Thanks, Giles.
Here are some belts from my collection both still fit but only on the first or second hole and not on the third as they should. Shame on me! That's why I am on the look out for some replacement belts.
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The black belt is about 17 years old. Worn very often. It is by John Egenes, Beltmaker of Santa Fe. Still in wonderful shape. Too bad I'm too fat now.
The buckle you see on it is a recent Christmas present from my GF. It's a sterling silver buckle inlaid with semi-precious stones by the famous Zuni artist Ernie Ohmsatte. I'm very proud of it.
The brown lizard belt is a Lucchese belt that I bought at the same time as the black belt. The buckle set on it is also sterling. Heavy as all out. It's by Douglas Magnus of Santa Fe.
The buckle above is from Sky West in Albuquerque. It's solid brass inlaid with wood and bone. If you look closely you can see tiny brass stars in the sky. I bought it at the McDonald Observatory here in Texas. Wasn't even very expensive. The belt is a double bridle leather belt which is very soft yet sturdy. It feels similar to cordovan leather when you handle it but it's cow. I got it about five or six years ago from a belt maker in the Marais in Paris. It was around the same price as Tanner belts. I use that super often and the edge finish is still fully intact.
To finish up, a pic from a silver buckle and bracelet set that's waiting also for a new strap. I got the bracelet in 1990 somewhere between Santa Fe and Taos. It is signed by Tom Hawk, which is a nice anagram (tomahawk). I later found out that he is quite a famous Navajo silversmith and this is his trademark design, except that it's rare to get one with 8 lines. I found the buckle about three years later by hazard in Santa Fe, too. It is hallmarked LT but I don't know who made it. It fits the bracelet perfectly.
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Enjoy!
Till
