The gunbelt buckle, found!

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:53 am

I found a source for the gunbelt buckle
If any of you is making belts and you want it, contact me.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:59 am

Well, lets see one!

Cassidy · Post by **Cassidy** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:05 am

First, which gunbelt?

Second,

;0

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:30 pm

If it's a Raiders gunbelt and the keeper, I'm in. Must know details, what's it made of, where's it from, what size is it etc.
Thanks!

knibs7 · Post by **knibs7** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:18 pm

ya ya me too!!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:43 pm

Sight unseen? Come on, PLATON, are you trying to be like WPG?

Indiana Jake · Post by **Indiana Jake** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:27 pm

Add me to the list! I VANT TO KNOW!!!!!!

conceited_ape · Post by **conceited_ape** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:35 pm

Inquiring minds...

Post by **Holt** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:47 am

are there going to be any pictures.... or??

coronado3 · Post by **coronado3** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:29 am

He likes to tease us...

BOINKFFD · Post by **BOINKFFD** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:39 am

Iterested pending pictures,then price.

scot2525 · Post by **scot2525** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:53 pm

Platon a couple of pictures and a few details could get this thread back on track.

sithspawn · Post by **sithspawn** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:25 am

If it's the Crystal Skull I'm interested.

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:03 pm

OK, how about this?

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:22 pm

The one second to the bottom is Spalko's belt?

Shane

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:09 pm

They're from PhillipMachine.com.
They are all available in steel as well-

I'm assuming they have a minimum order but if enough of us get together we can probably work something out.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:44 pm

They all look great, especially the one on the top left, but they're all the wrong color.

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:09 pm

They are available in brass and steel. So you can get them in the right color.

They don't appear to have any keepers available though.

Indiana Jake · Post by **Indiana Jake** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:09 pm

Try this link www.PhilipMachine.com I suggest you order samples first to determine if you are happy with these buckles. I don't see one I like, but I am not the expert here. I was hoping someone would find a UK supplier of Indy belt buckles. My guess is the maker of the original belts found these buckles somewhere in England. Just my two cents worth.

Indiana Jake

Post by **Dalexs** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:09 pm

TheMechanic wrote:They are available in brass and steel. So you can get them in the right color.

They don't appear to have any keepers available though.

This always seems to be the biggest issue with this pursuit.
We've had tons of success finding the buckles, but the keepers always seems to elude us.

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:45 pm

I know, I wonder why? I've searched from one end of the internet to the other and come up with zilch.

Indiana Jake · Post by **Indiana Jake** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:32 pm

Several buckles and keepers are available from Weaver leather here in the USA. However they do not have an on-line catalog, and you need a resale license to order from them. I ordered supplies from them many times before they changed their policy. Perhaps a creative leathercrafter who has enough business to warrant a resale license can order one of their new catalogs to check out the buckles and keepers that they sell.

Indiana Jake

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:59 pm

That's what I thought. I know there's tons of places to get leather supplies & buckles and things like that but they only sell to businesses or are wholesale only.
Too bad for the little guys.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:13 pm

TheMechanic wrote:I know, I wonder why? I've searched from one end of the internet to the other and come up with zilch.

Are metal keepers on belts a common thing? I've seen very few belts with metal keeprs other than indy's gunbelt...

-KB

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:33 pm

I had a belt with a metal keeper, and I have seen many others. Most of them are too wide and have a brand stamped into them though. But someone must be making SA metal keepers.

Regards, Geert

Indiana Jake · Post by **Indiana Jake** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:30 am

If we do find this "magic vendor' then we will need to convince all of the other belt makers to the hobby to change to the newly found screen accurate buckles. Likely? Or a handful; of us will be making our own belts, or replacing the buckles on existing belt. I have a Todd's buckle that seems to work. They have a keeper as well. Who else is making a Raiders screen accurate buckle?

Indiana Jake

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:15 am

Marc at Adventurebilt apparently found the original maker of the belts and bag straps and will be offering them soon, with the original manufacturers buckles.
I'm really looking forward to what they found.
My belt buckle set is from Lee Keppler and personally I think they're dead on.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:41 am

I agree with the Mechanic on the Keppler strap buckles. Definitely dead on.
Funny how the easiest stuff is the hardest to find. A plain 1 inch slider buckle and a simple metal keeper.

