50 inches, . . . 

I have to look at my pattern, . . . but memory at 50 ft from the shop says that the blank belt is 9 inches longer than the belt size, . . . that was either a 40 or 41 to start with (pancakes will do it to you every time), . . . so 4 1/2 inches in 50.

I'd not worry about doing a 1 inch per 10 curve, . . . these things don't have to be "zinth" degree correct.

May God bless,

Dwight

[plinkercases]

Thanks Dwight.

My weakness is bacon and egg breakfasts. Just had to go up a pant size myself after a year at a new job which is more desk centric than I am used to. My increase still seems to be above the gun belt line though.

My rig slipped down a bit when I forst started wearing but it has taken on a slight curve plus I decided to wear my guns belt up higher it just below the waist/belt line and I crank it in a hole and wear suspenders to keep the pants from drifting down with weight. I may still add some suede or roughed out just for the "belt and suspenders" insurance.

Did four stages at a cowboy shoot Saturdays in 35c heat but lost more weight due to sweating standing still than moving. Shooting "sports" aren't really that "active"!

And God certainly has blessed me.

Murray

[Red Bear Haraldsson]

I cut the belt itself so it overlaps by about an inch in front when I wrap it around where I will wear it (just covering the distance around, not cinched tight).

Then I mount the chape/buckle end to the belt and stick in the billet end to the middle hole, the wrap the belt around as snug as I am going to wear it and mark the sewn end of the billet on the belt.

Then I lay it back down on the table and move the mark about half an inch back along the belt (making it tighter). Because my skill level for gunbelts at this point is still "You may want that a bit tighter..."

I haven't attempted a curved belt yet because I am just a fraidy cat.

My Dunlop's disease comes from supper, not breakfast. It is nice to say that I had to punch five new holes moving my pants belt tighter 7 inches from where it was when I started paying attention to what I am eating. My belly still 'done lopped' over my belt, but 275 is much better than 300 was.

[Josh Ashman]

I cut my gun belts straight then form a curve in them while the leather is cased, generally just after I tool them. If they aren't tolled I'll case them just to form in the curve. The end result isn't quite as nice of a curve as Dwight has pictured above, but it's close and I feel like straight cuts with a draw knife or strap cutter get a better yield from my hides. Although it may just be my lazy coming through. 

As to fixing a belt that is a little too loose, I'd go with pancakes for breakfast and spaghetti for supper until it fits just right. Or, cut the belt tongue piece loose and move it back as Dwight suggested. 

All the best, Josh

[JLSleather]

Me, too, Josh.  That belt is a bit snug? Yer fault for skippin' the gym

Still, seems like if a fella cut a curved belt from a hide, there would be some waist (hehe)..  But after teh first one, should be able to cut MORE curved straps  with a strap cutter and no more waste.

But I'm not seein' why a belt couldn't git shortened.. 'less moving the billet back would run into bullet loops..

 

Edited August 8, 2016 by JLSleather

[Josh Ashman]

I wondered if you could keep cutting the same curve after the initial cut and have it work out. But, I've never wondered so much that I tried it. How do you cut yours JLS?