First Ranger Buckle Belt

[GrayHallidayJr]

My first attempt with a Ranger style buckle, some sterling picked up at the market in Guadalajara.

[Sofaspud]

Another fine piece. Your work has a unique look that I really like.   Great job!

[Stetson912]

I was just gonna say that spud.

Gray, I like how it's western floral but you take some of the "rules" and just say "nope! Not today!" And it turns out awesome every time. 

Youre kind of like the Tim Burton of leather carving haha, the shapes and things are all there but exaggerated and skewed (in a very good way) to portray something different and more organic and original. 

Then there's me who tries to figure carve a small horse head and it turns out looking like a daft my Little pony reject. hahaha!

I love the belt, good work. 

[Rohn]

Really nice work. It is beautiful!

[alpha2]

Now that is some deep tooling! Great work. Nice buckle set, too.

[plinkercases]

I agree the depth and style of tooling hit me first off. very very interesting approach.

[Sofaspud]

As much as I love the pattern and your tooling, I have to say that I  don't think this belt is a true ranger. Don't ranger belts have narrow billets for the buckle and tip over a wider strap? I think this beauty would be considered a tapered belt.

Maybe I am just picking nits. I still absolutely love your work. It is more organic than traditional western style. Very cool.

[Stetson912]

@Sofaspud you are right. The belt is not a ranger belt. But I think Halliday was strictly referring to the buckle itself, which is a ranger buckle. That shape buckle is what was used by rangers (and the set consists of the buckle guide and tip) 

An actual ranger belt came into existence because the new colt six shooters of the 1840s weighed so much a regular belt wouldn't support it. So they adapted certain ideas from horse tack and made the ranger belt, a wider strap with billets attached for tightening. 

I had no idea about any of this until I saw Montana silversmiths site about ranger buckles haha. Interesting stuff, and beautiful buckles just fyi...

[Sofaspud]

4 minutes ago, Stetson912 said:

@Sofaspud you are right. The belt is not a ranger belt. But I think Halliday was strictly referring to the buckle itself, which is a ranger buckle. That shape buckle is what was used by rangers (and the set consists of the buckle guide and tip) 

An actual ranger belt came into existence because the new colt six shooters of the 1840s weighed so much a regular belt wouldn't support it. So they adapted certain ideas from horse tack and made the ranger belt, a wider strap with billets attached for tightening. 

I had no idea about any of this until I saw Montana silversmiths site about ranger buckles haha. Interesting stuff, and beautiful buckles just fyi...

Thanks for clearing that up. Interesting factoids.  That is a very nice buckle set.

I learn something new on this forum nearly  every time I open this  website. 

[Stetson912]

Me too haha that's why I'm always on here haha.