Name of stitch style??

[Slowhand Bob]

Guys, what is the term used for the common belt stitch pattern that is created from arcs of a circle to appear as a row of footballs with a diamond between each.  I know I have heard it referred to by a certain name on occasion but since I have never used it I can never remember the name!  It appears to be very common on the older style gun belts that were made commercially and I am wondering if there was/is a way to make a pattern jig to turn these out quickly on sewing machines without the huge amount of intensity involved with free hand sewing.  I just can not imagine Bianchi free hand sewing those things by the hundreds or possibly thousands back when!  At any rate I would like to try a few of them but do not consider it practical without some sort of guide.

[outrider]

Bob,

I know exactly what your talking about...however I was not aware that there was a specific name for that stitch.  I may be wrong but I think it was first used by either Arvo Ojala or Alphonse with the "Man with no Name" rig that Eastwood wore.

[Old Top]

I beleive it is called the gunfighter stitch.

Old Top

[Advertising]

[Skeeter Lewis]

The curved design on the back pocket of Levi's is called 'arcuate', meaning 'arched' or 'bow-shaped'.Maybe that word would do for the Eastwood pattern too.
Levi's have often gone to law to defend their arcuate stitching but I doubt they'll bother about gun belts.....

[Cliff Fendley]

Bob, that stitch with the footballs and diamond in between is called a "Gunfighter Stitch". If you google search gunfighter stitch it seems some call that a fish tail stitch or boot stitch.

I'm not sure what you call it without the diamonds in between. I just had a custom pair of boots made that were based on a pair that were supposedly made in the 1890's and they have that stitch without the diamonds. The bootmaker called that the boot stitch and if it has the diamonds a gunfighter stitch.

I believe the gunfighter stitch with the diamonds between the footballs is contributed to Andy Anderson on his fast draw rigs.

When I do it I have some cardboard patterns I lay out and draw a pencil mark to follow. Maybe someone else knows of an easier way.

[GunClick Rick]

If ya make it fer me i'll call it very darn nice!

[Slowhand Bob]

Both styles have been very popular on belts for a number of years.  Though I do not know the lineage, I thought jigs must have been figured out for use in the higher output shops.  I know it wouldn't be practical for me to do free hand as there would be far to much time involved and or to many seconds.  I'm just glad they do not write tickets fer erratic sewing machine driving!   

[Johnny Dingus]

Did this belt to go with my Flames of Hell Rig.  I learned that you just don't do anything in leather without a lot of planning.  It may look good but at the buckle end I would do it different and have more spacing between the buckle and the stiching.
Next time I do this belt I will do it a little better.
Added the spots to tie in with Holsters.





Johnny Dingus

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Cool belt. Nice work, there.

[Freedom]

if you look for "Leaves" you will find them in sewing patterns. My wife has a big computer program for making quilts and this is where I got my pattern. I took forever to find them because she has thousands...but once she told me they were just a leaf, I found them.

[Drayton Calhoun]

I did one back about twenty years ago on a belt with suede outer and hair side inside. Looked good, but, never got around to doing another one. Now, I guess I'll have to, lol.