Belts

[Graeme]

@SilverKing that would put you between a size 3 and 4 in Tender.

You could always go for the Type 201, whereupon sizing wouldn't really be an issue.

[trail and arrow]

even the great monster belt @Det is doing,
http://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5245.msg288040#msg288040
made from 30 years old swiss army deadstock leather,
sturdy and thick as hell,
quite hard to break in,
did stretch (after half a year).
so i head to put a extra hole in it.

[rocket]

BUCO BA10011 horsehide curved garrison

or

BUCO BA11012 cowhide double pin garrison

[Max Power]

No 1

[rocket]

would be my chosen weapon as well…

[Max Power]

I just don't like stitching or stamped lines on belts, that's why I chose No.1.

[rocket]

I'm with you….

[Anesthetist]

I have one of the blue buckled Tender belts and it is amazing. Not to say that I'm never tempted by the IH and Buco belts, but I can't bring myself to putting the Tender away. It has aged amazingly well and continues to do so. For sizing I have a 33" waist and I'm pretty sure mine is a 4. I'll check when I get off of work to be positive.

[Carlmart]

width 4,5 cm (1,75 inches), thickness about 7mm

[mclaincausey]

I like stitched, layered belts. If an artisan knows that they're doing, stitching two layers together with grain direction reversed will ensure that the belt doesn't stretch much if at all. It's a sign of quality. It doesn't seem like it would take nearly as much effort or skill to make a single layer belt.

[sabergirl]

You're right about the effort and skill, I think.  I still prefer the much more simple aesthetics of no stitching, though.

[Carlmart]

sure, no stitching, but the buckel should be fixed by stitching…a belt should underline the impression of the jeans, not more

[mclaincausey]

I prefer Chicago screws so that I can switch out the buckle easily

[Carlmart]

Srews are the normally cheaper version. Sometimes I lost screws or I had to fix them with glue. I have from my best belts both versions. But the stitched version is the better ones, its a hard job to make this stitching with 7mm thickness.

[Giles]

Screws are may favourite option, dab a bit of nail varnish (yep, I always have some lying around) or Loctite to the male thread before tightening and you reduce the risk of loss.  And Chicago screws are pretty easy to get hold of if you do lose one….

[Chris]

Definitely, screws are better.  I have no intention of ever buying another belt where I can't change out the buckle.

[Carlmart]

Why change a buckle? There is a famous belt-maker in Germany, going also to Japan

[Anesthetist]

Texans love their buckles.

[mclaincausey]

Yee-haw…

I change my buckle on my western tooled belts quite frequently, though less so on some others. Either way, Chicago screws have never been an issue for me. There's not a lot of tension placed on them and no reason for them to give out.

[Chris]

@Anesthetist:

Texans love their buckles.

Even those of us who aren't real Texans.