By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Follow the western movie from the early days—the serials, the “B” films and epics from John Ford, Howard Hawks, William Wyler and even Sergio Leone—to the present day and one thing seems to separate virtually all of the screen heroes from perhaps the most well-known of them all was his gunbelt.
John Wayne essentially trademarked the rough-out cartridge belt with its slide-on holster from the rigs worn by the other stars. But the concept should not be confined to western films!
I have no idea who designed the original rough-out, but the idea has endured. Perhaps most folks like it for the cinema nostalgia, but for me, it has always been an issue of having something that flat-out works.
As I discovered decades ago, the rough-out belt was, and remains, a stroke of genius for all practical purposes. It is rugged, doesn’t get easily damaged or disfigured by outdoors use, and most importantly, in the field it doesn’t slide around on the outside of your trousers. Belts lined with smooth surface leather will do that. I know, I’ve used them.
Back when I was working in leather, building and designing custom holsters for a limited number of customers as a small side business, the rough-out design struck me for its simplicity. What you see is what you get. No fancy conchos. No medallions. No tooling. Just a plain leather belt of heavy suede doubled over and stitched together.
Knowing about the weight of a loaded revolver, my humble versions were reinforced internally with a third strip of leather where the holstered handgun would ride, so the belt wouldn’t sag. It keeps the holstered gun secure, and literally in the same position throughout the day.
Over the course of time, I learned some things.
For example, a suede belt doesn’t need to be cleaned. Just leave it alone and it will develop “character.”
- If you’re concerned about getting it soaked, spray it with silicone to resist moisture. Let it hang in a dry place with plenty of ventilation, such as in a garage or workshop. Once the treated belt is dry, there shouldn’t be any lingering stains, and it will shed water better than wool or waterfowl.
- Don’t oil the suede material, as it will darken the leather and it will look awful. Cartridge loops may be carefully treated with light Neatsfoot oil or some other moisturizer to keep them supple and prevent cracking and drying.
Don’t be concerned about beating them up because heavy suede cartridge belts simply cannot be beaten up. They’re tough, resistant to changing climate conditions if properly maintained (see Items #1 and #2 above) and in the event they do get seriously wet, take the cartridges out and let them air dry.
Indeed, I don’t leave brass cartridges in the loops for long periods as they tend to gunk up with that horrible green residue, so in the off-season, my belts just hang loose and empty.
The only exception to this principle is when one uses nickel-plated brass cartridges. The nickel doesn’t seem to gunk up like ordinary brass.
Cartridge loops over time can get a bit loose, but one way around this is to get a belt with loops which are at least 7/8-inch to an inch wide, top-to-bottom, and mounted toward the top of the belt, rather than along the middle. Cartridges should be inserted right to the rim, with the bullet end projecting downward. This allows for finger pressure against the bullet to push the cartridge back out (see images).
Several reputable gun leather outfits offer such belts, and the good belts are worth every penny. I have seen some such rigs which were simply horrid renditions, if that’s what they were attempting.
My personal rigs—one for .45 Colt cartridges and another for .41 Magnums—have been in some interesting places, not all of them hospitable.
Weather is the main unpleasantness for any gear, especially leather, but having traveled up and down ridges, across streams and in temperatures from summer heat to mid-winter cold, in the final analysis, the material has held up satisfactorily and actually shows no sign of wear, except for dirt stains, which just add character.
It’s never been clear where the idea for a cartridge belt came from, but having a bunch of spare ammunition on a belt one can grab at a moment’s notice has always been a good idea. Out the door of a cabin or though the flap of a tent you’re in business. When it’s a long way to the nearest store, having spare cartridges always makes good sense.
If your rig looks good, it’s a plus.
