Duke Mantee

Perfect fit @srudy

Too far … 🙄

There are stores in Italy and Belgium where I buy leather - they will not sell to me unless the purchase is at least £135 (shipping incl.) … so I’m getting hit with every tax the UK feels obliged to charge. There are stores in Croatia and Denmark where I buy leather - they couldn’t care less how little (or how much) I buy and if the order is less than £135 the stuff turns up a week later and not a penny extra paid.

Good luck mate

The whole £135 minimum spend thing set by our European colleagues is a complete bag of shite. Some impose this made up limit, some don’t … seems to be based solely on how the seller wants to deal with paperwork for customs etc

Very glad you are happy with it @Well27 … I can see the leather develop a little - there’s an early stage where the tannery finish on the belt and the edge finish I apply start to dry and break. This is a good thing, the leather will start to ease and absorb oils and grease and dirt from wear and handling, then you’ll see the patina develop and the whole thing will become smoother and softer. Don’t baby the belt (don’t go easy) and don’t worry much about conditioning and the like - it really won’t need it for a very long time

I’m assuming you are thinking about removing one of the pleats? A good tailor should be able to do this but it’s definitely not a simple job … belt loops and waistband need to be (partially) removed and it might even require opening up the side seam. Maybe it’s possible to dart the pleats? Or maybe have the seat adjusted? In any event if you have a tailor to go to then just ask what might be best.

… it wasn’t funny the first time you said it … 😂

Looks like we have the winner …

Marvellous news @UkeNo - congratulations

… even better news that @MJF9 will fill it with cash

@ALB - that was a really nice project - a good way to have those buckles, which you can’t buy from normal routes, fitted on to some enduring veg tan 3 years ago:

One from the final ‘production’ run … and f-ck me it’s another one of those ACE buckles 😋 (note the humorous emoticon @Double 0 Soul), albeit I’ve swapped out their acrylic jewels for real turquoise I know this is isn’t my thread nor is it (was) my shop but I might do a little ‘class’ in belt making here - just something to let folk better understand some of the aspects, the shortcuts taken, the myths busted etc. Maybe it’ll keep the thread alive a little bit longer if folk want contribute or chip in some questions or queries?

Ridiculously kind mate … you clearly have no idea who you’re dealing with. Although I’ve not posted much, I’ve been watching competition closely. There’s been some great evo already and a lot of brilliant posts so it’s going to the wire to see who has pulled out all the stops … maybe we can add another prize