period correct

[4hats7revolver2rifles]

Keep seeing that calf skin is choice of leather for a period correct money belt or chap leather  4-5oz weight,,but looking at the suppliers on line,, calf skin(what little i have found is 1-2oz)...So where do you get the right leather???

I will be around a tandy's after christmas but other than that it would have to be ordered???

Totally unrelated,,anyone know who supplied Stallone the six gun holster he wore the 3:00 position behind his right flank???

As a hobby guy i made one very similar back in summer,,didn't think i would ever see anyone but me use one for a single action!!

New to the forum but see a whole lot of good info!!!!thanks

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Welcome to our forum 4hats7revolver2rifles

    Chrome tanned leather in 4/5 ounce leather was very popular in the period, and was used because of it's durability and strength, it was/is hard to beat, and it was seen a lot in the pebble grain texture, it stood up to sweat better than other leathers, today finding the color and length is some times a problem to come by, but worth the hunt, for me I haven't been able to find anything long enough to use as a belt, so I've been using 4/5 ounce Veg-Tan leather, or already colored oil tanned leather in the same weight or close to it, I can't help you on the Stallone holster, maybe some one else has the answer to that.


                                       Regards

                                    tEN wOLVES 

[Major 2]

This one   ?

Resembles a Mika Holster

[Advertising]

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Just for grins, I would give the Standing Bear Trading Post a call on Monday. I have been constantly amazed by their warmth and ability to come up with abnormal requests, especially for the leather itself ....

Their phone number and times for business are at the top of their webpage ....

http://sbearstradingpost.com/

[Cliff Fendley]

After our recent discussion on money belts I looked and noticed Weaver had pebble grain Chrome tan leather in their shop supply catalog. It's at the shop so don't remember what all they had listed but they had it.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Welcome to the forum, 472. Looking forward to your posts.

[Kid Terico]

I have a money belt that TW recently made for me. It is a true work of art. Useing the leather he is recomending I feel is the way to go. I wouldnt want any changes on what he made. KT

[Slowhand Bob]

Im not sure about the historical accuracy of using upholstery leather for money belts and/or chaps but that is what I use for play cowboy weight items.  We have a local store that carries some upholstery materials at a fair price and of course you can get a small selection to chose from at Tandy.  Good looking leather in working cowboy weights are actually easier to find than the lighter weight cheap stuff in appropriate soft earth tone colors.

[4hats7revolver2rifles]

that would be the holster major,,looks a little mor compact than 1 i fashioned and has a saftey snap where mine has nothing,,been contemplating a hammer loop,,not familar with mika but will google,,,thanks for all the replie,,,,

got a couple and figured i was done,,thanks

[4hats7revolver2rifles]

after reading the newer posts i believe that the PM was in the best of interest and just trying to give me some good info,,,
thanks again

[4hats7revolver2rifles]

ok,,thought i may as well show my creation,,appears i finisnhed somewhere about the time the movie was coming out....

[Dalton Masterson]

What movie??
DM

[GunClick Rick]

Dang nice rig,different ta boot.. :)Make a good conceal carry for a 45

Texas butt popper.. It would be if i wore it anyway

[Major 2]

What movie??
DM

Stallone's latest "The Expendables"  just about every geriatric action actor is in it ....

[Skeeter Lewis]

Is pebble grain an artificially applied texture?

(don't want to hijack the thread)

[ChuckBurrows]

Is pebble grain an artificially applied texture?

(don't want to hijack the thread)

yes and no - both goat hide and American buffalo hide may at times be naturally pebble grained, but on cowhide whether it be calf or older, pebble grain is an applied finish made usually by "boarding" the leather.

a couple of notes -
1) While chrome tan was used in period and was first developed in the 1860's , it was not widely made or available before about the mid-late 1880's. IIRC the first tannery in the USA to produce it any amount was circa 1887.

2) Calf skin was/is a name for bark tan leather made from cows generally less than 1 year old (some older source say 6- months but generally speaking it is less tahn 1 year old. Since much of the leather we use today comes from animals butchered at around 11 months it could technically be termed calf. In period most cattle were butchered at 2-3 years old.

3) For a pre-1880's money belt (or later) I use the commonly available 3/4 oz bark tan cowhide, not all money belts were made with pebble grain - take a look through Packing Iron and you will see several that are not - one in particular is the gunrig that looks almost new. Based on lots of originals I've handled first hand, 4/5 in barktan is heavier than the leather used "in period".  Most were 3/4 oz and many were even 2/3 oz - the latter you can see in some of the pics in Packing Iron - look for the ones where the belt is folded over due to the weight of the revolver in it's holster.

NOTE: One thing that sort of irks me about Packing Iron and other books is the "mis-application" of leather terms such as russet leather, bridle leather, skirting leather, etc. which far too often cause confusion to the uninitiated. 

[Skeeter Lewis]

Thanks Chuck.
It's hard to get pebble-grained leather. What is 'boarding' and can a mere amateur duplicate it?

[4hats7revolver2rifles]

no hijack there pard,,just more good info which is good to read,,,,happy holidays...sure wished campbell in yoakum was still handling,,leather,,would made a nice day trip for me.....Speaking of packing iron there are so many great rigs in there i could
hock the house buying leather..lol!!

[Skeeter Lewis]

I've used 4-5 ounce leather but in the past lighter leather was often used. 3-4 would be fine.

Skeeter

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  I've made money belts from 3/4 ounce and 4/5 ounce Veg-Tan leather, between the two, I prefer the 4/5 ounce for money belts.

    tEN wOLVES