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READ IT NOW: Important Information
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. When will I receive my order?
All orders will ship approximately 30 days from the time we receive it. These belts are NOT in stock. Each one is made-to-order in the order that they are received.
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2. How do I determine what length to order?
Measure a belt you have now from the FAR end of the buckle to the hole you use most often (to the nearest inch). This is the number I need (to the nearest inch). This will PROBABLY be about two inches larger than your waist or pants size.
If you don't have a belt (I've met a lot of guys that didn't) use a cloth tape measure. Put it through the belt loops on your pants and pull it a LITTLE snug. Note the measurement to the nearest inch.
A word about sizing: You are about to buy a dual layer gun belt made from a selection of four different leathers; bull hide, horse hide, shark, or elephant, or a combination of two of them. Our belts are designed to be stiff and firm to support your side arms and other gear. They will do all of that very well, however, they will not defy gravity! If you hang a two pound pistol on ANY belt and don't buckle it up snugly enough, it's going to sag. (It's a leather belt, not a steel I-beam!) This should be remembered as you are choosing which hole in your current belt to measure to, especially if you are going to be carrying IWB. Put the gear on! Adjust it to the proper snugness for security and comfort. Look at which hole you are using and measure to THAT hole. The belt we make for you will be that length from the tip of the buckle to the center hole.
Many of our customers use the same belt for IWB carry and every day wear, whether they are carrying a holstered pistol or not. If this is what you have in mind, and you carry IWB often enough, and if the measurement is significantly different (2 inches or more), you can order a belt IN BETWEEN the two measurements. If you carry IWB every day, measure that way. If you don't carry IWB at all, measure normally as described above.
When I infrequently carry a 5 inch 1911 Colt IWB, I just let my every day belt out one 1-inch hole and rock on! I know people who, when carrying IWB, tighten their belt to a SHORTER hole than they usually wear it . . . (different strokes, eh?).
I know this is getting wordy and tedious, but you are going to have this belt a very long time. If there is any further confusion on this point, call me any time (1-919-387-1997) and we'll sort it out.
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3. Should I order extra holes if I carry IWB?
See FAQ #2 above.
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4. Are your buckles removable?
Yes, the buckles are attached with "Chicago Screws". That's the good news. The bad news is that screws sometimes tend to come loose! You should check the screws from time to time to make sure they are tight, or secure them with LOKE-TITE or clear nail polish on the threads. We CANNOT do that here for obvious reasons.
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5. How are the belts shipped?
We use TWO- to THREE-DAY PRIORITY U.S. MAIL.
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6. How thick are the belts?
Each layer of bull hide is almost 1/8" thick so the finished TWO layer belt will be ALMOST 1/4" thick.
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7. What's the difference between BULL hide and COW hide?
Bull hide, as the term implies, is the male of the species, whereas cow is the female. The bulls grow up with testosterone in their blood which causes the hide to be firmer, denser, and therefore stiffer. It just makes a better belt.
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8. Are the belts actually as wide as the stated width?
Darn near! The width of the belt is actually determined by the width of the hole in the buckle that the strap goes through. The belt strap is less than 1/16th of an inch narrower so it will fit through the buckle.
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9. I'm a big guy, what if I lose a lot of weight?
Don't go punching a lot of new holes in the belt! Send the belt back to us and we'll shorten it from the buckle end. (Throw in a ten dollar bill to cover the job and return shipping.) Any dual-layer bull hide belt can be shortened TWO inches, FOUR inches, or anything six inches or more. They cannot be shortened three inches or five inches. (This applies only to the standard dual-layer bullhide and horse hide belts. The "no-buckle" belt, taper belts, and exotic hide belts cannot be shortened.)
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10. Should I get the internal stiffener?
If you carry a heavy firearm or have a high-ride top-heavy holster you might want to consider it for the inch-and a quarter wide belts. The stiffener is not usually necessary for the wider belts unless you like it really stiff. The stiffener provides a greater degree of vertical stability but still allows the belt to take on a natural curve that any leather belt will do after it has been worn for a while.
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11. Is your website secure?
Yes, all internet orders are processed by First American Payment Systems in Fort Worth, Texas. They, as well as our shopping cart, are totally encrypted and quite secure.
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12. When do you bill my card?
All internet orders are processed automatically and usually the same day as the order. If you are hesitant to give out your credit card information on the web, or don't want your card run until we are ready to cut leather, then call your order in on the telephone.
Telephone: 1-919-387-1997
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13. You offer a "powder coated" black buckle. What's the deal?
Powder Coating is a process where positively charged particles of the coating are "puffed" onto the negatively charged object (buckle), and then baked in an oven at 450 degrees F for several hours. According to the boys at TOP COAT in Raleigh, NC this stuff is about TWENTY times tougher than paint. It is used on outdoor furniture, engine parts, motorcycle chassis, power tool casings, and lots of other things that have to endure the danger of chipping, hard use, or high temperatures. It's really tough stuff.
