Steel Belt Liners

[MarlinDave]

I was in a tactical-type gun shop and they were selling gun belts with a steel liner sewn in. Supposed to not sag under weight. Quite pricy. Has anyone made these? What is used for liner? I guess with or without gun it would trigger metal detectors. 

Edited June 15, 2021 by 327fed

[OldNSlowMarine]

I've made one before. I used a roll of coil steel feeler gage stock to do it. I forget what thickness it was. Might have been 0.015 inch? I'm not sure how the mass producers of these do it, but I centered it between two layers of 8 ounce Hermann Oak single belt bend strips. I didn't punch holes in it for the buckle holes, just got somewhat close to the last hole. Not sure if they do or not. Last I heard, the customer liked it.

Edited June 15, 2021 by OldNSlowMarine
spelling error

[fredk]

I didn't make a complete belt; I had to strengthen a length of belt for a client. His favourite sword belt, but it twisted where he carried the sword. I glued on a piece of thick brass plate then sewed a thin lining leather over it. afair I put a piece of brass about 10 or 12 inches long, about 1.25 inches wide and 1mm thick. Glueing it was just to hold the brass in place until I sewed the leather cover piece on

[MarlinDave]

Thanks.

[Dwight]

I saw a thread about these on here a number of years ago . . . thought about making one.

But I wear a two layer .230 thick veggie tan belt that has carried a cell phone . . . mags . . .  and a .45 for some 20 years . . . only sag is in the middle of the back where the center Wrangler belt loop pulled it down.

Besides that . . . contact cement WILL come loose from metal . . . allowing the steel piece to move between the belt pieces . . . and I figured eventually it would cut the stitches.  Looking at my belt . . . I would have lost 10 or 12 inches of stitches on the top of my belt in the back . . . so I'm glad I never made it.

When asked for one . . . I just decline . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[cord1974]

About 25 years ago, back when I was shooting competition heavily, I made a steel lined belt.

2 ply 8/9 oz  1 3/4" Ranger style belt with a thin strip of steel centered. The billets were sewn on the outer strip to avoid the need to punch through the steel. But we did do a double stitch line on the belt.

It worked well for several years of daily wear and weekly matches. 

Eventually I got tired of the stiffness and took the steel band out.  I unstitched on edge, pulled the steel with pliers and sewed the edge back up by hand.

The belt is still in my closet. Unfortunately I'm not as thin as I was back then.

[JayEhl]

1 hour ago, cord1974 said:

The belt is still in my closet. Unfortunately I'm not as thin as I was back then.

LOL, I think many of us have belts that no longer are able to do their job are hanging in the closet!    

[MikeRock]

Yeah, why DO belts get shorter as we get older.........'tis a mystery.

[battlemunky]

Both of my own belts have shrunk. I think it's from hanging unused in the closet during the pandemic. Maybe going back to the office will help them. I'm gonna look funny carrying them around for the first few weeks until they lengthen again. 

[Dwight]

You guys just using that cheap chinese leather.

The belt I mentioned above was made with that good ol Tandy leather . . . 

I always put 7 holes in mine . . . started out in the middle hole 20 some odd years ago . . . I'm all the way back towards that very first hole . . . use it often . . . or use the second one.  Only use the third one when I'm packin' that full size 1911 . . . use the second hold carrying my Officer model . . . both in IWB.

Y'all just need to use better leather.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited June 21, 2021 by Dwight