Hi, what is a good leather belt that can be used for stropping knives in the field?

I bouth this belt at the mall some time ago but although it says "genuine leather, made in Canada" on it, it's actually just two very thin pieces of leather glued to a sort of stiff canvas belt:



I'm thinking that a stiching would prevent the leather strips to come unstuck like that but if you're going to use the belt for stropping a knife, wouldn't the stropping friction just destroy the stiching?

So I'm looking at Filson's "brittle" belt which features a rolling buckle and two snaps to allow buckle to be replaced. It looks like just a solid one piece thick 100% leather belt.



And for $47.50 it would be just barely more expensive than the mallware belt I bought above.

Any recommendation for leather belts that can take a stropping?

Frankie

I have the same problem with leather belts warping over time. I finally found a belt that I like that can take a beating. The belt is a Looper reinforced holster belt. It has a leather outside with a reinforced Kydex interior insert that keeps the belt in its form. I have been wearing the belt for almost a year and it has held up just fine even with my Leatherman Charge TTI looped onto it. The only problem that I have had with the belt is that I sometimes clip my Surefire to the belt and that has scratched the leather a little bit. But now that i think about it they may have some kind of a warranty on the belts...

Just do a search on Google for "Looper Leather" and you ought to find them. They are based out of OKC.

I think they are primarily used my Law Enforcement that require a good strong belt.

I'm wearing that EXACT same mall belt in your first picture right now. Except mine was bough in a Denver Colorado USA mall, and is stamped "Made in Italy". They're probably all made in China and stamped with whatever country they think will bring the most sales.

And before this current belt, I had the EXACT same one too. Except that one was bought in Austin Texas USA. I don't remember what it was stamped though. Probably "Hand crafted by skilled Sasquatch craftsmen in a zero gravity environment" or something similarly intriguing.

Mine have all worn out in the exact same manner as your picture!

Try Henry's in Ely.
http://www.henrysshoerepair.com/Harness%20Tan%20Moosehide%20Belts.html

I've never used a belt to strop anything. However, I tend to like to wear belts like the one your described. I had one made by Coach, but after a few years, the thread that held in the buckle failed, most likley due to longterm exposure to pressue from my waist line. Coach seems to no longer sell a belt like it.

I replaced it with one of these, which I like: http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...;feat=502865-tn

The longest lived belt I ever owned (and still wear) came from Eddie Bauer. It's a bit stretched out at the holes I've used over the years as I've gained and lost weight but the rest of it looks great for being worn nearly every day for over 6 years.

I've known a few people who simply rave about the belts they've purchased from this guy: http://www.thebeltman.net.

I would imagine that a holster belt would more than likely fit your needs, all of the ones that ive seen and handled have been 100% leather and extremely durable

I love the filson, have had one for years.
There is always this as well. Double belt.

I have a belt made by Safariland that has lasted years and is still going.


(Safariland makes police holsters & belts.)


But one question:

How often do you expect to get stabbed in the belt with a knife that it’s a consideration in buying a belt?

Stabbing in the belt is not an issue. What I have in mind is stropping the edge of your knife like barbers do with their razors and as Ray Mears does in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a2Jm3pkXqk

What kind of leather belt is ideal? He's doing it on the inside of his belt, is it on the rough side of the leather? (There is the grain layer, the corium and the rough)

Hi,

I have been wearing Safariland leather Belts for about 10 years. The first one I had was the Model 820 with the Safari-laminate inner liner. After about 5 years this inner liner split at the buckle and the sharp plastic edge started to cut the leather. I sent an e-mail to the Customer Service Dept. of Safariland and 3 days later a new belt (Model 830 without the inner liner) arrived at my office free of charge, terrific service.

The 820 can be seen here http://www.safariland.com/product.aspx?pid=L820

The 830 can be seen here http://www.safariland.com/product.aspx?pid=L830

I wear the Model 830 daily with many heavy items on it and it has served me well.

The only trouble is that after 10 years (and a few pounds) I am now on the last notch of the belt, could it be that the leather is shrinking?

Mike

Hi Frankie,

I often strop my knives on an old plain leather belt that I wear when hunting. I use the inside "rough" side of the leather and it works well.

I have heard of people "loading" a belt with fine abrasive to do a better job of stropping but I have not tried it yet. I think I read about it in the articles section in Outdoor Magazine http://outdoors-magazine.com/spip.php?page=article

Mike

I found this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2156678_sharpen-knives-old-belt.html

So ideally the belt should have a smooth side (grain) and rough side and you would start with the rough and "polish" on the grain side.

I second the recomendation for thebeltman belts. They are good looking, but VERY sturdy.

Jim

I gave up on belts from anywhere except a leather shop. My current belt is a money belt style from a local craftsman that has the rough inside. For field expedient stropping it should have no problems. For dedicated stropping, I use an old single layer belt similar to the Filson w/ a rough back that I used for years until it started to roll. I use the section where the sheathes for Maglite & knife rubbed the back smoother & looks like it's been "loaded" with buffing compound.

Honing strop

Kramer Leather

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=26&categoryID=30