Belts and Buckles

1920's-30's Huge Navajo Silver and turquoise concho belt. Fits a 32"-35" waist<br>with existing holes. Buckle is 4.25" x 3.25", Conchos are 4.5" x 3 7/8". 6<br>Conchos and one buckle. One concho missing turquoise and leather back. No issues<br>with others. Good Early concho belt from the first quarter of the 20th century<br>or just right after. 910 grams total weight, yes that's 2 pounds.

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Rare Retired James Avery Modernist Patinated Brass belt buckle. 2" x 1.5", fits a 1" belt, no issues or wear.

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Antique Russian 84 silver belt. Amazing item with no issues. Solid silver,Approx 34.5" long, would make a cool necklace. 133.9 grams.

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Vintage Mexican Sterling/mother of pearl aztec calendar belt buckle. Clean condition with no isues. 2.5" x 1 1/8" takes a 1" belt.

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Vintage Mexican Sterling 1" cloth belt buckle. Old style buckle like a boy scount buckle. Takes up to a 1 1/8" belt.. Buckle measures 2.5" x 1 1/8" x 38.7 grams.

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Large Sterling Horse show Trophy Buckle Gold Coast Futurity Open Championship 1998 Rocking K Arena ADM Awards Design Metals. 5" x 3.75", take up to a 1.5" leather belt. 154.5 grams.

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27.75" c1920's Mexican Sterling Silver Repousse Turquoise Aztec belt. 27.75"where the belt hooks, main buckle is 6.75" x 2 5/8", rest of the belt is 2" wide average. Likely made for local Mexican market 241 grams unmarked (tested) solid sterling silver. Very interesting and unusual belt with no significant issues. tw208

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Vintage Belt buckle with 1878 Morgan silver dollar and 1906 Indian Head pennies. Authentic early American currency in a nickel/steel buckle. Dollar is 90% silver. Buckle 3.75" x 2.5" and takes up to a 1.75" belt. No issues.

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Vintage Maciel Sterling Repousse Bet buckle. Very cool buckle 3 1/8" x 1 7/8" x<br>1 3/8" loops. Takes a 1" to 1.25" belt. I would assume a cloth belt then would<br>hook into the cloth. 24 grams.

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Large 1964 Native American sterling/turquoise Silver half dollar belt buckle. 4" x 3 1/8", takes up to a 1.75" belt. 110.3 grams. Tested sterling by the Navajo artist R Chee.

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Huge Vintage Sterling Zuni Multi-Stone Intarsia inlay concho belt. Very<br>substantial belt 2 1/8" x 2 7/8" conchos/buckle, fits up to a 37" waist, 590.4<br>grams with no damage or significant wear. Each concho signed as shown.<br><br>All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry<br>referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin)<br>silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what<br>it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings<br>photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if<br>the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is<br>shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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c1920's Mexican Sterling Silver Repousse Belt 31". Solid sterling silver<br>(tested) unmarked, likely made for the local market, very unusual belt. Where<br>the belt hooks it comes out to about 31.25" 32.25" total length. 389 grams<br>Buckle 2 7/8" x 3 1/8", belt approximately 2.25" wide on widest conchos. Lots of<br>very nice repousse work.

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Sz 32 Vintage Navajo Sterling Hand stamped concho belt. I think these conchos are a little older than the leather as there are no holes in the leather. It is a total of 32" long total weight 87.9 grams with leather. Conchos are 1.5" x 1" Leather is .75" wide.tw208

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33-36" Hopi Sterling silver Overlay Style Concho belt 305 grams total marked and<br>tested sterling. Hallmark looks like an H or I. 1 11/16" x 3" conchos and<br>buckle. All hand engraved. 10 total conchos counting the buckle, 33-36" with<br>existing holes but could easily add extra holes on either side.<br>TW208

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Groovy 32-37" Sterling Silver Semiprecious Stone Southwestern Belt. 373 Grams,marked and tested sterling silver. 925 mark shown in last pic. 1.5" wide and adjustable from 32" to 37" via attached hook and loop, no missing stones, a few fissures likely naturally occurring. Nice vintage estate fresh handmade artisan from the 70's or 80s. TW208