We thought if you were in the woods and trying to be stealthy, why would you want a shiny brass buckle to give you away? It looks great on all of our belts. We wouldn't have it if it didn't hold up!
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14. How should I care for my new belt?
Do NOT wad it up in a tight ball when not in use. This unnecessarily stretches the outer layer of the belt and compresses the inner layer. If you do this often , the belt will soon lose its natural stiffness.
When putting your belt on, do NOT crank it over as if you were securing a load of cargo on a truck! We can't control how you get dressed, so if you want your belt to last a long time, don't bend a dual layer belt any more than 90 degrees when you are putting it on.
Do NOT use leather softeners such as Neats Foot Oil or Mink Oil on these belts unless you want them limp as a noodle! Our leather is of sufficient quality to last for many years. This stuff is fine for your baseball glove or your hiking boots, but not for gun belts or holsters.
If your belt gets hard use or starts to look tired, a coat of KIWI NEUTRAL shoe polish, available at any grocery store or shoe shop will restore the surface appearance.
As stated in the CONSTRUCTION Paragraph, the outer layers of these belts are submersion dyed so the color penetration is quite deep. If you manage to scar it down to the natural beige leather, then the appropriate color of shoe polish will help a lot. If you buff it with sufficient elbow grease so the polish no longer comes off on an old t-shirt or shop rag, then it won't come off on your furniture or car seats either.
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15. Do you have a warranty or a return policy?
All Beltman products are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE YEAR of purchase. This DOES NOT cover abuse on your part.
(See question #14).
See the complete Return Policy on our Customer Service page.
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16. Why do you use two layers of leather instead of one thick layer?
Using two layers solves two problems.
A. No matter what kind of leather it is, a single layer belt will stretch! Leather is composed of collagen fibers (just like your own skin) that have a grain-like quality. It's not quite like the grain in wood, but it is similar. When you put two layers of leather together, with the grains opposing one another you get a "plywood" effect that virtually eliminates stretching.
B. Using two layers allows us to leave the inner layer undyed, or "natural". This prevents leather dye from "bleeding" on your clothes if you get wet or perspire heavily. If you lead an active life or are outdoors a lot, don't tell me this hasn't happened to you.
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17. Can I get a different buckle?
You can put any buckle you want on these belts. They are held on with "Chicago screws". However, these belts are thicker than normal so just any buckle won't work. The square buckles have been carefully selected to lay flat on the leather so you don't get a big bulge in front. A rounded-style buckle can cause the strap to go through an "S" turn just to get through the buckle, which causes excessive "flexing". Also, the rounded buckles cut into the edges and cause excess wear at that spot. Our buckles are about as long as they are wide, so if you put a larger buckle on your belt, this will change the length of the belt! Call me at 1-919-387-1997 if you have any more questions about this.
Some of you have asked for a slightly more rounded buckle. We have chosen to honor your requests and have tracked down a very sturdy and handsome rounded buckle. If a more rounded buckle would suite your sense of fashion or style better, we hope you will like it. However, the square buckle will lay flatter on the belt. The square buckle is highly recommended. If you would like to purchase an extra buckle, you may now do so, prices start at $5.00 (visit our Belt Buckle page for a picture of available buckles). If you have ordered a belt, they will be shipped together. If you want to order only a buckle, the buckle price includes shipping and handling.
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18. What is the "velcro strip" option?
The Beltman now offers a loop Velcro liner on the inside of the entire usable length of the belt. This is for use with C-T.A.C. kydex holsters from www.comp-tac.com utilizing their V-clip mounting system. It cannot be added to a finished belt. It is sewed to the inside layer during its construction. It does not add much "dimension" to the belt and it prevents the holster from shifting on the belt.
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19. What is a "tapered" belt?
The tapered belt is designed to give the appearance of a narrower dress belt across the front third of the waist line while providing the support of a wider belt around the sides and back. We can taper the 1-½" belt down to 1-¼", or we can taper the 1-¾" belt down to 1-½". These are hand cut so this process adds $15.00 to the cost of each belt.
This option is available with our dual-layer bull hide belts, horse hide belts, elephant belts, and shark belts.
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20. Can I change my order?
Yes, you may change your order at any time until we cut leather. Since our manufacturing process usually takes about three weeks, if you lose 20 pounds two weeks after your order date, you should re-measure and let us know of any changes. However, if you wish to add the internal stiffener or Velcro liner, or make any changes where an additional charge would be necessary, please call us. Please be advised that we do not have your credit card information unless you placed your order on the phone. If you ordered through the website, CALL US (1-919-387-1997). DO NOT e-mail your credit card information!
Thanks for reading all this stuff. It took me forever to type it.
Jim Speidel (The Beltman)
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