Help with a belt please

[john beattie]

Hi Everyone
ive been asked to make a belt from packing iron page 83 described as a para military waist belt
The guy has his own buckle like the one in the attached photo (two piece)
The problem i have is how is the belt adjusted for size ?
one side is clearly through the buckle and set with rivets the other looks like it only has that brass keep holding it, iv'e seen similar belts with the same buckle setup but with standard adjusting holes and a hook that goes in the reverse side
so can anyone tell me if that brass keep is all that holds it together and would a leather keep do the same job, also im not familiar with the piece of leather behind the buckle and how that works.
can anyone help or show me any photos please

many thanks
john

[outrider]

I think the size is adjusted similar to the way a Fairweather/Christian belt.  the belt is folded back on itself and a small brass "J" hook is used on the back side of the belt.  Do a search on the Fairweather/Christian belt and you can see how this is accomplished

[Boothill Bob]

Are you making the J hook your self or can I buy it Outrider? I'm using a brass button stud when I make my mil.belts, but a J hook would be autentic.

[john beattie]

Thanks Outrider
i'm guessing the j hook would hae been attached to that brass keep, now like Bob says can they be bought from somewhere, Tandy have something similar but it's only up to 1 3/4"

thanks again
john

[Boothill Bob]

John, have a look at page 44 in packing iron. There can you see the J hook.

[Freedom]

I would use the Sam Brown or Harness button system on it....it has to be somewhat PC if the buttons were used in harness shops...no doubt the harness button system made it onto a few belts...

This Link may help you a little in order to understand the function and design...so that you can incorporate it into yours... http://www.awlworks.com/belts.html

[St. George]

In the past, both S&S Firearms and Dixie Gun Works have had the hardware needed, since they supply American Civil War reenactors, and this is an example of the two-piece buckle as used on the saber belt.

The button system came about much later.

Making your own is easy, too - just flatten the end of a 1/8" round brass rod - drill for rivets, bend to shape and round the edges and end.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[outrider]

St George said it all  you can make your own..Also I believe Weaver also sells a "J" hook

[Trailrider]

The J-hook is NOT attached to the brass keeper. It is attached to the free end of the belt that is passed through the end of the belt plate and bent back on itself (be sure to wet the belt at the point of the bend or you run the risk of cracking the leather at the bend).  In a few cases, where there is enough friction and the keeper (whether brass or leather) is snug enough, friction alone may keep the adjustment. But it is better to use the J-hook.  On a plain waist belt, the hook end goes through holes in the belt body. When cartridge loops are added so they interfere with the holes, it is necessary to attach a leather chape (strip of thin leather on the inside of the belt body, in which the holes are punched.

[Boothill Bob]

Here you have belt hooks http://www.dixiegunworks.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=belt+hook&x=0&y=0

[ChuckBurrows]

Get your belt adjustment hooks here includes the brads for fastening:
http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg27.htm

Other civil war vendors carry them as well...

[john beattie]

Thank you that all makes sense now, i was getting confused as i never realised the hook was attached with brads and i couldn't see any holes for the hook, so thats a lesson learned and i know what i need now.
Thank you for the links and advice

john