Belt Help

[rednichols]

Spoken like a man who has never had nerve pain down the right leg. All good, this is just information that's worth what folks have paid for it, so nothing

 

[marinevet]

I carry a Wilson Combat EDCX9, all day, every day........I've wore a lot of the belts mentioned in this thread.........and all are good belts.........

I use a Hanks belt now, and it is the best one I have used so far.........

Steel Core Gun Belt-Heavy Reinforced CCW Belt-Free Shipping - Hanks Belts

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I carry a Wilson Combat EDCX9, all day, every day........I've wore a lot of the belts mentioned in this thread.........and all are good belts.........

I use a Hanks belt now, and it is the best one I have used so far.........

Steel Core Gun Belt-Heavy Reinforced CCW Belt-Free Shipping - Hanks Belts

Thanks, Marine Vet. I’m excited to get mine.

 

[rednichols]

Thanks, Marine Vet. I’m excited to get mine.

That's a length of pallet strapping down the center of the two layers of leather. And 20 ounces thick leather?! And stitched. You can only hope the layers aren't glued together, too (which would cost the makers lots more in labor) which would make the assembly even stiffer. As Cooper used to say, 'the solution to a non-existent problem'.

The last from me on this, got all too ridiculous.

 

[Onomea]

I was reflecting that over time a leather belt conforms to the body, an initially straight belt becomes curved.

This is my oldest gunbelt, 17 years now, I think. It is lying flat on the floor in the pic. Mitch Rosen 1.5" width:



When I was still working, I would wear it on the weekends, and for a number of years, after retiring in 2012, I wore it full time.

At this point it is quite soft, no longer stiff, but it still works fine for snubbies. I like a newer, stiffer belt for larger handguns, and use my Beltman, newer Rosen, and Kramer for those. These are still straighter than the Rosen above.

 

[xsexcess]

I read this thread to learn, and did get some principles of what works / why from the posts. Thanks to all. I'm still not perfectly clear on what constitutes a 'modern' design though Red. Looked at Holstory and it didn't jump out at me there either. CG of the carried pistol relative to the belt makes perfect sense. As you say, sales mostly across the 'net lately, and sketchy images that are often not the exact make/model you're buying for make it a crapshoot to buy. I'm getting the impression no maker grok's the principles and applies to every holster made regardless of model of pistol. So, how can a man reliably buy a well-designed holster these days? Most of us have boxes full of fails we've tried and one or two where the stars aligned and they work...well enough to keep using.

 

[Alk8944]

Look at Thirty Dollar Gunbelts. Their basic belt is 15 ounce (1/4" thick) steerhide 1 1/2" wide and costs just $35. Very comparable to other makers belts that they charge $80 or more for. They also have steel-lined belts that carry heavy guns very well and they are just about $12 more than the un-lined belts. Most makers charge well over $100 for steel-lined belts, if they even offer them!


30 Dollar Gun Belt | High Caliber Gun Belts. Period. – Thirty Dollar Gun Belt


I have bought several of their belts over the past 30 years and every one is still quite serviceable. I have been very pleased with their products. I do have one off their steel-lined belts and am ready to buy a second because I have lost quite a bit of weight and now wear 38" waist trousers instead of the 42" I did when I bought the one I have.

 

[John Patrick]

Fwiw, I have thick leather only, leather with steel insert and leather with kydex/polymer insert belts.

The kydex/polymers insert belts are the best and provide the greatest stability for a gun and holster.

The steel insert belts are second best but do not resist rolling quite as well.

Thick leather only are a distant third.

Vedder Holsters offers a nice looking polymer lined belt in black or dark brown that works very well. On sale now at $55.99, $79.99 is the regular price.

Xcexcess, as a member pointed out in an earlier post, if you need the holster and gun to ride high, the tighter the belt slots and the more (stiff) leather on both sides of the belt the better it will handle a top heavy situation. Add a kydex/polymer insert leather belt and it can work.

I only have one successful high ride holster and it’s a Kramer. I’m sure other excellent holster makers offer good high ride holster though.

As Red pointed out, the lower the center gravity of the gun and holster the less twisting force on the belt. But even with a high belt loop and a low gun a steel insert or, better, kydex/polymer insert belt will resist sag.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Interesting topic to think about, and I've certainly never thought about it before.
It is certainly essential to keep the holster/pistol tipping axis neutral or slightly positive with respect to the center of gravity,
at that point the belt just needs to be the correct size compared to the holster loops, so any belt would be enough.
More easily, a nice wide and rigid belt will ensure that everything runs smoothly and the weapon will close to the body, usually regardless of the quality of the holster, an almost always valid solution which, however, circumvents the problem.
Instead, a perfect holster will do its job much better and more simply without having to concentrate your attention and money on the belt too.
But being passionate about leather work, we are and will always be happy to also purchase a nice belt that matches the holster we use.
I apologize for my English, I use school terms and I don't know the abbreviations

 

[45Smashemflat]

I have a very old Ken Null that has been in service for probably close to 15-20 years. Both as a gunbelt as well as a “tool belt” at work. I recently re-dyed and glossed it, and it’s drying as we speak. I’m not sure if Ken is still making goods. (He was in Resaca, Ga years ago.). It’s a two p,y horsehide belt and it has paired great with his gun leather as well as AIWB kydex.

 

[WardenRoss]

I have a very old Ken Null that has been in service for probably close to 15-20 years. Both as a gunbelt as well as a “tool belt” at work. I recently re-dyed and glossed it, and it’s drying as we speak. I’m not sure if Ken is still making goods. (He was in Resaca, Ga years ago.). It’s a two p,y horsehide belt and it has paired great with his gun leather as well as AIWB kydex.

He's still on the inner-web...


K.L. Null Holsters, LTD | Custom Handmade Holsters and Accessories

 

[oink]

I agree with the principles expoused by red. A lower centered holster will ride better, be easier on the belt and will be easier to draw from in most scenarios. However, for OWB, especially concealed, I like a high ride. Much easier to conceal, accessible when seated in a vehicle and easier to defend in a physical fracas.

I have several belts from 30 dollar gunbelts. I've been very pleased with them.

 

[turnerriver]

Here’s some old style gun belts, not one of them made after about 1970.

Regards,