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Ok, so I have had this belt buckle for years and it has seen some use. It's outlived half a dozen belts and seen it's fair share of use and abuse.
Well today, I was working on a fence when I felt my pants drop a bit. As it turns out, the buckle broke, and I was left holding my pants up with one hand, and my pistol with the other. It was a pretty comical situation given the setting, but could have been disastrous if I was in a public place.
Lessons learned: Check your equipment! Weapon, holster, cover garments, belt, and BELT BUCKLE!. The thought of checking my buckle for defects and wear never even crossed my mind before today, but will be something to keep in mind for the future.

BTW, I was carrying a Kimber Ultra Carry in a OWB Galco holster held up by a sturdy belt and covered by a t-shirt and a carhart jacket.


P.S. Since the belt buckle holds sentimental value, I fixed it with a little brazing and some J-B weld for good measure . I'll put it back on the belt with the gun and do some work around the house to make sure it's good to go before I put it back into my EDC rotation.

CaptWoodrow10 wrote:P.S. Since the belt buckle holds sentimental value, I fixed it with a little brazing and some J-B weld for good measure . I'll put it back on the belt with the gun and do some work around the house to make sure it's good to go before I put it back into my EDC rotation.

Rodeo buckle or something like that?

All the belts I own have a non-detachable buckle. The belt wears out long before the buckle ever does. One less thing to worry about.

Been there done that didn't get the t shirt!

Seriously, we must check ALL of our gear. There's an old proverb that says it best, "For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of the shoe the horse was lost, for want of the horse the rider was lost, for want of the rider the battle was lost, for want of the battle the war was lost, for want of the war the kingdom was lost." Even the most insignificant and mundane omissions can have catastrophic consequences.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

CaptWoodrow10 wrote:P.S. Since the belt buckle holds sentimental value, I fixed it with a little brazing and some J-B weld for good measure . I'll put it back on the belt with the gun and do some work around the house to make sure it's good to go before I put it back into my EDC rotation.

Rodeo buckle or something like that?

...or a Trap Shooter...?

Oldgringo wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

CaptWoodrow10 wrote:P.S. Since the belt buckle holds sentimental value, I fixed it with a little brazing and some J-B weld for good measure . I'll put it back on the belt with the gun and do some work around the house to make sure it's good to go before I put it back into my EDC rotation.

Rodeo buckle or something like that?

...or a Trap Shooter...?

No to both (last trap competition I participated in I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn ), but I wish I had gotten into those sports more when I was younger. It's a buckle presented for specific youth leadership roles and performance within those roles within the 3B Section of the Order Of the Arrow (Boy Scouts National Honor society). I got it along time ago, and they only presented the buckles for one year, so It's got a special place in my closet.

It was a pretty comical situation given the setting, but could have been disastrous if I was in a public place.

Ah....the benefits of old age and the presence of suspenders.

Ah....the benefits of old age and the presence of suspenders.

Yeah, with suspenders, if one pops you still have a back up.

I stopped wearing cowboy-style buckles for the very practical reason that they can be undone by simply pulling outward. That's not secure enough for me.

CaptWoodrow10 wrote:No to both (last trap competition I participated in I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn ), but I wish I had gotten into those sports more when I was younger. It's a buckle presented for specific youth leadership roles and performance within those roles within the 3B Section of the Order Of the Arrow (Boy Scouts National Honor society). I got it along time ago, and they only presented the buckles for one year, so It's got a special place in my closet.

Then it should stay in your closet, or perhaps in a shadow box.

Once it's given way, I'd wouldn't trust it again.

LarryH wrote:Then it should stay in your closet, or perhaps in a shadow box.
Once it's given way, I'd wouldn't trust it again.

I would not trust brazing and/or J-B weld to hold up. Put it in a shadow box unless you want to wear it when you are not carrying and you don't care if your pants fall down.

WildBill wrote:

LarryH wrote:Then it should stay in your closet, or perhaps in a shadow box.
Once it's given way, I'd wouldn't trust it again.

I would not trust brazing and/or J-B weld to hold up. Put it in a shadow box unless you want to wear it when you are not carrying and you don't care if your pants fall down.

But that's all the fashion rage with the kids these days.

USA1 wrote:

WildBill wrote:

LarryH wrote:Then it should stay in your closet, or perhaps in a shadow box.
Once it's given way, I'd wouldn't trust it again.

I would not trust brazing and/or J-B weld to hold up. Put it in a shadow box unless you want to wear it when you are not carrying and you don't care if your pants fall down.

But that's all the fashion rage with the kids these days.

I surmise from reading his posts that CaptWoodrow10 doesn't seem like he would go for that type of "fashion."

WildBill wrote:

USA1 wrote:

WildBill wrote:

LarryH wrote:Then it should stay in your closet, or perhaps in a shadow box.
Once it's given way, I'd wouldn't trust it again.

I would not trust brazing and/or J-B weld to hold up. Put it in a shadow box unless you want to wear it when you are not carrying and you don't care if your pants fall down.

But that's all the fashion rage with the kids these days.

I surmise from reading his posts that CaptWoodrow10 doesn't seem like he would go for that type of "fashion."

How'd you guess? Somebody give that man a cigar.

I might just retire it and put it in a nice barn wood shadow box. Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought doing that.

chabouk wrote:I stopped wearing cowboy-style buckles for the very practical reason that they can be undone by simply pulling outward. That's not secure enough for me.

I've recently started wearing "Ranger-style" belts, with the smaller buckle. I'm a big guy, and I got tired of the cowboy-style buckles digging into my belly if I'm sitting down all day. I've found that the ones from "Cheaper Than Dirt" are sturdy enough to carry a holster, and are also nice enough to wear to work.

Here's a link:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ZAP5342-1.html