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OK...after reading more of this thread I went and dug my 511 belt out of the garbage. I didn't think it was real leather and was concerned it would only get uglier than it already is. After looking at it closer, I think it might be leather after all. It is just a cheap leather...but leather is leather which means I should be able to dye it some color other than buck skin. I am thinking Black. So...does anyone here know if the black dye will cover over the buckskin color? I am wondering if it will absorb the dye.

My second question is to those who have owned one of these for a while. Will it loosen up some and get more comfortable with break in?

My suggestion is don't dye it yourself or you may end up with black dye rubbing off on your clothes. Take it to a good shoe repairman.

CompVest wrote:My suggestion is don't dye it yourself or you may end up with black dye rubbing off on your clothes. Take it to a good shoe repairman.

That was one of my concerns also. If I dye this thing I will most likely try what you just suggested.

I used to do leatherwork, but I tossed my stuff several years ago. That's why I said I would take my second belt to the boot shop. We still have an old-fashioned cobbler here; he's done a couple of full re-soles on the Larry Mahan smooth ostrich ropers I bought myself for my birthday in 1986. They're still great boots, even if the scuff marks can't be covered up any more.

A good boot man can strip the old finish, dye, and then seal to avoid rubbing off the dye onto your clothes. Shouldn't be more than a few bucks.

That picture sure cleared up any doubts I had. Beltman here I come... Thanks for sharing everyone.

Well, I'm sold. One question to all of you that have em. I recently lost quite a bit of weight, went from 36" waist jeans being a little tight, to 34" jeans being just a little loose. So do I get the 32-34? Or 36-38? If I got the 36-38, would I have trouble punching another hole into it? I plan on loosing a little more weight... I'm leaning to the 32-34.

Although I've never punched a hole in one, I'm sure it could be done.
Probably even with a drill...carefully.

When I bought mine I went to a retailer and picked a size that I could use the center hole.
That way it could be adjusted either way.

If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.

USA1 wrote: If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.

Real Important.

Sewer_Ice wrote:Well, I'm sold. One question to all of you that have em. I recently lost quite a bit of weight, went from 36" waist jeans being a little tight, to 34" jeans being just a little loose. So do I get the 32-34? Or 36-38? If I got the 36-38, would I have trouble punching another hole into it? I plan on loosing a little more weight... I'm leaning to the 32-34.

I punched holes in my first Beltman (which I bought off the rack at a local shp and was actually a bit too small for me with IWB carry) with a tool very similar to this http://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-223-R ... B00004YZQC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that I picked up at Home Depot. I haven't attempted to punch through the 5.11 leather/kydex insert belts yet, but I'm sure it could be done. Have also used that punch to punch through some plastic for some mods I did to one of my pocket holsters.

03Lightningrocks wrote:

USA1 wrote: If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.

Real Important.

2 inches is a good rule of thumb. But a better way is to take a soft measuring tape (the type you see people use in weight loss ads - no idea where to buy them - Wal Mart? - my wife just has one laying around), put on your IWB holster with gun inside pants you typically wear then thread the measuring tape through your belt loops and your holster loops or hooks or whatever and cinch it up about as tight as you'd comfortably wear a real belt. Whatever that measurement is should be VERY CLOSE - within an inch either way - of the size you need to have for wearing IWB. This method is described on http://www.thebeltman.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.

chabouk wrote:The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.

That's a good point. On my Beltman, I made sure to order the 7-hole option. Makes a big difference as far as getting it to fit "just right".

austinrealtor wrote:

chabouk wrote:The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.

That's a good point. On my Beltman, I made sure to order the 7-hole option. Makes a big difference as far as getting it to fit "just right".

Same here...and for the exact same reason.

Ok...my $7.99 closeout belt just made it in the mail today...It's stiffer than the belt I have now, might be a bit uncomfortable on the old tool shed.I'll give it a go & find out. One more wardrobe challenge for a fat boy.

My 5.11 looked nothing like that but I do not carry a Khar.