Another one of my "accurate" topics.
What do you guys think/know about originals web belts used ? I'm especially interested in most accurate buckles. I noticed in some posts about belts that some members here on COW changed buckle to original officers buckle.
Could it also be that original used belt buckle was regular modern one buckle with it's gold paint brushed and scratched so it have this grey undertone ? I suppose that original brass buckle color can not be brushed off since it's entirely made from brass.
Pictures (last one is from The Raider.net where it says it's from Noel Howard at MBA Costumiers in London, before he closed down his business):
I have one buckle that is solid brass. I got it for 3 bucks at an antique store. Then I have one that is more modern and is steel of some kind with a shiny gold/brassy layer on top. I got it along with a web belt and holster second hand from someone here on COW, and they had distressed it so the silver metal showed through. To my eye it seems like there are some scenes in the films where the buckle looks more silvery than brass, so I like having both a solid brass buckle and a steel buckle.
Same. I also noticed that sometimes it looks more silvery. Maybe belt with more distressed buckle was used in those scenes. Also noticed that on Raiders web belt, that piece that is at end of belt (I don't know correct expression) sometimes looks wider than on other belts. KotCS belt looks like solid brass with dark undertone though. As IJJTM said it looks like that there are also different shaped buckles. Raiders buckle looks very flat to me, escpecially on the first picture posted from promo, while the second picture from ToD it looks like the one shown on third picture with brass color scratched off.
Western New York Indy can you try to take some comparisons pictures of your solid brass vs steel buckle belts ?
Here are a few photos. The buckle actually attached to the belt is the modern steel/silvery one, and the other is the real brass. I prefer to wear the steel buckle daily since the brass one is a bit grimy, but I like the brass when I'm wearing my other Indy gear. I feel it looks the part more.
Wow, those are beautiful photos.
Thank you for taking your time to take them.
At least from the pictures it looks like buckle used in KotCS and likely in LC was real brass buckle, I'm 90 % sure. In ToD I'm leaning more towards buckle with brass paint brushed off like your silver one but I'm not sure of the shape. For Raiders it seems that it is brass buckle but it's more of a flat shape buckle, so maybe it's not military buckle but something else.
Any opinion is more than welcome.
Both mine are vintage brass buckles. You can find them fairly cheap online, and usually they come ready with a nice patina. I haven't done any modifications on either of mine, and they play the part perfectly. I agree the TOD buckle does look more grey in some shots. I don't love the idea that they might've used a steel buckle since it would not be period accurate, but they were all over the place in terms of period accuracy in these films, so it's possible.
For my uses, I stick with brass. It just has a more genuine feel and appearance. These are the choices you make in this hobby. We all have our preferences when it comes to "screen accuracy". A worn down steel buckle would stick out like a sore thumb on an Indy costume, in my opinion. Even if we did prove that they used steel in TOD.
(Word of advice; if you are going to pursue the vintage buckle, get it before you order the web belt and measure the width. Web belts are sold in a couple different widths these days. I can't remember the screen accurate width off the top of my head, but I believe it's the thinner of the two that are commonly sold. I'm sure there's a thread in here somewhere that confirms the original width.)
I agree. The steel buckle really does look odd with an Indy costume. That's why I always use my brass buckle when I'm in full gear. It just looks the part way more. The steel one I use only as my daily wear buckle. It's much too shiny to look "Indy" enough, in my opinion.
I know that both Todd's Costumes and Magnoli Clothiers offer belts that are approximately 30 mm wide (Todd's lists it as 1 and 1/4 inches.) Indy Magnoli also offers one that is 38 mm, but I'm not sure if that's due to a different width being used in the movies, or if it just fits some people better to have a wider belt.
Western New York Indy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 7:13 pm
Here are a few photos. The buckle actually attached to the belt is the modern steel/silvery one, and the other is the real brass. I prefer to wear the steel buckle daily since the brass one is a bit grimy, but I like the brass when I'm wearing my other Indy gear. I feel it looks the part more.
What is the correct belt width ? Are Wested web belts accurate belts ? I heard some commercial available belts are not thick enough. Wested also have four colors so which one is correct for LC and KotCS ? Sand or khaki ?
Or is it sand for KotCS and khaki for LC and DoD ?
They also offer moss color. Is this connected to Indy movies ?
Jonesy Jr. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 1:57 pm
I noticed you have Wested MKVII replica ?
It's actually a replica from What Price Glory, based off of the originals they had in their collection. I use it to store some of my Indy stuff, like the gloves and both web belt buckles you see in the photo. I also carry books in it from time to time. It suits my purposes, though I'd like to get a few different straps for it to emulate each of the films.
Jonesy Jr. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 1:57 pm
I noticed you have Wested MKVII replica ?
It's actually a replica from What Price Glory, based off of the originals they had in their collection. I use it to store some of my Indy stuff, like the gloves and both web belt buckles you see in the photo. I also carry books in it from time to time. It suits my purposes, though I'd like to get a few different straps for it to emulate each of the films.
-WNY Indy
Oh, so basically all three well known vendors sell exactly the same replica with only difference being that one vendor is using darker O rings. I asked you because I have Wested replica and it is exactly the same like yours, it even have same minor error on the left side of the bag (where the loop is) and the same studs. Besides that it is made from good material and I think this thing will hold us a long time.
Jonesy Jr. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 4:33 pm
Oh, so basically all three well known vendors sell exactly the same replica with only difference being that one vendor is using darker O rings. I asked you because I have Wested replica and it is exactly the same like yours, it even have same minor error on the left side of the bag (where the loop is) and the same studs. Besides that it is made from good material and I think this thing will hold us a long time.
Interesting, I knew they were similar but didn't know whether they were all produced by the same people/were the exact same replica. What do you mean by a minor error on the left side? I have my bag with me right now and just checked to see what you meant, and couldn't spot anything wrong with it.
This minor error is that on current replicas sold the stitch number 1 is not aligned with stitch number 2. On original this stitch is either aligned or just 0,5 cm - 1 cm off.
I also own three replicas and two originals which confirms this error on current replicas.
Jonesy Jr. wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 4:33 pm
Oh, so basically all three well known vendors sell exactly the same replica with only difference being that one vendor is using darker O rings. I asked you because I have Wested replica and it is exactly the same like yours, it even have same minor error on the left side of the bag (where the loop is) and the same studs. Besides that it is made from good material and I think this thing will hold us a long time.
Interesting, I knew they were similar but didn't know whether they were all produced by the same people/were the exact same replica. What do you mean by a minor error on the left side? I have my bag with me right now and just checked to see what you meant, and couldn't spot anything wrong with it.
-WNY Indy
Just posted error. I forgot to use quote option though.
What also bothers me is that current replicas available are too wide like an inch too wide, that's why they look so odd and not accurate.
Wested vs original:
Magnoli current run (mine is from 2023) vs original:
Error I mentioned before on replicas vs original (this example is from Magnoli bag but Wested replica have exactly the same issue):
Magnoli previous run (before 2016 ?) which is the most faithful replica. If this bag would be more olive it would be impossible to tell the difference from original:
