Great kilt belt, baldric, and dirkhanger

[Mark E.]

Well, I am sure we have all encountered certain items that have bugged us with their poor design, poor quality, or general unusefullness. On my side, since I happen to be a very active kilt wearer, some of these issues have left me in some very memorable situations-hence the methods, materials, and forthrightness I used to make what I have pictured below.

The Belt: Crafted of 12 ounce English cowhide (I don't know if any of you are familier with Sedgwicks, or Siegel of California, but if you have an interest in harness at all, hide the credit card and look them up). Yes, that is industrial leather-what the old factories used to make belting out of, for machines. I have had problems with belts "turning over" in the past, even tearing in intense engagements. So I doubled it. Riveted behind the buckle-a tempered steel piece set to handle a 3.5" strap, curved to sit against rather than poke out-and sewn lengthwise down both outside edges (no crossover stitches-would weaken the leather) with doubled waxed LINEN cord (saddlemaker stuff, old school-will never stretch or rot). The loop on loop leather features, and the narrow strap are riveted and sewn to only the outside strap-no piercing rivets thru the backside. These are for a pair of pistols and a quivver, respectively.







Now, I have a dillema-how the devil am I to hang a dirk from this monster? Well, a bit of research amongst my other toys led me to design something that was a combination of a WW2 British Enfield bayonet frog, combined with an American cavalry 1911 pistol holster pivot. Not wanting to waste money on a pound of brass pivoting rivets and only use 2 (I know I would booger one), I evaluated what a rivet was...then dug out of my junk fastners box a bent landscape nail and a pair of nickel plate fender washers. Reaming the washers to match the nail, I dropped them into some leftover battery acid (I KNEW I was saving that stuff for a good reason) to eat off the nickel, and chopped the head off of the spike. Sewing an extra piece of leather inside of the frog to avoid chafing my scabbard chape, I waited. A few hours later, I utilized the spike section as a pivoting 1/2" shank rivet, and the washers as whopper burrs-after negating the acid action and blueing things with gun blue. Now I have a dirk hanger that I can pivot horizontally when I sit down. A big necessity for the dirk I am building out of a shatterd backsword-but thats later. It's still on the bench.











Ok, belts done, dirk will hang...I ended up sewing buckles to the back of my fullbadger skin sporran-yup, thats right-why just use the face? I got one hollowed out, and made myself a modesty feature conversation piece, and one darn big pocket. The buckles on the back of he sporran are a handy feature as well-means I can remove it without removing the belt, incase I need to cool down or end up in an organized fight. Or change to a different sporran (no idea why I would ever want to do that). Pictures will appear later of this revolutionary system. Not for the faint of heart, trust me

Ok, the baldric. We've all seen the leather ones that get sold at costume shops and vendors. Ever tried wearing one of those all day, packing a 3 pound broadsword and 4-6 pound of pistol and bow? In the rain? They dig, they chafe, buckles bend, leather tears. My solution? You guessed it-12 ounce harness leather, 3.5" wide, buckle to get it together, linen cord and harness rivets. Oh, and real lambswool-not a blanket swatch, but real still attached to the leather close nap winter wool at all the pressure/chafe spots.





http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/m...-baldric-3.jpg

Sometimes you just have to do things right-and that means doing it yourself.

[Nighthawk]

Damn, man, that's some heavy leather! I find 9 oz to be more than sufficient. Who you fighting with- a Yetti?? I'm a rather competetive swordsman myself, and a leather worker, and I have to say- I am impressed! I use sinew because I try to keep my work as period as possible. But you're right of course about the linen thread- the stuff has a halflife! Well, anyways, that's some killer work. I'm making a sheath for my nephews pirate costume right at this point in time... and a sporran for myself... and a bow sheath and quiver for my son. It's good to see some pride taken in ones work. I can't wait to see that sporran!

[Mark E.]

