This is why I enjoy collecting gun leather. I acquired this cartridge belt recently because of the maker-Jos. R. Diekan of New York.The only reference I've found for him is in Fast & Fancy Revolver Shooting by Ed McGivern.Page 373 says "A very fine two-gun outfit on the Buscadero pattern of belt & holsters was made for me by Joseph R. Diekan of 41 Fulton Street, New York.They are shown in the pictures on page 376, accompanied by an excellent suspender holster and several quick action flap top holsters. These goods,while in plain finish as shown here,are of the very highest grade material and workmanship.Very excellent and highly satisfactory goods."
All true by me as the only piece I've ever seen by this maker is the belt shown below.2 1/4" wide, very heavy skirting leather construction,it has 60 cartridge loops which are hand sewn & are,as near as I can make out for a .22 Magnum cartridge.The diamond shaped logo stamp is under the belt tongue-"JOS. R. DIEKAN CUSTOM MADE NEW YORK,U.S.A." is stamped as shown with what is certainly a shamrock in the center. The nicest surprise was the round Abercrombie & Fitch logo stamped under the nickel buckle.
If the loops are for a .22 Magnum cartridge Joseph Diekan was doing business at least as late as 1959.
I know, I know-I need to get a life-maybe a hobby to take my mind off my leather obsessions...I hope you enjoy the photos.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

John, that's a real find... Nice photos too.

A BIG THUMBS UP!

Drew

Nice find John! The loops could have been intended for .22 WRF rather than .22 MRF, which could put it a lot earlier.

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"I also cook."

Nice belt. I remember the pics of the suspender holsters in McGivern's book.

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John

Very nice belt and a very interesting story of the maker. Thank you for sharing.

Hog

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

Neat belt. It doesn't look like it's been used at all. There were some very fine craftsmen in New York.

It's a shame what's happened to the Abercrombie & Fitch name.

When I was a young man, I had a beat up Abercrombie and Fitch safari jacket that had been given to me as a hand me down by an uncle. This thing had to be from the 30s and had been to hell and back a few times.

One day in the early 90s, I'm at a mall in Tyson's Corner, Virginia and I spot an "Abercrombie and Fitch" store. "Hey!" I thought, "I didn't know that they had stores in malls." I went in and started looking around and got very confused, so I asked the teen aged clerk where the safari jackets were. She had no idea what a safari jacket was and had no idea why I was baffled by the idea that A&F was now a strange clothing store.

I've always wondered why a company would buy a name and then change what that name stands for.

Well it sure as heck has happened with A&F....No resembalence of the original.......

Another beautiful and classic leather item, John. Since there seems to be no room on the belt for a holster without interfering with the bullet loops should we assume that this belt was intended to carry ammo for a rifle?

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

I believe you're right Charlie. No room for a holster with all those loops.
I don't think I have another belt with as many loops as this one has.
Regards,
turnerriver
John Witty
SWCA # 1426

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turnerriver

Back in the day, it was not uncommon for mounted cowboys to use a wide looped holster of some sort on a belt like this...it allowed for the gun to be moved around a little to adjust for different situations and only covered a relative few cartridges...