December Western Gunbelt

[BrokenolMarine]

After the practice on the two pants belts, I am finally starting on the gunbelt. The first step was watching a few (bunch of) youtube videos again. Then I settled in and got busy. This will be a work in progress, as I have an idea what I want but I didn't lay out a plan. This will not be a fancy over the top design, but a basic gunbelt with cartridge loops at the back.

First step, cut out three straps from the same leather so the colors match. A 2-3/4" strap for the main belt. A 1-1/2" strap to make the billets from. Last but not least, a 1" strap to make the belt loops from....

01 initial componet strips.jpg (462.89 KiB) Viewed 3498 times

Next up, I squared up one end of the belt strap, then rounded off the other end. The squared end will be the buckle end, the rounded end will be the billet end with the holes for securing the belt. Next, I wrapped the belt around my waist and reached back and marked the center at the spine. This is where the center of the bullet loops will go. Using the 357 mag template, I marked out the 18 bullet loops then punched them with the 1" punch.

02 slots for loops.jpg (369.26 KiB) Viewed 3498 times

On to the strap for those loops. First I used the grooving tool and marked accent marks down both edges of the strap that would become the loops a bit later. Then, using the NEW leather splitter Miss T found me on TEMU, I split the 8 ounce leather to about 4 ounce to make it more flexible.

03 new leather striper in use.jpg (511.06 KiB) Viewed 3498 times

After a lunch break, I came back out and worked on forming the billets for the buckle and the billet end for the holes to secure the belt. They were a bit of work because I wanted a wider end that secures them to the belt stepping down to the ends meeting the buckle. Turned out well.

04 intial progress including billets.jpg (379.92 KiB) Viewed 3498 times

Done for the day but I'll be back at it tomorrow. Will start tooling where tooling is needed. I'll have to decide how far I'm going to go with that, and then if I'll be doing conchos...

[daytime dave]

That will be COOL!

[Hatchdog]

All right, thanks for taking us along again.

[BrokenolMarine]

As planned, I got out to the shop for a few hours today, and in two sessions I worked on the tooling of the belt and the other components of the assembly. First up was the belt portion and I used scraps to figure out HOW I was going to tool the belt itself. I didn't want to get really fancy on this first attempt. I tried several (a dozen) combinations and then saw my four stamp barbed wire combo. I tried the two straight wire stamps and chose the two barb stamp. After some testing, I stroked a reference line just inside the existing border lines and got busy. I think it looks good, especially for a western belt. First an overall long view:

05 barbed wire border.jpg (458.99 KiB) Viewed 3470 times

Note that I stopped the tooling where the bullet loops will be close to the top edge of the gunbelt. I also took a closeup view of the barbed wire tooling.... Each barb section is a stamp. Lot of work, but I think it was worth it.

06 barbed tooling close.jpg (399.06 KiB) Viewed 3470 times

The barbed wire pattern would have crowded the strapping that will form the belt loops, I tested it on offcuts. I went with a veiner and I like that pattern. I just cut in borders on the billets. They all turned out pretty well.

07 all tooling.jpg (478.36 KiB) Viewed 3470 times

A little closer look at all the day's work?

08 all tooling close.jpg (366.87 KiB) Viewed 3470 times

Tomorrow, once things have all dried evenly, I'll check for the need to touch up any of the stamps, then dye all the pieces. I'll need to make the belt loop for the main belt, but that's no issue, it doesn't need special treatment. It goes under the main belt.

[BrokenolMarine]

The white splotches you see on the leather in a couple of the pics are the overhead lights reflected in the moisture. There are NO pidgeons in the shop.

[Hatchdog]

I suspect if there were any pigeons in the shot Miss Tina would have “dispatched” them immediately. Liking the barbed wire border.

[BrokenolMarine]

Out this morning, found the pieces had dried nicely and looked pretty good. I touched up a couple light strikes, but otherwise, I felt good to go.

09 they dried.jpg (474.84 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

The first order of business was to wet form the large belt loop. This one will fit under the buckle end for the other end to tuck in. It won't go all the way across but will be riveted into place on the edges.

10 the large loop.jpg (544.87 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

After the loop had a chance to get a basic set, I dyed all the components. I chose a Light Brown dye. I was careful to dye the edges and the backs of those components that won't be lined, (The belt will) and tried to follow the lessons I learned from the various YouTube vids to try and get an even dye job. We'll see. I put the loop back around the forming block after dying to dry.

11 dyed it all.jpg (356.63 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

Leaving it all, I moved onto a few small projects to fill the time, and I'll come back out in the afternoon to check, and move on to the next steps.

[BrokenolMarine]

One small project was a key fob for a gift we got in the mail. This little light is extremely bright and recharges in a USB port. My friend sent two alike for Miss T and I and I made this fob for mine. I ordered small belt clips from Tandy, and will make small "holsters" so we can clip them to our sweatpants, jeans, or a pocket. I'll send my friend one as well.

12 key fob.jpg (312.34 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

I put the fob on mine so I know which of the two lights is mine since we toss our keys and pocket contents on the same counter.

While the dye dries, I took the original attempt at cutting the slots for the bullet loops, and the first try at the strip that forms then in with me and practiced the technique for assembly. I'll do it for real on the gunbelt, but practice never hurts, right?

You thread the strap up thru the hole, around the bullet, then back down thru the same hole, pulling it snug, then repeat, and repeat, and repeat. It looks like this....

13 practice in progress.jpg (414.06 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

From the back, you'll see this...

14 rear view.jpg (465.36 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

Once it's all done, it looks like this.

15 done.jpg (619.45 KiB) Viewed 3442 times

Of course, when doing it for real, you would secure the first end down as you start, then the very end down after trimming to length when you have completed the run. You can used flat, or domed rivets, or Chicago screws. Not too bad for a first attempt. Making progress, this might actually look okay.

Of course, THIS panel was designed to be riveted or screwed to the wider belt. In the design I'm using now, the slots are cut into the actual belt.

[Bill.68]

You go you BrokenOlMarine!!!! Fantastic work my friend! I love to see folls with determination and skill do their thing, MAKING instead of buying. Its so much more rewarding. You can buy something from someone like DelFatti or Brigade and will have the very best there is to be bought but if youre determined, have some skill and patience, dedicate yourself to making something to the best of your ability youll find that you have something worth so much more than anything you can buy.

Look forward to seeing the results.

[BrokenolMarine]

You go you BrokenOlMarine!!!! Fantastic work my friend! I love to see folls with determination and skill do their thing, MAKING instead of buying. Its so much more rewarding. You can buy something from someone like DelFatti or Brigade and will have the very best there is to be bought but if youre determined, have some skill and patience, dedicate yourself to making something to the best of your ability youll find that you have something worth so much more than anything you can buy.

Look forward to seeing the results.

Thank you Sir. I have Galco and Bianchi holsters, and a few other top quality ones as well... The really nice belts I had must have shrunk, they no longer fit for some reason. I make these things because I love the look and smell of real leather, and because it get's me out in the shop doing things. Miss T and I get a lot of use out of SOME of them. I gift some of them. Others... eh... they get put on display. Moving out of the recliner is worth every penny.

I enjoy the time I spend in the shop and now and then I'll help out a friend when I can.... but again, it's about the journey. I am looking forward to seeing the results as well. If this one works out, the next one will be just a bit fancier. Maybe some bling, maybe some inlay.