One Yeti isn't a problem. It's when they bring a friend when I get worried... Kidding. Honestly, I tend to over-react when things go wrong. And they have. I have mixed it up with Scots, English, Germans, Norse, Italians in and out of armor, Romans, one American Indian (those guys love the dirt)... shoot, I even got wrangled into a fight with a Shieldmaiden once (distracting, beleive me, given she was a hardcore traditionalist too), and a couple of Amazons (beware the little spears). The belt is a very important functioning component, and not just for keeping the kilt up. After I transitioned to the great, I realized that there were few makers who made real belts that were meant for all day wear. Combined with the fact that the lighter leather stretches when it gets wet, and I needed some sort of stomach armor (my height puts that gap between rib and hip at a convienent level for a broadsword user)...and my over sized sporran...and the overgrown dirk I am making...You get the picture.

I have used sinew in the past-Elk, and regular deer, but only on hunting pouches and trek gear. My American period gear uses more softer leathers and sinew...My Scots/European gear-well, linen was around for a while.And I back all of my high stress points up with copper harness rivets. Ran into some problems using sinew on hard harness-when I waxed it, I couldn't get the wax into the stitch holes (did the punch thru, not pre-holing, so the leather was "pushed" out of the way instead of being removed), and after a trek in the rain, the stuff got wet and stopped doing it's job. Softer leathers and textiles, you can warm up the wax and really get the job done.

On the buckle side-there is a LOT of brass and pewter out there. It's good stuff, looks great, and usually gets the job done. Beware the imported buckle, though...I had a pewter one get broken at an inopportune moment, and went from the traditional Scot in the fight to the traditional Celtic berserker-in more ways than one. That was the almost the last straw. I had a set of buckles made, in tempered steel, and wide enough to handle a 3.5" strap, and managed to get them set to handle really heavy leather, instead of the thinner stuff. Haven't had a problem since.

Two tips on the quiver-give it a drain hole or two, and make a removable top cover to go with-If he uses traditional arrows, flights, shafts and nocks, you will thank me later. Especially if it is a back quiver. I am planning one that can be carried by belt or by backstrap, in order to be able to wear a cloak with it.

The sporran is 95% done. I will use a different DIY post for it...It's the same one I wear in the photos, but close ups are pending.

The best feeling I get around is when someone asks "Where did you get THOSE?!"...and I'm able to say I made them. They aren't pretty, but...I haven't been critisized yet. No idea why...

Mark

[Nighthawk]

I am not making a back quiver. We're in a reenactment group that sticks to the late 1600's, and they were not used- at least not by Highland Scots- for almost 50 years later than our period. At least, I have found no references to them, and the guy in charge of authenticity has stated that he also thinks they are in the realm of pure fantasy when it comes to our time period. The design I'm tooling into it (a dragon motif) is also fantasy, but the group is willing to let that part slide... Go figure! Anyways, thanks for the details! I have found that there are few belts good for all day wear with ancient garments, as well, which is one of the reasons I myself got into leather work. There is indeed nothing quite as cool as having someone come up to me and say "Man!! Where'd you get that dirk?" and the look on faces when I say "I made it. Want one?"

[Bigkahuna]

That is a Great Baldric!!! You really did a fine job. If you are interested in Scots Regimental brass hardware for the belts, drop me a line. I know a guy who makes belt fittings for the 84th and 71st Regts.

[Mark E.]

The 84th and 71st are a wee bit after my time, and given that I am one of the holdouts for King James...But I do happen to be making a dirk, with by-knife, fork, spoon (have YOU ever tried eating oatmeal with a fork?) and honing steel (hopefully they had them back then, because I am definately keeping one in my scabbard, even if they didn't), and will be needing some copper scabbard fittings at some point...Folk who work copper are hard to find. Given the region that my folks came from, and their level in society, it is the correct metal-all I need is someone who knows how to fashion it to work. Belt tips too-my straight leather is a bit...unfinished looking.

Thanks for the line. Will stay in touch.

Mark