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Large Pat Areias Southwest Sterling ranger belt buckle set 1.5" with Jeweler's<br>Bronze accents. Large and heavy ranger set that's never been put on a belt,<br>never worn. Retails for $810 directly from Pat Areias in this size. 133.8 grams,<br>very slight shelf wear from being stored for 5-10 years. Fits a 1.5" leather<br>belt.<br>A hand-pierced golden overlay, simply decorates this classic Santa Fe style.<br>Wear it fashionably from NY to Santa Fe.<br><br><br>Each piece of Pat Areias's artistry is hand rendered, one by one. As such, they<br>may be similar, but they are not the same. “The essence of hand fabrication,"<br>Areias says, “is that every piece is made by an artisan as an original."<br><br>Using a jewelry saw, buckles are cut by hand out of sheet silver and hand<br>forged, then dapped and individually chased and soldered to produce her finished<br>works.<br><br>Pat Areias Sterling began in 1987 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with the introduction<br>of a three-piece buckle set which became the foundation of the designer's<br>business. Two years later, she added silver jewelry to her collection.<br>Reminiscent of the Art Deco era, her designs are marked by a contemporary style.<br><br>Though she was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley to third generation<br>Portuguese dairy farmers, she pursued her interest in the traditions of her<br>Latin descent by studying the Portuguese and Spanish cultures, arts and<br>languages at the University of California at Santa Barbara.<br><br>While subsequently serving in the Peace Corps throughout Central and South<br>America, she had occasion to apprentice with both silver and leather craftsmen<br>of Ecuador and Mexico. Something inside beckoned her to pursue the artistry on<br>her own.<br><br>Areias's designs are a true reflection of her love and appreciation for both<br>Latin and Scandinavian aesthetics, dating back to an era of silver designers<br>from the 1930s and 1940s which originated in Denmark. As silver became scarce<br>during World War II, argent veins running through Mexico lured Danish designers<br>to the area, where their pure designs and silversmithing finesse were shared<br>with the native craftsmen.<br><br>"The Danish designers," she says, "have both a sincere affinity for the arts and<br>an eye for contemporary lines which brings out the best of the silver. I have a<br>great love and respect for this style of silversmithing. It is the inspiration<br>for my own creativity which, when forged with the Latin influence of my<br>heritage, emerges in my signature designs."<br><br>While in Mexico, Areias met and married her husband, Fred Sanchez, a mechanical<br>engineer who has since abandoned his business to become fully involved in Pat<br>Areias Sterling.<br>Vr accessories and specialized customer service has proved a successful<br>combination for the growing company.<br>tw208

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Huge Antique Bronze Silver Overlay Bronze Horseshoe Form buckle. Not really sure<br>what to think of this other than it's extremely old and either worn by a giant<br>or something to do with a horse. It's solid bronze with a high content silver<br>overlay, the one smaller loop to the side is steel. I'm assuming this is<br>Southwestern, likely Texas/Mexico. I think it's 18th/19th century, maybe older.<br>Really never have seen anything quite like it. 4 7/8" x 4.75" and very heavy.<br>isshelf

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Native American Tufa Cast sterling and turquoise concho belt, signed at the<br>buckle LEB, the pierced circular floral form buckle with a central turquoise<br>cabochon, the belt with 23 other conchos in circular floral and bow tie forms,<br>each with a centered turquoise cabochon, belt: approx 50"l (end to end), buckle:<br>approx 1.25" diam, circular conchos: approx 1 1/8" diam, bow tie conchos: approx<br>1 1/8"h, 0.75"w, 161 grams total weight.

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c1950's Navajo Stamped sterling belt buckle and keeper. Fits up to a .75" belt,<br>no issues.

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33-41" Fred Harvey Era Navajo Sterling Turquoise concho belt. Fantastic concho belt from the mid 20th century unmarked but tested sterling with turquoise cabochons that have turned green with age. Conchos measure 2.25" x 1.75" 11 total counting the buckle. 33-41" with existing holes but plenty of room to make it larger or smaller. 217 grams total weight.

