Buckle suggestions?

[waffenmacht]

Hey guys,
  I am working on a unique gunbelt design.  I want something different, but historically accurate.  I am wanting to use some type of buckle that is not a "typical" belt buckle.  I have been quite inspired by the mix/match gun rig of Frank James.  So what are your suggestions?  Would a CS belt buckle be common?  How about something more "industrial" like a common buckle specific to a saddle or other horse rigging?  Maybe a bit of Texas/Mexican influence made from whatever was laying around at the time?  Let's hear your suggestions.

[Dr. Bob]

Ya might head over to Will Ghormley's site and look at his buckles.  He took the motif from one in Packing Iron.

          http://www.willghormley-maker.com/OWCBuckles.html

That should take you right there!

Ya might also check out the selection of buckles at Fall Creek Sutlery.

        http://fcsutler.com/fcbuckles.asp

Those would be good places to start!  Good shopping!

[waffenmacht]

Big thanks Bob. FCSutler has a HUGE selection.  I am seriously leaning towards using a military buckle.

[ChuckBurrows]

For military buckles.......
http://www.hanoverbrass.com/siteindex.htm

[Dr. Bob]

Chuck,

Thanks!  I couldn't for the life of me remember their name.   Got the CRS bad sometimes!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Pards;  It is my understanding that CSA bits'n pieces were prohibited for a long time after the war.  If so, a CSA buckle would not be seen anywhere in these unite of states.   I have it on good authority that the Idaho & Oregon territories were strongholds of the G.A.R. who would have made sure such rules were not broken.

[waffenmacht]

What do you guys say about the above statement.  While i dont doubt that in many areas pro-CSA items may have been prohibited, it was probably also illegal to gamble, rape, murder and rob.  I wonder just how much time was spent enforcing a "CSA" ban in areas like Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and California?  Chuck, maybe you can chime in, have you seen many instances where CSA buckles were used post-war?

[RollingThunder]

While the humilities placed on the conquered people of the south by the conquerors were numerous, in occupied lands and territories, the laws were usually tempered by the gains, as they are nowadays. Alexander's example still stands, centuries later.

In other words, I doubt they would send any large military or civilian legal authority after someone holding up their britches with an old belt that happened to be CSA issue. They might use it as a point of initial offense, but I highly doubt they'd chase down Texans driving stock over a belt buckle, unless that served as a reason to detain the person until more suitable larger charges could be drawn and proven.

Then again, history is riddled with such foolishness.

In all, it's more likely the CSA buckles would have been confiscated up north in Union prisons, and replaced with twine or rope or strips of cloth if belts were not to be afforded to prisoners. If you're talking about down south, I'm not sure the occupying forces would have made too fine a point of a belt buckle because there would be too much to be lost through humiliation and resentment, and very little gained. Now ... a full rebel uniform might be a different story. In the end, though a man has to keep warm and keep his pants up.

Chances are, a plain round buckle would be issued towards the end of the war anyway, because of the need for clothing metals to be limited so they could be used in the production of munitions. While a man does indeed need to keep his pants up, a small brass buckle will do the job just as well as a large brass one will, at a great deal less cost, and a savings of diverted metals to munitions.

Seem sound to anyone else? Any war historians that could point to the real likelihood?