GAF Belt Plates

Trailrider · March 19, 2008, 04:39:24 PM

Ladies & Gentlemen:
I have the honor to report on the matter of the availability of GAF belt plates, for which I have had several inquiries, including our illustrious Pitsptr.

As you know, I do make military waist and sword belts for sale, which are compatible with the GAF Belt Plate. However, the demand for both the belts and plates has been quite low since the initial production and sales occurred several years back. As a result, I have only a couple of the plates on hand. These I have reserved for sale with belts.

I have contacted Mr. Tim Parsley of Art Brass, in Virginia, and, though he doesn't show the plates on his website, he still has the moulds and can cast and finish the plates for $18 plus S&H. While I appreciate the opportunity to be of service, if I order the plates from him and sell them without a belt attached, I'd have to charge for the shipping both ways.

I'd recommend contacting him directly at (804) 559-3679 or go to his website: civilwarbuckles.com (he does NOT show the GAF plate there, though

) . He still has the moulds, as I checked with him a couple of weeks ago.

I regret not being able to sell the plates directly, but it just isn't cost-effective for me or you. Of course, I am at your service for other leathergoods, with belt plates as applicable.

Captain Lee Bishop · March 19, 2008, 10:10:48 PM

Any chance to see a good photo of what these look like?

?

Frenchie · March 19, 2008, 10:55:32 PM

Here you go:

Pitspitr · April 06, 2008, 09:47:44 PM

I ordered another one Wednesday. I talked to Tim's wife and she commented that they'd had several orders.

I had sent them an email a week or so before, but didn't get a reply so if you're thinking about ordering it's probably better to call them.

Pitspitr · April 14, 2008, 07:28:18 PM

I got my belt plate the other day and made some leather ends so that I didn't need to modify my original M-1872 Officers waist belt. Below are a couple photos of the completed project. I need to polish the gold braid yet.

Dr. Bob · April 14, 2008, 11:32:05 PM

Pitspitr,

WAY COOL!!

Trailrider · April 15, 2008, 12:15:59 AM

Pitsptr,
Is that an original dress belt, or a repro. If it's a repro, where did you get it? I've been trying to locate proper gold braid, but have been unsuccessful thusfar (several years), in spite of searching the web. I'd like to be able to offer officer's dress belts, but haven't been able to do so because of the lack of the proper braid.

Pitspitr · April 15, 2008, 05:26:18 AM

It's an original. That's why I made the short leather snap on ends to attach the GAF plate to. The ends on the original wouldn't work with the GAF plate and I didn't want to modify the belt and ruin it's original value. I found it on E-bay in need of a little TLC. It didn't have a belt plate with it and I was able to get it for a lot less than the good ones were selling for.

Dusty Tagalon · April 15, 2008, 07:26:40 AM

US History has a reproduction, starting at $250.00.
http://www.ushist.com/props.htm

Dusty

Bow View Haymaker · April 15, 2008, 10:58:58 AM

some dumb questions.
What are the dimensions of the plate? Is it used as a bukle or can it be slid over the belt? Would it fit a 2.5 inch belt?

Steel Horse Bailey · April 15, 2008, 11:59:54 PM

VERY nice, Col. Sir!

Is that your sword or a borrowed one for the picture? Is it an antique?

I ask, because I have one similar that I may want to sell or trade.

Pitspitr · April 16, 2008, 06:33:31 AM

I bought it off E-bay. It was sold as a reproduction Staff & Field Officers sword, and it may be. On the other hand it has the "feel" of some type of "society" sword. If it is a reproduction, the grip and hilt are pretty consistant with the originals I've handled. The blade on the other hand is not the correct profile and not etched. That's fine for my purposes as I don't intend to ever draw it and it was considerably less expensive than an original.

Steel Horse Bailey · April 16, 2008, 07:06:07 AM

Thanks for the information. I thought mine was a "society" sword, too - until I found out it was a real Staff Officer's Sword and dated back to somewhere between the 1860s and 1880s. As I'm sure you know, the style of these swords was used for quite some time.

I just contacted the company that is marked on mine to get information and about a small repair. They (M.C. Lilley Co. - now part of Ames) said that with my needed repair being as small as it is and the rest of the sword being as GOOD as it is, they'd probably leave it alone.

Anyway, thanks.

Frenchie · April 21, 2008, 06:28:31 AM

Quote from: Bow View Haymaker on April 15, 2008, 10:58:58 AM
some dumb questions.
What are the dimensions of the plate? Is it used as a buckle or can it be slid over the belt? Would it fit a 2.5 inch belt?

Not dumb at all. The plate itself, not including the belt attachment loops, is 3-1/8" long and just over 2-1/8" tall. The integral loop (on your left in the pic) and the attaching loop (goes on the right) are just under 3/8" wide with an opening of 1/4". It's a belt plate, not a buckle. The maximum width of the belt is 1-7/8". Let me know if you need more info, pics, etc.