This was a one shot try at a money belt. It was scary hand stitching all those cartridge loops not knowing if the leather would match up right when folded over and stitched. but it worked out. This was a single wide piece of this soft but perfect thickness suede type leather I had left. It has an odd color but I like it. I specifically wanted 1" billets. The ends of the cartridge loops are meant to compliment the billets. I don't know whether to make a 7 1/2" double loop Mexican border tooled holster or go for a pair of short ones first. In the meantime my Brill style holster will have to do here. I'll tell you this. This rig is very comfortable. And I wanted the belt simple and comfortable.

Very sexy!

Frank

That looks great. Good job.

Doyle

Very nice, waiting to see what ya come up with holster wise.
By the way, handstitching cartridge loops is on my "one of these days" list.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Very nice job on the money belt. I wish I had your talent! What is the reason for the 1 inch billets?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Thanks. There's a picture of a money belt rig in a 1980s Guns & Ammo special magazine on single actions made by JC Stewart of Az. and it had what looks like 1" billets with a buckle identical to mine here. It took almost 30 years to get around to duplicating it. There's also a picture in the book Packing Iron of a rodeo stars rig and his billets look thinner compared to the belt. And I really liked that one, too.This is actually meant to look like a post 1900 belt, especially with that three sided buckle. I think that fit's my Colt's with the later "smokeless" frames better.

Very nice looking...how does that soft leather with 1" billets support the gun/holster?

It carries the gun perfectly with no sagging and the 1" billets work great with no shifting of the belt behind the buckle because the tongue comes through that slot and locks everything up together. As I was stitching the belt seam I realized just in time I forgot the rivets on the billets and put them on. I feel much more comfortable with those when tightening that 1" belt. I made this belt pictured below to have the appearance of a money belt but has a regular lining. The holsters I make for this new belt will have the border tooling pictured here, which is my favorite combination of stamps.

Very nice! That's a lot of stitching.

Very nice work, I'm fond of the 'oblong' cut billet tongue. Can't replicate it worth a durn either.

Now I'm going to ask the obvious question: With both ends sewn, where does the money go?

That's a very logical question. The billet tongue comes through that slot behind the buckle. When the belt is off that slot is an opening to put coins in. When the belt is on, the coins can't fall out. But, and I realized this when I made it, that 1" buckle makes the slot too small for anything bigger than a quarter.