The Two Belt Rig

[Burnston]

Good evening all, 

I came across this photo on a Colt forum, contributed by a supporting member there under a thread entitled "Texas by God!" It brought to mind some questions regarding daily work carry, (by work, I mean manual labor, not law enforcement or military.) I've carried a 1911, K&N frames, and Colt SAs all day on my pants belt while working and often find my strong side hip quite sore at the end of a twelve hour work day. I've considered a separate carry belt to try and rectify this situation, but object to the inaccessibility to my pockets. Most of my actual gun belts are between 1.75in & 2in. I'd like to know from those of you with a knowledge of history and practical experience if the solution to the above situation is a thinner gun belt (while maintaining the two belt option), or higher quality holsters for my pants belt. It has always been my assumption that the wider the belt, the more rig stability. Perhaps some practical experience from those of you who have it would be helpful. 

[contender]

I don't think the 2 belt carry option like shown would be very comfortable for extended daily wear. It is very wide, and if any bending or sitting is involved,,, you may be hard pressed to do so very long in any comfort. And, as noted, inaccessibility to pockets is an issue.
As for my PERSONAL comfort for extended daily wear,,, I found long ago that a belt designed as a gun belt,, with rigidity in the belt was a big help in comfort. I switched to a heavy duty nylon gunbelt for daily wear, and found that it supported the weight of a 1911 or a Ruger SA with ease & comfort. Add in a quality holster, and you should be fine.
One thing to consider is to also mate the belt & holster loop by size. If your belt is 2" then your holster's loop size should be 2" as well. Much more stable & comfortable than the many holsters with the "universal" wide fold over of around 3"-4".

Just my meager experiences.

[coldtriggerfinger]

Good button on suspenders to hold your pants up and a belt to hold your holster in place. And lastly , about everything on me is sore after a 12 hour work day. 8 hours is much better , 6 hours is better yet. !!

[ezekiel38]

As a LEO for many years, and retired from LE, I wore a Sam Browne Belt over my pants belt. When the SB belt was directly over and by the virtue of "keeper straps" attached to the pants belt, that was most comfortable to me. When I made "plainclothes" I went to a Bianchi River belt and carried a LW Commander an extra mag and two sets of cuffs on the Bianchi. The Bianchi also served as my pants belt.

Now approaching 73 YOA my back aches where that gunbelt rode for 30+ years. I'm thankful I only wore a Sam Browne for 5 or 6 years. As an earlier poster stated a stiff belt designed to carry a firearm and reload that is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch wide was optimum for me. Suspenders, are a relief as they take up a portion of the burden of the carry weight.

I carry light today, for many reasons.

[sheriff]

Jun 16, 2018 8:36:24 GMT -5 ezekiel38 said:

As a LEO for many years, and retired from LE, I wore a Sam Browne Belt over my pants belt. When the SB belt was directly over and by the virtue of "keeper straps" attached to the pants belt, that was most comfortable to me. When I made "plainclothes" I went to a Bianchi River belt and carried a LW Commander an extra mag and two sets of cuffs on the Bianchi. The Bianchi also served as my pants belt.

Now approaching 73 YOA my back aches where that gunbelt rode for 30+ years. I'm thankful I only wore a Sam Browne for 5 or 6 years. As an earlier poster stated a stiff belt designed to carry a firearm and reload that is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch wide was optimum for me. Suspenders, are a relief as they take up a portion of the burden of the carry weight.

I carry light today, for many reasons.

That's been my experience as well.

[coldtriggerfinger]

This is another option.
I have used the metal clip on Duluth suspenders on my tool belt/nail bags when framing houses and other carpentry.
Front and back attach spenders tend to hold the belt UP but the bags DROOP and it ends up being uncomfortable.
The side attach spenders hold up the weight without having to keep the belt so tight.
I've also used them when wearing a 7 1/2" SRH 480 Ruger in a full flap strong side holster. Worked Great.


I tried loading a link to the suspenders but can't get it to copy correctly. Sorry

Duluth Trading Co . If you go to their website and search. Side clip suspenders . Or just Suspenders. You can see what I mean. They also have the Perry suspenders that attach to a belt with a thin saddle type affair.
Worth a look anyway.

[bradshaw]

A belt stitched from two layers of leather dresses sharp and won’t curl under weight. Two belts, each a stitched double, looks classier yet. Unless you take a swim in the rig, the laminate belt takes forever to “break in” to your body. It never achieves the flexibility of a wide single layer belt. The single layer adapts to anatomy, and proves its elastic worth each step of a walk or climb. Soaked in swamp or rain, the single layer dries faster, ready for that next preservative treatment.

The Sam Browne arrangement needs those belt keepers to prevent the holster coming up with your gun on the draw. Unless the scabbard is secured with a leg tie. My least-used belt is the Sam Browne type. The Sam Browne arrangement wears most efficiently one belt over the other. Four layers of leather, wrapped with keepers.

As for two belts----one for trouser, the other for gun----the idea lives on. I am so used to a slung sixgun. Think of it as a bandolier for the hips. Easy on, easy off. Cargo pockets answer the access problem when a belt is slung over pants pockets. The cargo pocket may not be stylish----haven’t seem ‘em on blue jeans and tuxedo----but it is practical, and anatomically smart.

For hunting and other long distance walks, suspenders spread weight to conserve health.
David Bradshaw

[Burnston]

I thank you gentlemen for your valued input.