No1 Dress belt

Originally Posted 9/23/2012

   Whilst I was on holiday me and fragrant Mrs McD dropped in on a number of antique fairs and jumble sales. Mostly to get out of the rain but also onthe off chance we might turn up something interesting. At the place near Penrith I found a stall on the antique fair seling vintage tools. In the corner of a box was a heavy plastic belt. I dragged it and fond it was a uniform dress belt from a British Army unit. I still don't which unit it belongs too. I offerred the chap a tenner [£10 sterling]. He said ok and it was mine.

   All I really wanted was the buckle and the adjusters. The remainder of the belt acted as a template. Much to Mrs McD's digust I spent a whole evening with a cloth and a tin of Brasso cleaning up the dirty and tanished buckle and adjusters. I am not one for bulling brass but I have to admit the bright brass work looks good against the white leather.

   The flash behind the buckle is attached to one of the belt loop. The original belt loops where closed with rivets. I decided the fix the loops with Chicago screws. They made a nice clean job and quite a good way of working too. I have decide that this belt will form the basis of a Victorian styled webbing set. I just need to make a bayonet frog and cross straps. Somewhere along the line cartridge cases will be needed. I doubt I will make them from the 3mm I made the belt from. It will be just too heavy.