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Alburn Sleeper (1937-2021) early work Engraved Sterling Turquoise Belt buckle.56.6 grams 3" x 1 7/8" and will handle up to a 1.5" belt. Not the worlds largest buckle but the quality on this piece is amazing. The mark on this piece is Sleeper's earliest mark.As a teenager, Mr. Sleeper learned metalwork from Walter U. Jennings, an original Roycrofter who had worked with Elbert Hubbard as a coppersmith, silversmith and bookbinder.

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c1940's Navajo Silver concho belt pieces. Buying the pieces shown, I assume the<br>belt rotted away. 3.25" x 2.75" buckle, 2 7/8" x 2 5/8" conchos . Selling all of<br>the pieces shown which I assume have been together "forever" 243 grams total<br>weight. These fit up to a 1" belt.<br><br>All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry<br>referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin)<br>silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what<br>it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings<br>photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if<br>the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is<br>shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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1978 Brass BTS Belt buckle with deer hunters gift 3" x 2.25", takes up to a 1.75" belt.

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Comstock Heritage 5/8" Sterling silver Ranger belt buckle set. Appears to be anunworn display model in wonderful condition.It’s probably safe to say that even Henry Comstock—or George Hearst, John Mackay, Mark Twain, Julia Bullette or any of the myriad historical figures who descended upon Nevada’s historic Comstock Lode——ever dreamed of hanging something like the “Blue Diamond” on their waists. Not liable to make anyone blue, it’s a hand-filigreed sterling silver buckle set, hand-engraved and antiqued with 1.5 carats of radiated blue and yellow diamonds. Retailing for $9,500, it’s among the many hand-crafted products created by Comstock Heritage, which bills itself ad “America’s Oldest Western Silversmiths” and is based in Carson City, Nev.“Really,” President James Stegman says of his company, “there weren’t any buckles made before us.” Then he breaks out laughing. But the boast isn’t quite all comical. After all, Comstock Heritage’s history dates more than a century, and few silversmiths, then and now, have earned a reputation that matches these artisans. The biggest surprise you’ll find at Comstock Heritage, Stegman says, is … well … Stegman. “I would have been voted in high school the least likely to work with my hands,” he says.The company began in San Francisco in 1886 when J.C. Irvine partnered with a man named Jachens (his first name has been lost to history) and began making brass and silver conchos (and later badges) at the J.C. Irvine Company (later Irvine & Jachens) on Mission Street. In the 1920s, Christian Stegman bought the company, doing silverwork for saddles for Keyston Brothers and others until parade saddles fell out of vogue in the late 1950s. By 1971, Christian Stegman’s sons had divided the business, with Howard Stegman pushing silver buckles instead of badges and moving his company, rechristened Comstock Silversmiths, to Carson City. Irvine & Jachens, by the way, still makes badges outside of San Francisco.In the ’70s, my dad was doing literally hundreds of buckles a month,” James Stegman says, “inexpensive rodeo buckles, good buckles, handmade 20-40-40-dollar wholesale buckles. It was something I never really thought I would do.”Caught up in the Yuppie movement of the go-go 1980s, Stegman had no interest in following his father in the buckle-making business. Since age 7, he had planned on going to law school, and while attending the University of Washington, he worked for attorneys. But then he realized something: “It’s not the noble love of the law and justice. It’s a business, and it’s a hard business, and I thought, ‘You know, I can make this type of money doing something else.’”In 1990 James Stegman moved his family back to Carson City and worked for his father, and soon began pushing his father to try more expensive looks, using gemstones and better materials. Three years later, he got the go-ahead and Comstock Heritage was relaunched.

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Vintage Leigh Texas Hand engraved mixed metals belt buckle. Very heavy duty belt buckle, hand forged, hand engraved. Likely made by a spur maker. 3 1/8" x 3", takes up to a 1.5" belt, inside measures 1 5/8".

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Vintage 1" Elk Creek Sterling and Gold Filled Longhorn Hand engraved belt buckleset. Fits up to a 1" belt. Buckle is 2.25" wide. 52 grams.

