Hairpipe Belt???

[Whiskey Creek Adams]

I want to make a belt like the one in the picture.  I envision the hairpipes, beads and spacers to be strung on sinew.  However, I have no idea how to attach the hairpipe section to the leather billets at the ends of the belt.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[GunClick Rick]

Look at how they do the breast shields and chokers...

[Whiskey Creek Adams]

Look at how they do the breasy shields and chokers...

Did that Rick, but the application here is very dissimilar from those.

[cowboywc]

Howdy
One way to do it is make the billets long and skive down the last inch. At 1/2 inch punch your holes and asting the billets as you finish a row. When done fold the end of the billet over and glue down.
Hope this makes sense.
WC

[GunClick Rick]

I'll be derned :)Learnt somethin again...

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Howdy
One way to do it is make the billets long and skive down the last inch. At 1/2 inch punch your holes and asting the billets as you finish a row. When done fold the end of the billet over and glue down.
Hope this makes sense.
WC

+1

I would use fairly thin latigo thongs rather than sinew, though.  The hairpipe is usually able to be strung on it, and there's a little more "give" in thongs than in sinew.

[GunClick Rick]

Nope! Ain't gonna say it

[Dr. Bob]

Aw, go ahead Rick!

[Daniel Nighteyes]

If'n that wuz aimed at me, Rick, jest go on ahead.  I kin take it.

['Sides, I jest sharpened my scalping knife but haven't stropped it yet...]

[ChuckBurrows]

Looking at that pic I'd have to go along with what cowboywc said at a minimum - although the pics also show a piece wrapped around each end to add strength. IMO doing it like a breast plate wouldn't give it the proper strength - BP's will seldom, if ever get stressed like a belt, especially if one adds the weight of holster and handguns and more.
Am I an expert? nope but FWIW - I've made a ton of breast plates and also worn them over the last 40+ years evne though I no longer dance or re-enact .......

on the other hand I'm all ears?

Then again if I was to add any weight to such a belt I would make it so it was an overlay on a standard weight belt...............

BTW - Daniel, like you I too am part Choctaw on my mama's side and am unregistered (and part Tuscarora on my dad's side - overall a "mutt") - my great, great granpapa married the lady back when it was a major no no and then all the records were lost when one of the big hurricanes in the 1920's or 30's destroyed them in south Lousiana and the later folks were reluctant to talk about it..........

[Whiskey Creek Adams]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I really appreciate it.

This will not be a gun belt, though that's an interesting idea, so it should not have to be particularly strong.  I think I will stick with my original idea of stringing the hairpipes, etc on sinew as I do not want much, if any, stretch in it.

Here is my current thinking:

Sting the hairpipe section to the appropriate length, leaving an inch or two of the sinew at each end.

Attach (tie/knot) the sinew ends to  a thin piece of leather, say about 3/4-1" long.

Glue and sew that thin leather, with the sinew attached to it,  between a piece of standard weight belt and a lining.

Undoubtedly this would leave a little "bulge" where the belt billets attach to the hairpipe section, but I doubt that it would be very noticeable. However, as cowboywc pointed out, perhaps some careful skiving in that area would eliminate that.

[GunClick Rick]

 Well Chumly,maybe we should go see Mr. Woopie~~~~DUUUAAH ok Tennethee


Got me thinnin on it now.....