Hiatt Prison Belt - rebuild

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

It is very interesting to see the inside of a belt.

There are some nice pictures on this previous thread.
Joe

http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/m ... Body+Belts

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Hello,

thanks for the pictures of the belt restraints.

I saw allready a few others, where the cuffs are fixed to the belt with a swivel on each side. (Just different to the third picture above.) I think this is necessary.

If not, and if there is some space inside the cuff restraining the arm, by turning around the arm inside and with the cuff you get a lever which probably can dammage the fixing point to the belt. A swivel just turns around, but doesnt give some force on it. (Same principle with legirons that do not have a swivel in the chain. Hope You get the idea. )

Are this real weak spots or is it just theory?

Greetings,
Alex

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Hi Nils,

What exactly are the dimensions of the metal belt?

Length / Width / Thickness? Inches or MM


Best regards

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

These are pics of my Hiatt Belt. It is probobally from the 1950's. The thickness of the leather is hard to determine, but I think 2 mm is very close.
Stan
http://www.handcuffs.us.com

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

My belt is older than Stan's, maybe Joe can tell the age.
This belt carry backstarp darby cuffs. The thickness of the leather is 10 mm.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Just to clarify when I said the thickness of the leather is about 2 mm. That is for each layer. There are three layers for a total thickness of 6 mm. There is layer on each side of the metal, and a center layer that goes around the edges of the metal.
Stan

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Hi Nils,

What exactly are the dimensions of the metal belt?

Length / Width / Thickness? Inches or MM


Best regards

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Lars

You ask about the age of your belt. I think it is hard to tell. You would think that the backstrap Darbies would mean that it is old, but I also have a belt with backstrap Darbies and my belt is dated 1943.

The British military seems to have had a special interest in the backstrap Darby style. They may have used old cuffs to make new belts at that time.
who knows?


Joe

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

The belt (liner) is 5 cm wide (a little under 2 inches), 120cm long (46 inches or so) and very thin. I'd say one milimeter or less.

Probably just to add some weight & shape to the leather belt, and to serve as a mount for the shackles.

If you x-rayed your belts, you'd probably find the same.


Thank you for all your postings. The e-mail I have provided here should work now.

Nils

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Joe,

Thanks for the information! I actually thought the backstrap cuffs were older but I'm not very knowledgeable on Darby cuffs.
I also thought my belt was supposed to be older than Stan's since my belt have swivels and the cuffs on Stan's belt are
exchangeable to fit different wrist sizes.

Lars

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Lars
Your belt may indeed be older. I think the linkage may be an important clue. I was just saying that I think some belts may be newer than their cuffs.
Joe

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

I was just wondering where the rivets would go through; the metal belt doesn't have any holes. They seem to be less than 2 inches apart, so they would have to go through the belt in both.

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

There are rivits that go through the leather and the metal on my belt, but it looks like there are no rivits on Lars belt. I think his is much older than mine.
Stan

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

Your information about the dimensions of inner metal belt is appreciated.

This is probably the only chance collectors have had to see what the inner metal

belt looks like without removing the stitching from a fully assembled belt.

Good Job ...

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

I tried to unlock the cuffs, and they're completley rusted shut. Since it seems easy to replace the cuffs themselves, I might just cut up a pair of hiatts and do that.

The smaller cuff in front puzzles me though. Does anyone have an idea where it comes from, or if it was specifically made for the belt? Would anyone here have one of this kind for sale?

I'm not sure I want to go through all the trouble. If I do, I'll keep you posted on the process.

Thanks for all your input,

Nils

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

I just sent you an e mail.

Cheers, Steve

I recently purchased a locking metal belt with Hiatt cuffs in the uk. It only dawned on me after a while that it is probably the inside of the regular leather prison belt, with the leather having been removed or whatnot.

I would like to rebuild the set. Could anyone send me (or post) pictures of theirs, especially how the leather is cut around the cuffs and hasps? Would 2mm, dark brown leather work?

Cheers and thanks a lot

Nils

Click to expand...

If you can save the screw-shackles, then nothing would be lost by swapping out the cuffs. You might even be able to save them, as you now have all the time in the world. A year or two soaking in penetrating oil might do wonders. And you have little to lose.

The Darby padlock might be more difficult.