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Ladies Gibson Gene Navajo Sterling tufa cast belt buckle. 2.5" x 1.5", takes up<br>to a 1" belt 15.8 grams. I'm calling this a ladies belt because the hardware on<br>the back is in the opposite direction not because it's small. I had to google it<br>and I guess traditionally women's belts went on a different way like shirts,<br>it's something I had never thought of. So men can wear it too just be prepared<br>to put your belt on the opposite direction which I realize may freak some people<br>out. Or you could just wear it upside down if that's easier.

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c1900 American La Pierre Hand engraved sterling sash/belt buckle/hair piece. No<br>issues, hinge in center, late 19th to very early 20th century. 3.75" wide x 3"<br>tall, assume it's for a cloth belt. It is naturally curved to conform with a<br>body. Inside measurement where belt goes is 2", 40 grams.<br><br>"The La Pierre company started as early as 1888 in New York where Frank H. La<br>Pierre had a small shop at 18 East 14th St. making a variety of novelties and<br>small wares. In 1895 it was incorporated in New Jersey... In 1900 the firm was<br>again incorporated by La Pierre and H. C. Brown. In 1929 the La Pierre business<br>was purchased by the International Silver Company and moved to Wallingford,<br>Connecticut... "

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Vintage Ricardo solid 10k gold on Sterling hand engraved horse belt buckle 3<br>1/8" x 1 3/8", fits up to a 1 1/6" belt 32.3 grams.

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Carson Blackgoat Heavy stamped repousse Navajo sterling belt buckle 2.5" x 2<br>1/16", takes a 1" belt, 30.4 grams.<br><br>Navajo silversmith Carson Blackgoat has been making traditional stamped silver<br>for decades. He comes from a family of silversmiths and makes each piece with<br>attention to detail and quality.

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Vintage Native American Sterling turquoise belt buckle 3.25" x 2 7/8" x 72grams, Fits a 1.5" belt.All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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Large 1987 Native American Champion Rodeo Belt Buckle. Rare one of a kind item. 3 1/8" x 4 1/8" fits up to a 1 7/8" belt. No damage or issues. Marked and tested sterling with brass accents and genuine turquoise/red coral. 88.9 grams.

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40's-50's Native American Sterling Overlay Style Belt buckle 3" x 2", fits a1.5" belt. No issues. Possibly Hopi, nice older overlay buckle from before it became popular to texture the background. 47.3 gramsAll precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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416 gram Large Heavy Stamped Navajo Sterling silver turquoise concho belt, large oval buckle with and six oval conchos, all with stampwork, set with shaped turquoise cabochons, eight bow tie spacers, on a worn leather belt (cut end / tip), unmarked, belt: approx 35"l (end to end), buckle: approx 3"h, 3.50"w, oval conchos: 2 5/8"h, 3"w, Very high quality at least 90% (tested) silver concho belt with very intricate stamping, nice old belt from the mid 20th century.

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Vintage Navajo sterling chip inlay belt buckle 4" x 2 7/8", takes up to a 1.5"<br>belt. Very cool vintage custom buckle likely for some sort of ranch or<br>organization. 108.1 grams.<br><br>All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry<br>referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin)<br>silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what<br>it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings<br>photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if<br>the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is<br>shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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Vintage Navajo Danny Dale Sterling Kingman turquoise, and coral belt buckle 4" x<br>3", takes up to a 1.75" belt, 116.6 grams with no damage or issues.

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Antique Chinese Repousse Silver/Lapis Dragon Belt buckle. Great buckle, late 19th to early 20th century, Chinese, unmarked silver tested to be at least 80% silver guaranteed. It was likely a different type of buckle at one point and the hardware on the back was added later to make it functional for today's fashion 3" wide 66.9 grams.tw208

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R.A. Guthrie Sterling Overlay 1985 East Texas No Pro Futurity Rodeo Belt Buckle. The front is sterling mounted on a stronger metal so it can actually be used. 4.25" x 3 3/8" for up to a 1.5" belt. Nice clean 36 year old buckle with no significant issues, hand engraved.tw106

