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]

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]

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]

Folks,

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

Neill Rose
PLHA

[fedhead]

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]

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-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

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

Curt

[3alabama]

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]

John,

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

Neill Rose
PLHA

[jacobite8749]

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]

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:eek: