Belts

[Talan]

I can’t say I agree with FurnitureMaker’s post, for a few reasons I’d rather not get into. I’ll just say this — I pretty much always like the belts Duke puts out, ones I’ve seen in photos. Especially the simpler ones — clean, no fuss. I got one for myself, and it’s only gotten better with age. Picked up another as a gift for my nephew, and just the other day he told me he builds his outfits around it now. If money weren’t so tight — wartime’s not exactly great for the wallet — I’d happily order a few more.

[Double 0 Soul]

7 minutes ago, Duke Mantee said:

Demand is dying out - nobody wants to buy a sterile, over thought out and fussy belt 😉

 

(see? I’m learning 😄)

1 belt /wk proves you're wrong

Edited April 17 by Double 0 Soul

[cultpop 0217]

I had  noticed the beautiful indigo patina on the rough out side of favorite vintage painted belt before but I was today years old when I realized the buckle is designed to be instantly reversible. 

It seems it simply swings both ways. 

I can wear it either way without swapping the buckle.  

I won't do it often because I don't want to effect the perfect gloss or the paint too much.  

But how cool is that?

 

 

 

 

[Duke Mantee]

[Duke Mantee]

Probably enough of these antique studs for a couple more designs

 

Edited April 26 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

No studs … just two needles and one piece of thread to bind two bits of leather into a 6.5mm thick beast

 

[Duke Mantee]

Another of those ACE Western buckles - they get them made special so I’m informed 

[vlad_III]

Beautiful! I love my simple combo with this buckle. 

[Duke Mantee]

@julian-wolf asked me to make this for him

 

It’s probably appropriate that the belts began and end here on the forum.

I’m finishing off current orders, but the shop is now closed. Huge thanks to everyone here for their interest and support.

[julian-wolf]

@Duke Mantee An honor to’ve been among the first & among the last

Big ups to you for finding a cool niche for yourself, building up a great skill set, and getting out on your own terms—even any one of those alone would be a big accomplishment

[Duke Mantee]

1 minute ago, julian-wolf said:

@Duke Mantee An honor to’ve been among the first & among the last

Big ups to you for finding a cool niche for yourself, building up a great skill set, and getting out on your own terms—even any one of those alone would be a big accomplishment

Thank you … thank you very much indeed. I mentioned somewhere here earlier, I’ve made a couple of hundred belts after hoping I might have made a couple - full stop … you (and others) put your trust and hard earned dollars into my project - I remember every single belt for every single reason, that’s my privilege 

[srudy]

@Duke Mantee your work I will treasure for my entire life

[Duke Mantee]

3 hours ago, srudy said:

@Duke Mantee your work I will treasure for my entire life

🙇‍♂️

[Duke Mantee]

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?

[ALB]

Sheeesh has it really been three years? Still my most worn belt. Very honored to have belts made by you. o7 actually had one more buckle I've been to get sent but alas life.

 

[Duke Mantee]

@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:

 

Edited May 16 by Duke Mantee

[julian-wolf]

On 5/10/2025 at 12:13 PM, Duke Mantee said:

@julian-wolf asked me to make this for him

 

!!!

Edited May 17 by julian-wolf
???

[okimoto]

On 5/17/2025 at 4:31 PM, julian-wolf said:

 

!!!

What a slick belt!

[Well27]

I was lucky enough to have @Duke Mantee make me a belt before he closed up shop.

I wanted something a bit simple, so went with a brown colour and an vintage buckle with a muted finish.

Since it was a MTO belt and I had seen the skills which he makes his belts with, I decided to have an “A” detail made and placed on the belt so it would sit on my left hip. (My family’s names all start with A)

I’ve been wearing it for a week or more and are really pleased!

[Duke Mantee]

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

[Well27]

Thanks for the tips! And it has softened significantly already.