Confederate roller buckle belts

[fedhead]

I am not in a position at the moment to be able to answer this question myself by visiting the relevant museums, so i ask for your help

what are the lengths and widths of original roller buckle belts used by the Confederacy . I have several images of this type of belt but i have no idea of their width and length .


Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

While both length and width will vary...the length is really determined by the waist of the wearer. I have yet to see a "standard" for the production of these...

With regards to width, I've examined belts ranging from as little as 1.25 inches up to 2.5 inches.

[Iron Scout]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Martyn,

As Paul says, CS roller buckles could come in about every imaginable size and configuration. Here's a few pics. Obviously, the one on the right is not a roller buckle but can give you an idea of variation.

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Iron Scout]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Folks,

Here's a few more...enjoy. As you can see, there's thin guage, heavy guage, japanned, etc.

Neill Rose
PLHA

[fedhead]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Thank you for your help,

what are the most common widths within the range you state and what sort of thickness of leather are we talking about . Could it be that some are made of imported leather and some are domestic . I am very interested in specific examples .

[Iron Scout]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Martyn,

Not trying to be short, but that's such a general set of questions it's hard to be pinpoint but I'll try. I usually see roller buckle belts ranging from 1.25-1.5 inches wide. I've seen several examples dug with remnants of cap pouchs that fit in this range. I believe Jim Mayo has one on his website too.

Thicknesses run the gambit too from really thin ie. 5-6oz to thick 9-10 oz. The median I've seen is about 7-8 oz. Shannon Pritchard's great book, Collecting the Confederacy, has several examples. Check www.oldsouthantiques.com for a copy. I'm sure domestic and imported leather were both used. If I can get permission from a particular historical institution tomorrow, I'll post several more examples. Don't know how to get more specific. Hope this helps though!

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Hallo!

Yes, they were a functional "expedient" and one will not find a Confederate Ordnance Manual set of specs for them.

Curt

[3alabama]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

Neill Great pics, here's another pic of a belt, sorry for the bad quality the girlfriend lost my digital camera, had to take it with a cellphone. This is a 13oz leather belt, Yes I said 13oz, with a center bar buckle. No stitching the buckle is held to the leather with 2 copper rivits

[Iron Scout]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

John,

Thanks for the image, but gasp...you know the Confederates never used rivets!!:tounge_sm

Neill Rose
PLHA

[jacobite8749]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

On one of Minter’s Trans-Mississippi Order Book invoices there are stores received from a Alex. Ross & Co. of the UK for leather & saddlery amounting to £ 1,944. 17s. 3d.

Part of this lists; 95 gross 3/4" roller buckle at 2s 3d per gross; 70 gross 7/8" roller at 2s 4d per gross; 10 gross 1" roller buckle at 3s 2d per gross; 102 gross 1 1/4" roller buckle at 5s per gross; 6 gross 1 1/2" roller buckle at 7s per gross. Shipped aboard the Steamer “Marie Victoria” from London on Nov-30-1864, bound for the Trans-Mississippi.

[3alabama]

Re: Confederate roller buckle belts

John,

Thanks for the image, but gasp...you know the Confederates never used rivets!!:tounge_sm

Neill Rose
PLHA

Along with the misconception of they didn't use leather that thick