Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => The Leather Shop => Topic started by: MikeM. on June 24, 2022, 07:34:39 AM
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What is the best leather to use for making a money cartridge belt and what is the best source for it ? I like the textured looking leather used by many but am not sure what I need to look for . Don’t want to Oder the wrong thing so I thought I would turn to the experts on here for help.
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That's a good question, Mike. Here's a thread (https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=66288.msg782041#msg782041) where we covered the leather used in making money belts. I added a link to that thread in our FAQ thread so others can find it easily, now.
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I like to use milled leather which has a textured look.
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How wide do you guys usually make the billeted part or part that actually buckles?
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The width of the billet will depend on the inside dimension of the belt buckle you choose.. it’s common for it to be 1-1/2” wide.
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Yes, that is why I was asking because I wanted to know what size buckle I should buy. Thanks
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The outside of the buckle should be no wider than the width of the belt body. If you can go to a leather store (Tandy/Leather Factory for example), it should be easy. If not, what is the width of the belt body? I may be able to check my inventory of buckles and recommend the buckle. Then the billet width can be determined by the inside dimension of the buckle.
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A i.5" buckle is pretty standard. Belts are approx 3" and up. Some come very wide, to take 45.70s.
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Thank you , that is what I wanted to know.
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I probably made more 3 inch wide than anything else but my personal favorite is 3 1/2 or so. My personal rig I wear mostly now is a 4 inch wide belt.
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Cliff, that wider money belt looks good. It must be comfortable to wear.
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Nice work, Cliff. Excellent solution to lower back problems. So comfortable.
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I probably made more 3 inch wide than anything else but my personal favorite is 3 1/2 or so. My personal rig I wear mostly now is a 4 inch wide belt.
That is a beautiful rig. Would love to see more of it.
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Thanks everyone, yes Marshall it is very comfortable. Almost acts as a soft back brace for my half crippled up self.
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Smart, Cliff. That's a good idea.
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I've only made one, for myself. I used 4-5oz vegtan at 3.5" wide. Wish I'd gone 4" but the unsupported cartridge loops will be enough reason to do another. I did both .45Colt and .38-55 loops. Next time I'll do a strip of 8-9oz to support the woven loops.
(https://photos.imageevent.com/newfrontier45/leatherwork/large/003b_6.jpg)
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:) Way COOL ;)
I think Cliff and CraigC have really hit it. I am also a fan of wider belts. Not so much with cartridge loops. Well a few loops be ok but a belt full can get really heavy.
Let Us Play Safe Out There
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That's a nice looking belt, Craig. Good job. I agree with Coffinmaker that fewer loops are good.
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Thanks and I agree. A belt full of cartridges is a lot more weight than necessary. I think I did five rifle loops and twelve pistol on that one. I also really like spacing the loops wider apart and putting a metal spot or two between them.
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I wear a 40 inch gun belt. My personal money belts carry thirty five 45 caliber cartridges and I always wear a second belt for my rifle cartridges. Usually it's for 32wcf in which it carries fifty cartridges so when I start out the day I have 85 cartridges on me. I can't say I even notice the weight wearing it around my waist.
If authenticity means anything to you original money belts seemed to have as about many cartridges as would fit on them. At least the ones I have do. Even though they are small belts for smaller waist people they still have thirty or more loops on them. I have an old Al Furstnow money belt that is only about a 36 inch belt but has about forty loops for 32-20 size cartridges. I'm sure there were no standards but that has been my observation. I'd be curious as to Bucks take on it as I know he has owned more originals than many of us ever hope to.
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Yes, I know I'm late in getting back to this post. Been very busy and was starting to get ready for an antelope hunt/fishing trip. Cliff is right about the number of loops on cartridge belts. The earlier belts from approximately mid 1870 to 1890 usually had as many cartridge loops as they could sew between the billet and buckle end. My reasoning for this, was probably due to the fact that in case of trouble, a good supply of ammo on the belt was better than taking a chance on your pony running off with it tucked away in your saddle bags. As the years went by and populations grew, I've noticed fewer loops on later belts. Most of my customers do NOT want the holster to cover any cartridge loops, but the fact is holsters did ride over top of a few cartridge loops on these earlier belts. In my opinion, extra cartridge loops add very little noticeable weight.
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Yes, I know I'm late in getting back to this post. Been very busy and was starting to get ready for an antelope hunt/fishing trip. Cliff is right about the number of loops on cartridge belts. The earlier belts from approximately mid 1870 to 1890 usually had as many cartridge loops as they could sew between the billet and buckle end. My reasoning for this, was probably due to the fact that in case of trouble, a good supply of ammo on the belt was better than taking a chance on your pony running off with it tucked away in your saddle bags. As the years went by and populations grew, I've noticed fewer loops on later belts. Most of my customers do NOT want the holster to cover any cartridge loops, but the fact is holsters did ride over top of a few cartridge loops on these earlier belts. In my opinion, extra cartridge loops add very little noticeable weight.
I also agree with Buck on the number of loops making little noticeable weight. Yes it may feel heavy if you pick it up but when strapped around my waist and even as out of shape as I am a wide comfortable money belt isn't noticeable to me whether the loops are empty or full. The least noticeable way a person can carry something is by distributing it evenly around your waist.
I mean can your legs really tell the few ounces difference between a handful of cartridges and a full belt? I have a hard time seeing how that's noticeable. If it is how does one walk around with winter clothes on at all?
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Money belts in Packing Iron seem to pack in as many loops as possible. I suppose if you were away from any township in the 19th century, you needed as much ammo as you could take. Nowadays, you don't need to fill all the loops.
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Man, that's outstanding! You have really done it right. The shield and border are quite nice. Is that a makers stamp?
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:) Skeeter ;)
PLUS ONE for Marshall Will Wingam. That is one outstanding cartridge belt. I'm an Auld Phart with a bad hip and a full cartridge belt is more than I want to lug around. I do however, agree with Cliff and Buck. Once you have 25 - 30+ plus cartridges on the belt, an added 5 or six under the holster wouldn't matter atall.
I have always been amazed at the "Ranger" belts from the 19th century that displayed TWO FULL rows of ammunition and included some large bore rifle rounds. That had to really wear a body out!!
People are Still Hazardous to Yer Health. Avoidance
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Thanks, pards. I suppose it was the poor old horse that had to bear the weight of the ammo.
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Money belts in Packing Iron seem to pack in as many loops as possible. I suppose if you were away from any township in the 19th century, you needed as much ammo as you could take. Nowadays, you don't need to fill all the loops.
Man Skeeter, that is a beautiful rig for sure.
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I recall reading that the loops under the holster were usually left empty.