Equus Leather - Bridle Leather Belts - Official Affiliate Thread - Page 10

Yup, we're just waiting for a batch of nickels to arrive, I'll satinise one as soon as they have one and post some pics. It works really well, they come out a very light straw colour with a similar surface to the brass buckles

Charlie

Hi Kasakka,

Yup, not a problem. The website should have the option but let me know if you'd rather just order through me.

Charlie

The polished buckle is a reject due to the flaw in the tounge but was used for photographic purposes - it wouldn't be used for an order. Hopefully illustrates the difference for nickel buckles though.

Hi Kasakka,

1 1/4" is it I'm afraid, thats the internal diameter of the buckle so we have to cut the strap no wider than that. Sorry!

Charlie

Just a heads up for those still after a belt using the Bakers Australian Nut after the limited edition run sold out. We've got them on the website now - not limited edition but the same leather and craftsmanship and our usual selection of buckles and finishes. We've reduced the price a fraction to help those who now have to pay VAT so even bigger a saving for those outside Europe!

For those who didn't see the original thread these are made using leather tanned at the last tannery in the UK to tan traditionally using Oak Bark. It takes somewhere between 12 and 24 months from the cow to finished leather and the end result is beautiful, flexible and long lived leather.

The belt is here.

A quick photo or two, though there are an awful lot on the forum that are probably better.

An essay by the BBC about how the leather is tanned - this started the forum limited edition run and is very good. The chap pictured is Andrew Parr the owner.





Charlie

edited for the usual OSX spelling attempts....
Edited by Equus Leather - 11/11/11 at 10:20am

I haven't any pictures of a metal keeper on a Bakers belt, I don't believe any of the last run had them. I'll attach a photo showing one on a Sedgwick belt though. They are only available in Brass or Sterling Silver at the moment. They are largely aesthetic although I suppose one could argue that they will last longer - a metal keeper has a lifespan of forever unless it has something very nasty happen to it whereas a leather keeper is organic and thus has a finite lifespan. That said we've never had a customer who needed a keeper replacing so I suspect the difference is rather academic in practice...

Regarding the leather roller, it will help to a certain degree. Leather to leather is always kinder than metal to leather. On a brass buckle the leather roller would certainly help prevent the coloured mark brass can leave on leather over the decades.

Functionally nickel and stainless will do exactly the same job. The nickel buckles have a stainless steel tounge which is the part of the buckle under greatest stress and both buckles should last until an archeologist digs them up and wonders why people would use such a low tech device. Nickle is much prettier than stainless and is available in the West End, which the stainless isn't andy the nickel lustier and finish is better, but stainless is far whiter than nickel and won't tarnish. Kind of horses for course, which probably doesn't help!

The picture below is a sterling silver keeper - the brass version is just the same in shape but obviously no hallmarks!




Charlie

Just a reminder for people - there is a discount coupon available for use at the start of the thread. Given we're at 10 pages I shall repost so its easier to find!

StyleForum10% will unsurprisingly get you 10% of all of our products on the website. For non European customers the 20% VAT will be deducted as well when you create a user account and/or log in so you will shop at 30% below the inc VAT price on the website.

Charlie
Edited by Equus Leather - 11/12/11 at 7:14am

Hi Zero,

In a business casual setting I'd go for the nickel as well, it exactly what I wear for smart casual. The brass (IMHO) is a little bright unless your a gold coloured accessory person. The tounge of the nickel buckle is a slightly different colour and if thats an issue its one of the few things about the belt we can't change, but the contrast is quite pleasing to my eye and those that have bought them seem to like them. As much as anything the tounge really isn't that visible in use, but even when unbuckled I don't think its visually a problem. These things are very personal though and I understand everyones taste is different.

Regarding corrosion, I understand where your coming from (I own a land rover made from aluminium and steel that suffers from galvanic corrosion). I've had these buckles on my own belts for years though and I haven't seen any problem.

Hope this helps,

Charlie