Buying a gun belt -

Lots of good info posted for you here.

It will help you to know that a belt's 'size' marking, like a pants' size marking, is arbitrary. This means that, depending on how a belt maker 'thinks', the belt marking will vary among makers (i.e., does the maker think a 36" belt should measure 36", or a 36" should have a time-proven oversize actually measured into it, or you should add that oversize yourself, etc.).

I use a very, very simple system: my pants are marked 36" (yes, even in Oz) and my belt that fits me in those pants is my 36"; the other sizes then up and down from there. Works every time. So there is no math required by my customers.

Same with a true gunbelt; that is, one that is worn outside and below the trousers loops; i.e., not a pants belt that is called a gunbelt. I build the belt to fit me in my 36" marked trousers, then mark that belt as my 36", then go up and down from there. Now it doesn't matter what the belt measures on its own .

I doubt any other maker does it this way, it's too newfangled. To protect themselves from returns, instead most makers use the 'measure your belt as follows' and then make it your problem if it doesn't fit (much like the mythical 'standard break-in period' for holsters if THAT doesn't fit).

Sizing video Hanks Belts

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9AqZmcWHiE[/ame]

jimmyj said:

My daily CCW gun belt is an all leather 1.75" garrison belt

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I remember those, and they worked well for carry with a pancake holster. That what was issued for concealed carry when wearing a blazer.

As far as belt size I have never had a problem no matter what the thickness of the belt. Inner belt size is pretty much waist size at belt loop level. Outer belt is usually 4 inches larger. IWB carry inner belt will be 4 inches larger.

Belts are measured from where the buckle connects to the leather. Depending on the buckle an extra inch or more of length is there to take up for extra thick belt. Go to a large rodeo buckle, and your going to gain 4 inches.

Note #1: Do not miss Walkingwolf's comment (previous post) on how buckle dimensions affect belt fit! Good information there. "Standard buckles" (if there is such a thing) may have a throw length (distance from belt mounting of the buckle to the engagement with the belt tongue) of about 1.25" to 1.75" or so, but some buckles will have throw lengths of several inches, so if you intend to use your belt with a custom buckle your belt maker will need to know the throw length involved.

Much of the confusion over belt sizing can be explained by the clothing industry's long practice of "vanity sizing". In short, trouser waist sizes are not directly proportional to actual dimensions in inches; rather, they are intentionally understated as a means of pleasing customers' egos. Most people have no idea of their actual waist dimensions because of this practice.

I wear trousers with waist size 34, but my belts must measure 37" (from tip of buckle to tongue hole in use) to fit properly. This tells me that my size 34 waist is actually pretty close to 37" in diameter.

Mass produced belts will follow that general practice. A size 34 belt will usually fit a waist of 36" to 38" diameter, plus or minus an inch or so.

The common rule of thumb is to order your belts based upon stated trouser waist size, and that will usually work out OK. However, if you want to have a correct fit it is best to advise your belt maker of the actual diameter of your waist. This can best be determined by taking a belt you have been using satisfactorily and measuring from the tip of the buckle (where the buckle fastens to the belt tongue) to the tongue hole in use, which will be your actual waist diameter when properly clothed. With that information any belt maker worth the powder to blast him into eternity should be able to provide a proper fit.

Regardless of any old rule of thumb, there really is no standard. Many of my customers over the years reported differences between trouser waist size and belt size of !" to 5", which is way to wide a variance for any general rule to apply.

One layer belts, whether made of 8-9 oz. shoulder leather or 14-16 oz. skirting leather will always stretch out with use. Two layer belts (typically 2 layers of 6-7 oz. or similar) will stretch less over time and provide far longer useful life because laminating the leather layers (cemented and stitched in place) is similar to the processes for making plywood, with final strength exceeding that to be expected from a single layer of equal thickness.

Best regards.

The End of the Story -

I bought a belt from bigfoot gun belts and added the 4 inches. Got the 14 oz. I'm very happy with the results.

Thanks for all the great info guys!

Knigge said:

I would go for 4 extra inches.....it`s easier to gain weight than to loose weight

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Hold on a minute here. Are you telling us people actually can lose weight? Remember, you're talking to other guys here, no reason to lie to us.

So I had an unhappy problem with my belt a while back. I was on the very last hole and my buckle had worn an ugly black mark where it was. That would be the very last hole possible. So I did the manly thing and begged my wife to order me another Bianchi belt, the same model # except 2" longer. Well, I gave it to my youngest because he's pretty young (42) and he seemed to be happy at the shortest hole. It was the same size on me and would have required me to use the last hole again. So I dug around and found a Galco that I had given up as too long. Fits me just fine but its sized or marked as a 38. I then had her order up another Galco at 40, thinking I really should have ordered a 42. Its been sealed in its plastic bag for a few months now, and I can't face the dissapointment of another wrong size. It seems to me the Galco I'm wearing right now could handle another hole, but the hole punch I used in 4H 50 some odd years ago won't ever go through it. Yes, I need a hammer driven punch and I have some pretty big hammers (the largest is a 30# sledge).

And I always have a fall back position. Somewhere in the depths of my dungeon I have a genuine S&W sterling silver buckle. At least its marked Sterling. I think they used to execute folks in England for mismarking things like that. Dern it, when I buy shoes, I expect them to fit as my paws haven't changed in 50 years or more. I'm willing to consider the idea my waist has expanded a little over that much time.