Belts

[Double 0 Soul]

19 minutes ago, Maynard Friedman said:

(and how old you are…!)

You cheeky cnut!

..in fact i did have a leather belt i got from the vintage shop for a fiver.. fk knows what happened to that? 

I bought some CK chinos from Ryan's Vintage a few months ago for £6.. they're a size 36 and i'm a size 32 but i really like the volume.. they only have small loops hence the need for a slim belt.. i've been wearing an old canvas belt to hold them up which belongs to my missus.. that's 30yrs old so i'm sure this will hold up my pants till i'm old and grey... or older and greyer

 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Double 0 Soul

[Duke Mantee]

Bridle leather, lizard, goldstone gems, solid copper saddlers rivets and copper patina hardware

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by Duke Mantee

[chicote]

That’s a really nice one, love the sepia-tone colouration. I bet it looks really great on.

[indigoeagle]

Some belts have lines parallel to the top and bottom edges- does anyone know what they're called?

[julian-wolf]

Edge creasing / border creasing?

[Duke Mantee]

3 hours ago, julian-wolf said:

Edge creasing / border creasing?

Yeah - just creases

It’s finessing - not difficult to do but these days I’ve found most folk (around these parts) don’t want it. It’s very commonly seen on small leather goods where the edge is heated and creased to give a fine finish near the stitching line

[Duke Mantee]

A clutch of skinny (¾”) bridle leather belts, 2 of which have full western hardware sets, for Jake and Alee

 

[Duke Mantee]

This one is off to Hawaii

Tumbled buffalo and Japanese hardware

Edited June 21, 2023 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

A second belt

for @art.directorofdogs on IG

He always pushes the boundaries - this time we’ve got a silver plated western buckle set, actually a headstall set, with silver plate and brass cowboy conchos, antique brass spots and jewel rings, 1930s glass and Alran goatskin overlays (top end stuff) all built on J&FJ Baker oak tan leather which I worked extra slow so the tallow is more or less undisturbed 

I’ve also made him a tote bag from mud cloth with Sedgwick’s 1800 oiled leather handles secured by solid copper saddlers rivets

[Duke Mantee]

And a ‘western’ belt for JohnB

silver plated buckle set, turquoise set in nickel plated steel hardware all on Baker’s oak tanned bridle

 

Edited June 21, 2023 by Duke Mantee

[chicote]

These last couple are so beautiful and distinctive, you are really developing a unique style and executing it flawlessly. I’d love to see some more full-length shots of these newer pieces if you get the chance in the future!

[Duke Mantee]

6 minutes ago, chicote said:

These last couple are so beautiful and distinctive, you are really developing a unique style and executing it flawlessly. I’d love to see some more full-length shots of these newer pieces if you get the chance in the future!

Thank you

I think the last few are just indicative of suggestions that not every belt is mid brown with a plain brass buckle - that’s not being facetious but all leather goods can have some sort of personality and it’s not wrong to mix things up a bit. Your style, or someone like @cultpop 0217 demonstrates that.

I’ll see what pics I have and either post them here or DM you.

[Duke Mantee]

One for Silvano on IG

Hermann Oak leather, python overlays, brass hardware set with tiger eye and turquoise, Japanese brass buckle and antique coin

 

[Duke Mantee]

first time I’ve ever done this … but a couple of old design belts for @damicophilip on IG

true roughout (not suede) and buffalo

 

[Suitedupmon]

On 6/30/2023 at 5:13 AM, Duke Mantee said:

Did a double take...looks familiar 

Edited July 2, 2023 by Suitedupmon

[Duke Mantee]

10 hours ago, Suitedupmon said:

Did a double take...looks familiar 

I was a little bit disappointed in that aspect - most folk ask me because they have their own idea and yours was very original. But he wanted what he wanted. Still about the most studs you can put on a belt 

[Suitedupmon]

It just means we arrived at a good idea, design wise!

[Duke Mantee]

A couple of narrow (¾”) ring belts in Sedgwick bridle

 

[Duke Mantee]

The Hermann Oak belt from the sale thread - now finished with brown burnished edges, oval holes and a fancy tail cut. Off to @coastal_file on IG

 

Brown Wickett & Craig strap still available 

Edited July 16, 2023 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

Another ‘western’ style for a customer on IG … similar to the one above for John B … but a different silver plate buckle and a black strap with the protective tallow left untouched (as best possible)

[Duke Mantee]

A 4th belt to @coastal_file on IG

J&FJ Baker oak stained oak bark tanned bridle leather with nickel plated steel hardware, white howlite and leopardskin jasper gemstones, and a sterling antique Japanese coin

 

[Duke Mantee]

A variation of my own belt for @dirkdongler7 on IG

Wickett & Craig bridle, solid brass hardware with turquoise and jasper gemstones, vintage cowboy spots and Japanese coin 

Not possible to make this again as my supply of cowboy spots is now exhausted 

 

[Duke Mantee]

Wickett & Craig bridle in dark brown with cobra overlays, vintage glass jewels, brass hardware and antique Japanese coin

 

[smoothsailor]

Amazing Duke, your work is def NOT a hobby shed tinkerer.

[Duke Mantee]

5 hours ago, smoothsailor said:

Amazing Duke, your work is def NOT a hobby shed tinkerer.

Oh it really is hobby shed mate - I hope to make belts as good as you make bikes

Edited August 14, 2023 by Duke Mantee

[chambo2008]

Momotaro indigo dyed belt 

Bens leather, brass buckle, 4mm thick 

[Duke Mantee]

Who’s Ben?

[chambo2008]

My bad, phone auto corrected 

[Duke Mantee]

… I hate when that happens. 

Yeah, the back/butt or ‘bend’ - Roma-ji = benz 

Pisses me off it’s described like some special thing though, we’ve enough confused nonsense associated with this (tea-core et al)

 

[indigoeagle]

2 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

… I hate when that happens. 

Yeah, the back/butt or ‘bend’ - Roma-ji = benz 

Pisses me off it’s described like some special thing though, we’ve enough confused nonsense associated with this (tea-core et al)

 

You've mentioned that before.
But what is nonsense about tea core?

Some belts are dyed through in black e.g., so they will stay black no matter how much wear.
Others are brown underneath. So the term tea core tells me that with jackets, shoes, belts, etc..
Don't see what is hype/nonsense about that.