Leather weight for cartridge belt

[Django]

Hi ,can i ask you folks  what weight leather is period correct for an 1870's 80's cartridge belt/

I have just run out of 8/9 Oz so i need to replace it for holsters i also need to buy the cartridge loop leather so i am hoping that i will not have to buy three hides because the belt leather should be heavier than 8/9 Oz.....?

Thanks again for a great forum!
Django

[David Carrico]

Everyone has their own preferences, but I think 8-9 oz is fine for holsters and cartridge belts. If you want it heavier, you can line it. I use 3/4 oz for loops, you can use that for lining also.

[Django]

Everyone has their own preferences, but I think 8-9 oz is fine for holsters and cartridge belts. If you want it heavier, you can line it. I use 3/4 oz for loops, you can use that for lining also.

Thanks David..straight from the horses mouth, so to speak!!

How are leather weights described on your original patterns?

Django

[Slowhand Bob]

I like the 8/9oz fine as an unlined belt but would think nothing of adding a light weight suede behind it for up to 12/14oz of total thickness.  Remember that these are just suggestions as I have seen slightly heavier and even a little lighter used for gun belts.   The less I sew cartridge loops, or any attachments, directly to the belt the less I use a liner on the 8/9oz belts.

[willygene]

i prefere 4/5 oz for the loops as it wont get as loose with the cartriges as the lighter leather and is just as easy to work with on the loops.

[TN Mongo]

On a gun belt I like a 8-9oz for the belt and 4-5oz for the lining.  I've seen some makers use two pieces of 6-7oz.  More and more of our local cowboy shooters don't want bullet loops on their belts.  The loops are inconvenient for a fast reload and the belt is even heavier if it's full of bullets.  Most guys in this area want a few cartridge loops on their shotgun belts or they have a small bullet slide on their gun belts.

[GunClick Rick]

Mounted shooters don't use loops and i didn't have them put on mine i got from Cochise leather.Maybe someday i will go shoot

[Skeeter Lewis]

As a supplement to Django's question (if that's okay) what weight do pards use for billet and chape? I sometimes find myself skiving them to accommodate the buckle...

[Slowhand Bob]

I like a 4/5oz weight for the cartridge loops at a 3/4" width, allows leaving more cartridge exposed.  Something I am doing almost exclusively now is sewing the cart loops onto a separate backer and attaching this to the belt via Chicago screws.  The attachment method is not as neat as being sewn to the belt but offers a lot of advantages otherwise.

As stated earlier, I like 8/9oz for my belts and use the same for separate billets BUT used to use a 6/7oz for the separate capes.  After watching some of these guys put on their belts, ala the tag team method, i have gone to a full 8/9oz chape and just lightly touch the roll over to the sander to help the fold.  Have you guys seen how tightly some of these guys are actually cinching their belts across the hip bones?  Some time back I actually witnessed one guy drawing up anothers belt, buckle to the rear, by putting his knee to the others shady spot and leaning back with a mighty tug to get one more hole and then they swapped positions!!  I like mine tight but that bordered on torture.

[amin ledbetter]

As a supplement to Django's question (if that's okay) what weight do pards use for billet and chape? I sometimes find myself skiving them to accommodate the buckle...

This was question I tossed around a bit as well. I bought Will's Cartridge belt patterns just to see what he recommended for that very question. Will's patterns recommend 9/10 oz for two style of belts in his patterns, and the billets and chapes that go with them. I didn't care for the the heavier leather on the billet and chape so I went with thinner leather for those parts. I use 9/10 oz for unlined and none money belt styles, 7/8 for my holsters and belt billets and chapes, and 4/5 for cartridge loops.