Belts
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Belts seem to come up again and again as a subject. I recently looked into the matter because some of the nicest straps I had are a tad too small now but I still want to use the awesome buckles I got. I haven't made a decision yet and will probably need to get two or three belts. Most of these can be ordered customized and would look great with jeans. The prices are much cheaper than the Japanese belts and I doubt that the leather quality is inferior. Some of them are tooled or Western style which would actually go well with the Western shirts from IH. There are also elephant, shark and horsehide belts featured.
So here are some links to sites I thought were interesting:
http://www.santassleighbells.com/belts.html
http://www.jedcoleather.com/jedcobelts.html
http://www.thebeltman.net/shark.htm
http://wileybelts.com/Web_store/Html/Products/products1.html
http://store.lucchesecowboyboots.com/luwefalebe.html
http://www.raftersgunleather.com/Belts.htm
http://www.kreis-ledermanufaktur.de/index.htm (click on Gurtel)
http://www.riverridgeleather.com/products.php?cat=1
http://www.granitestationsaddlery.com/belts/
Well, that should get you started.
Till
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Read my mind. Nice work!
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Yeah. I think it's nice to have belts to match the shoes or leather jacket and also with different buckles. Some belts come with Chicago screws to change the buckles. I actually have some very high quality belts that came with sturdy snaps. They have never opened accidentally and it is very easy to change the buckle. I'd prefer those to the so-called Chicago screws.
Thinking about getting one of the Santa Sleigh Belts, a shark belt and a replacement for my lizard Lucchese strap. Or I need to lose four inches of waist. That'll be really hard.
Till
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I get belts from here: http://www.elliotrhodes.com/
Endless permutations and they have a v.good (zero cost) repair/re-size service.
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Thanks, Giles.
Here are some belts from my collection both still fit but only on the first or second hole and not on the third as they should. Shame on me! That's why I am on the look out for some replacement belts.
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The black belt is about 17 years old. Worn very often. It is by John Egenes, Beltmaker of Santa Fe. Still in wonderful shape. Too bad I'm too fat now.
The buckle you see on it is a recent Christmas present from my GF. It's a sterling silver buckle inlaid with semi-precious stones by the famous Zuni artist Ernie Ohmsatte. I'm very proud of it.The brown lizard belt is a Lucchese belt that I bought at the same time as the black belt. The buckle set on it is also sterling. Heavy as all out. It's by Douglas Magnus of Santa Fe.
The buckle above is from Sky West in Albuquerque. It's solid brass inlaid with wood and bone. If you look closely you can see tiny brass stars in the sky. I bought it at the McDonald Observatory here in Texas. Wasn't even very expensive. The belt is a double bridle leather belt which is very soft yet sturdy. It feels similar to cordovan leather when you handle it but it's cow. I got it about five or six years ago from a belt maker in the Marais in Paris. It was around the same price as Tanner belts. I use that super often and the edge finish is still fully intact.
To finish up, a pic from a silver buckle and bracelet set that's waiting also for a new strap. I got the bracelet in 1990 somewhere between Santa Fe and Taos. It is signed by Tom Hawk, which is a nice anagram (tomahawk). I later found out that he is quite a famous Navajo silversmith and this is his trademark design, except that it's rare to get one with 8 lines. I found the buckle about three years later by hazard in Santa Fe, too. It is hallmarked LT but I don't know who made it. It fits the bracelet perfectly.
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Enjoy!
Till
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Just saw the new Samurai tan belt on the BiG site - 245 $. I just can't wrap my head around it.
Till: what is you who had a pic up wearing a super, really SUPER thick brown belt?.. I think the story of who-ever posted that was that he got it in Paris. And that the salesgirl wanted a good spanking. Oh I remember the details quite vigorously!..
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Seul, that was me. It was the Berlin sales girl at Manufactum that wanted a spanking but "not with that belt".
It's the Kreis ox leather belt he makes for manufactum. You can order it at manufactum in the UK and in Germany. I think it's around 90-100 Euros.
Will have to look up that Samurai belt. It better be real nice at that price.
Till
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If you happen to be between two sizes, choose the larger one. Just because it's so super thick. It will soften up quite nicely within a couple of months and you can accelerate the process by just bending it but this is clearly a belt you don't want to wear too tight and hope that it stretches.
Also, I wouldn't put any leather care product on it. Just some spray like you put on shoes but not Obenauf cream or polish or mink oil or whatever. The color is gorgeous as it is and it darkens only a little bit.
