The Amazing Michael 01 Aug 2009
#8This belt is bogus.....it was hand made by a leather guy, plain and simple. The lettering was done with a standard Tandy Leather letter stamp set. The seller (or whoever made it) has some basic leather skills, copper rivit peening ability, heavy leather stiching knowledge (unless he used a Tippmann as someone else suggested) but he is full of shit clear up to his eyeballs in regards to this being a real Texas Rangers restraint belt. Everything on this belt (except the cuffs) can be bought at any local Tandy Leather and made right in there hands-on learning area in a couple of hours. BTW, look at the leather, it is brand new.....it has never been locked on an inmate. Look at the stiching......it's bright white for God's sake, it has never been used! It is fresh off of some guys basement assembly line.
This is about as real as the Harley Davidson restraint belt made from a Dick's Sporting Goods weight belt that was on eBay a while back.....but the TR fake belt looks secure and could actually be used as a restraint. Too bad this guy stamped it up with those cheesy letters.
I have made a lot of restraint belts similar to the one up for auction and I have spent a lot of time at my local Tandy Leather to obtain materials and guidence on making things......bottom line, anyone can make one of these belts and stamp whatever they want on it. I have about 4 of them in my workshop hanging up....I think I will stamp "Folsom Prison" on one and put it on eBay for $350.00. "Own a piece of history"? The only thing that will be history is the buyer's money and ass-cherry......I hope the seller kisses him first.
Cheers, Mike D~C/