Birka Belt thoughts

Sir Thorfinn · Post by **Sir Thorfinn** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:21 am

So...
I made a fast and dirty birka belt the other day...
and have some thoughts on creating and wearing these ....

First, the tech specs...
I used crappy brown latigo from one of the bundles I bought years ago at an event....
I made the main belt piece 3/4" wide, and had to hand stitch some pieces together to get a long enough piece to make this work.
I used a 1/2" plain brass buckle for the internal buckle.
First thing I found out is latigo bleeds...so I stained a junk t-shirt...but as it was late, and I'd had a few beers while doing the project (not to mention the samurai-werewolf movie I was watching) it was not a real issue.

The first thing I had to engineer was the attachment point for the small internal belt. I followed the pictures I had and decided to sew it right next to my hip. If armored, this spot will change, and change how the belt drapes.
I found that if I left the internal tongue that goes thru the buckle a little long, like 6" or so, it left enough to fold over, and gives enough room for expansion if I wear one like this w/ armor. I may want it longer...I dunno.

I did not decorate the belt at all, as at this time it is a pattern, I have nice leather set aside for a good one.

My thoughts on wearing these....

A 3/4" wide belt seems awfully thin, I am not sure I want to go narrower, but I will make one at 1/2" regardless, just because...

The placement of the internal 'tongue' belt piece seems critical for how the belt will drape, and potentially can be moved forward on the hip to the point of the hip bone and still maintain a decent look to the belt.

Construction of the belt was mindless, decoration of the belt will be difficult and time consuming. I think now I can whip one of these out in less than 30 min to give you an idea. So at this point, I have 2 questions for those who havce a decorated version of one of these...

1: do you feel the weight of the metal decorations will affect the belt drape?

2: do you have any input on the attachment point for the tongue of the belt?

Any other observations would be welcome too...

Many thanks!

Thorfinn

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:33 am

Sir,

I'd like to see your belt. I've been thinking about the same project, only I'm working up enough documentation to have the stud (?) or plaques made by Master Kenhelm of Aethelmearc.

Will you be at Pennsic?

Thanks,

Mord.

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:02 am

Hard to respond to your questions without seeing a photo.

Sir Thorfinn · Post by **Sir Thorfinn** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:07 am

I won't be at Pennsic...but heres what I used as a base idea....
http://www.northan.net/cgi-bin/enshop/commerce.cgi
Go about 3/4 the way down and hit the link for "Oriental Style Belt" next to belt stud F-72a.

This was mostly to get dimensions etc.
Once I get that hammered out and I am comfortable with it, then I plan to make a really nice one, and most likely spend a fortune on plaques...or make them, time permitting.

But so far, I really believe having the front decorative part of the belt and tip decorated and weighted will make a difference.

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:40 pm

So your question is whether the studded belt will hang differently than a plain belt? I'd say so. Putting many cast plaques on a belt like this makes it considerably more heavy than an unadorned belt. The belt almost becomes a weapon! I have not made a version of that Birka belt yet, but I have several medieval belts heavily decorated with cast bronze studs, bars and eyelets.

I don't know if you are interested in alternatives, but here's the viking belt I made last year.

All the metal work besides the buckle was made using thin brass and simple "found" tools (i.e. a nailset, leather carving tools, center-punch, etc.). It was pretty fun to make, although riveting the 50 or so plates was a bit tedious! The brass is the sort you can get prepackaged in small sheets and strips at your local hobby store. I used copper (solid, not plated) carpet tacks for the rivets.

Cheers,
Tim

Sir Thorfinn · Post by **Sir Thorfinn** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:25 pm

Copper carpet tacks!
Damn...that is BRILLIANT!
I have lots of brass/bronze and copper...so the plaques are not a problem, just spending the time...
Heck, I have been toying with the plaques already, I may even make this belt to a decorated complete state and sell it, just for the experience.
Then the next one will be better...

Thorfinn