Western Gun Belt

[GuyNC5]

Hi everyone I am new to working with leather. I would like to make a RH western gun belt like Clint Eastwood worn in his movies. Light color with NO tooling, no ammo loops. My question is what weight leather should I use for the gun belt, and what weight of leather should I use for the inside lining. 

 

Edited October 9, 2018 by GuyNC5

[Josh Ashman]

Hello GuyNC5,

I'd suggest you aim for a total thickness of between 10 and 12 oz. including the liner. Depending on what leather you have on hand or what you want to stock up on will likely determine the best way for you to get to that. I like to keep a supply of 8 oz for carry gear and to use for double layer belts, 4 oz. for bullet loops and liners and 10/11 for single layer belts and western rigs. So, if it were me I'd use 8 oz. with a 4 oz. liner. If you don't have any leather on hand you might want to get a 6 oz double shoulder or back and double it up. 

Good luck with your project!

Josh

[dikman]

I suggest you do more searching on Eastwood's holster, GuyNC5, there's quite a lot of info about it (it's just a matter of finding it!). He used the same belt/holster combo for many of his films and it was made by Andy Anderson. The holster is rough-side out and was likely natural colour. The belt had a slight notch (recess?) where the holster sat to prevent the holster from sliding around on the belt, the holster also had wings behind the belt for stability and was angled backward slightly.  The "Gunfighter" stitching on the belt can be a bit of a pain to get right.

[Dwight]

I've made my version of the Eastwood rig, . . . as dikman said, . . . it's a rough out holster, . . . I used double 6/7 for both the belt and the holster.

In fact, all the leather except the belt loops, came from the same hide if I recall correctly.

It is a fun one to make, . . . sometimes I wish I had kept it.

May God bless,

Dwight