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Post by spence on Jun 27, 2022 17:51:41 GMT -7
Pass judgement my belt, please. It's made of about 8-9 oz. veg tan, is 2 1/2" wide, buckle is brass, 3 1/2" wide. Don't be kind.    Spence |
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Post by paranger on Jun 27, 2022 18:01:13 GMT -7
Gee, I dunno, Spence. Looks pretty good to me.
If I were to pick nits, I would say it is a modern buckle with the offset center bar and wide brass frame with rounded corners, but the form and dimensions are certainly similar to many period buckles.
Certainly I can find no qualm with the dark brown veg tan, and I, too, like that weight for my belts. The width seems to be a good period average, too.
Anyrhing specific you have concerns about?
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jun 27, 2022 18:33:50 GMT -7
I stopped in because I thought the membership may be gathering in the tavern to vote me off the island…
Gus should be here in 3… 2… 1…
No?
Well. I think it looks pretty good, Spence. I may consider a different prong and maybe to change the stitch pattern securing the buckle, but those are just things I noticed because I’ve recently looked at a bunch of period belts. I think the width is fine, as I think earlier belts were a bit wider.
I’d need one at least that sturdy to wear under my waistcoat to smoosh in my non-PC dad bod.
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Post by artificer on Jun 27, 2022 18:56:16 GMT -7
Spence, I know you have said you don't do a persona for living history, but if you did, I'd ask you if you are a Scot or of Scottish Descent. That or if you had fought against or even been a pirate in your early years. Yeah, I really can't see you as a pirate. Grin. The reason I ask is because to my knowledge, the only ones who used that kind of center bar buckle in the 18th century were for those who wore Sword Baldrics; such as worn by Scottish Civilians before Culloden and Scottish Independent Companies and Military Regiments, like the one worn by Corporal Samuel McPherson of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment in the original drawing/engraving below. i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/23/e4/dc23e4bae392788b283f067ab7604b73.pngI'd change the buckle tongue to iron/steel if it were mine, to make it period correct. The size of your buckle would have been perfect to use on a sword baldric. Since you would not need a sword baldric on the Kentucky Frontier, it's no stretch of the imagination to have seen it re-purposed for a waist belt. I've only fairly recently found out the way the buckle is stitched to the belt is not the way they did it in the 18th century, but it's nicely done and no one will see it when you are wearing it. According to James Rogers, who has done tons more research on 18th century leather goods than most folks, the common width for 18th century waist belts was between 1 1/4" to 1 3/4" wide, but this was for using MOST of the period buckles available then. Gus |
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Post by artificer on Jun 27, 2022 19:12:31 GMT -7
I stopped in because I thought the membership may be gathering in the tavern to vote me off the island… Gus should be here in 3… 2… 1… No? Well. I think it looks pretty good, Spence. I may consider a different prong and maybe to change the stitch pattern securing the buckle, but those are just things I noticed because I’ve recently looked at a bunch of period belts. I think the width is fine, as I think earlier belts were a bit wider. I’d need one at least that sturdy to wear under my waistcoat to smoosh in my non-PC dad bod. Took me a few minutes to find and then figure out how to post the original engraving. Grin. Gus |
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Post by spence on Jun 27, 2022 20:40:32 GMT -7
No straight Scots, but pretty close, Irish all the way down.  Spence |
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Post by artificer on Jun 28, 2022 3:15:03 GMT -7
Well, had you and your family come to North Carolina to settle, there were many Scots, Scots Irish and other settlers, though I don't know about pure Irish? You might have come across a Baldric Buckle there.
The buckle would not have been for Gentry or an Officer, rather either a Man at Arms, or a member of an Independent Company or Watch, or from an enlisted man (though that is the least likely) - as the buckle is rather plain. Heck, it might have come from probate sale from someone you may or may not have known, or a gift or bequest from someone who no longer needed their baldric.
If you or your family had come through Georgia, you could have gotten it from a man who had served in Governor Oglethorpe's Highlanders in the early 1740's.
Bottom line is the buckle with a different tongue is period correct, and though not one commonly worn, there are ways you may have come across such a buckle.
Gus
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jun 28, 2022 5:13:53 GMT -7
So… a good belt and buckle. Nice! If that’s a modern buckle, I’ve not seen one like it and I quite like it.
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Post by hawkeyes on Jun 28, 2022 7:26:43 GMT -7
Terrible rendition of a buckle Spence, let me pay the postage and you send it my way. Hate for ya to endure wearing it! 😄 |
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Post by spence on Jun 28, 2022 7:42:16 GMT -7
Thanks for the opinions. I had no specific concerns beyond what you have mentioned. I made the belt 30 years ago, and over the years have seen opinions raising questions in my mind about tongue, width, weight. I'd be surprised if it were 100% HC, but it is close enough for my rather casual impression. Most of my stuff is like that.
Spence
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Post by artificer on Jun 28, 2022 8:27:55 GMT -7
This thread "sort of" reminds me of my first waist belt I made in 1976-7 when I was in my "buckskinner" period. I used a round H & B Forge, hand forged buckle. I THINK I bought the 2" diameter one, as the 3" diameter one reminded me of a weightlifter's belt. I never was able to document that buckle, though I stopped wearing it a couple years later when I made a replacement with a period correct double bow brass buckle and haven't worn the Iron buckle/belt since.
Gus
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Post by hawkeyes on Jun 28, 2022 9:21:49 GMT -7
There would likely be a market for cast period buckles. I see buckles come up more in conversation than allot of other topics.
Anyone ever sand cast their own?
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 979
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Post by RyanAK on Jun 28, 2022 9:30:10 GMT -7
On my list to try.
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Post by spence on Jun 28, 2022 9:50:22 GMT -7
Anyone ever sand cast their own? I've never tried sand casting, but if I ever decide to, I'm ready. This is a maple tool for tamping the sand in the mold.  Spence |
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Post by hawkeyes on Jun 28, 2022 13:56:12 GMT -7
Anyone ever sand cast their own? I've never tried sand casting, but if I ever decide to, I'm ready. This is a maple tool for tamping the sand in the mold. View AttachmentSpence Excellent Spence, a must have! Beautiful piece by the way. Wouldn't mind giving it a whack! Joking aside I've been considering this for awhile. I have all the necessary components minus a crucible... |
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