I have found some keepers, BTW. I'm working on my Raiders belt in both 1 1/2" as well as a 1 3/4" version both with flat metal keepers. I have been thinking of ordering a large amount of the keepers so that I will have them available to you guys if interested.

Here's a shot of the one I am using:

I am also having the buckles machined at this very moment. I don't have an exact time frame from the fabricator yet, but he is in Orange County like me so we should be able to keep them stocked and ready to rock.

W.E.
adventureleather@mac.com

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:54 am

Cool, your belt keeper looks exactly like Lee's.
I'd be interested in hearing more about your bag strap buckles as well. What buckle are you basing them on? Or are you having them done from scratch?
As far as strap buckles I think the AB buckle is perfect. I wouldn't mind seeing some made on this side of the pond.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:13 pm

I'm talking about the Raiders strap buckle of course. I pulled this specimen off of a piece of German gear. I've also seen it on a Finnish rifle sling. I believe you posted a shot of one a while back, Mechanic. Here's the one I found. I am having this exact buckle fabricated (this one is distressed, but they will be able to be shined or dulled to spec):

It takes a true 1" strap instead of the beveled 7/8" straps from the last three films. I have searched the world over for this buckle with no luck. So I'm taking it into my own hands now.

What do you think?

W.E.

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:29 pm

I think it's perfect! Wow, that's what I was looking for. My Finnish sling came with a rectangular buckle so it's not right. Loks like you found the correct buckle.

In Raiders, the German Tropical "Y" strap suspenders all have squarish the bag strap buckles on them.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:44 pm

Yeah, so far I have found this buckle in photos on several different types of Eastern European gear from the 30's and 40's era. Rifle slings, ammo pouches, suspenders, saddles, and even women's garders. Here's the piece I took the buckle from, it's an East German mag pouch. It was worn on with the belt loops in back and a shoulder sling for support. I couldn't resist and cut the buckle off for my prototype.

Also some others I found on random gear:

German AK sling:

Finnish Sling:

It's such a simple piece I am astounded that no one has found a current manufacturer. I last followed up with the fabricator two weeks ago and was told they'd be ready in the first week of October.

I will of course post updates on the mission.

W.E.

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:37 pm

That's my Mosin Nagant sling you have there. The buckle was too rectangular so I gave it to my son for his Indy bag strap. He loves it. It was only $3.00 too, good deal.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:04 pm

Very good deal. I bought two of the green AK74 straps (pictured above) for $10. The leather was nasty, I tossed it.

If you're into vintage arms and the like, try going to this site for all kinds of specials and parts:

http://www.buymilsurp.com/zencart/index ... 18d19267fc

W.E.

TheMechanic · Post by **TheMechanic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:07 pm

Awesome, thanks for the link.
I have absolutley no doubt that the Raiders bag strap used a rifle sling buckle or a bag buckle like the one you found. In fact it's obvious that the whole bag strap is nothing more than an Eastern Euro rifle sling.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:10 pm

I completely agree. Then they went with the beveled strap and had to switch to the 7/8" roller buckle. British dressage buckle I believe.

On the buckles from Philip Machine, they have my resale license on file and I am able to order directly from them. I will be ordering a batch of gun belt buckles on Thursday, Sep 4, 2008. If anyone is interested in buckle only purchases please PM me and let me know ASAP as that might effect my minimum order on this run.

W.E.

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:01 pm

Nice work, wadventure. From what I've seen in this and other threads, I think you're producing some very nice, SA stuff.

Wade Egan · Post by **Wade Egan** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:17 pm

Thanks Satipo! Trying to get things just right. Onward and upward they always say.

Back to the buckles above. I am going to make an order tomorrow and rush ship it to my shop. I am only ordering enough for the projects I have lined up. If anyone would like to go buckle only let me know ASAP

Thanks,

W.E.

The gunbelt buckle, found!

The gunbelt buckle, found!

Indy buckle

Strap Buckle

buckles

sling

yeah