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1" 14k/Sterling Randall D Moore Metro Ranger belt buckle set. Fits a 1" belt, 21year old retro version of a set that now retails for $1100. Minor expected wear with no significant issues. Randall Moore arrived in Taos, New Mexico in 1977 and began an informal apprenticeship as a silversmith at The Mabel Dodge Lujan House, then known as "The Big House". In 1979, he relocated to Santa Fe where he still lives and works.His primary focus has been silver & gold belt buckles, buckle sets, and Men's accessories in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold. Drawing upon Southwestern influences as well as contemporary elements for his designs and utilizing traditional tools and techniques, Mr. Moore crafts heirloom quality items that are at once both classic and fashionable. His creations are worn by world class athletes, entertainers, politicos and just plain cool gals and guys everywhere.Randall's studio is located in the heart of Santa Fe's historic east side, at 868 East Palace Avenue, just a block off of Canyon Road.anderas

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Sampson Werito Navajo Sterling 3/4" ranger belt buckle set. New old stock, never<br>worn, still on the sample belt.<br><br>Navajo Sampson Werito resides on the Navajo reservation in the town of Thoreau,<br>NM,which is close to Gallup & is a 'veteran silversmith who's been at it for<br>decades.He specializes in making these great ranger sets.<br><br>Ranger sets are a great way to go when you don't want the buckle to be 'wearing<br>you',but you 'wearing it'.Many times the buckles are so large that that's all<br>you notice..These have statement,but on a smaller scale..And they're SUPER<br>classy!! They generally say more with less & can be worn by man or woman..Both<br>genders love them for their smaller size.

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Nellie Tso (1932-2011) Navajo Sterling and Turquoise Concho Belt signed N. Tso<br>(Nellie Tso, Navajo/ Dine, Arizona, 1932-2011), nine conchos and belt buckle,<br>spoked wheel design, each set with a turquoise cabochon, on a black leather<br>belt, only one hole punched in belt strap, belt: approx 40"l (flat, buckle to<br>single hole), buckle: approx 2"h, 2.5"w; 1.25lbs total 10 Conchos including the<br>buckle, I weighed one it was 46.5 grams, conchos test sterling, so it's about<br>470 grams of silver/turquoise with the small copper backs.<br>Tw208

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c1930's Navajo Stamped silver link concho belt. Nice heavy hand stamped belt,much thicker gauge silver than most later belts. Each concho measures 1 7/8" x 1.25", it's 54" total length but if you look closely you will see it was originally 38" and at one point a skilled silversmith added 6 links to the belt. This was a long time ago, may have been links from an old belt. But there is a slight variation that I only noticed while taking the pictures. This is a very versatile piece at this length that could possibly be wrapped around some people twice, worn as a necklace doubled or tripled up, some left to hang down, wrapped around a leg and as a belt...whatever your heart desires. It's nice, it's strong, very well made piece from the second quarter of the 20th century that has stood the test of time.Unmarked, tested and guaranteed 90% (coin) silver or higher content. weighs 218 grams.All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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After Frederick Remington Vintage Etched Enameled Brass Belt Buckle. From the third quarter of the 20th century, nice buckle in good condition. 2.75" x 2.25" fits up to a 1.75" belt. No issues.

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2 1970's Levis Jeans Belt buckles. One base metal, other Bergamot brassworks dated 1976. No issues with either, penny for scale, both take up to a 1.75" belt. Selling both.

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1970's Judy Wallace Zuni Sterling Multistone Inlay Large Concho Belt with hummingbirds. Rare, unusual likely one of a kind Zuni sterling concho belt. Each concho signed JW, no sterling mark but tests sterling. Very good quality work all handmade, circa 1970's. 9 Conchos including the buckle 2 3/8" wide with an average weight of 45 grams, total weight of belt is 526 grams 39" total length Existing holes at 31"-34". Leather is just a hair under 1.5"tw208

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c1950's Cowboy Items Dodge City Souvenir Bell Trading Post Copper Belt Buckle, and Miniature Buck knife by Imperial. Selling the three items with no damage in used condition. The knife is 4.25" long with 2 1/8" blade. Dodge city guy is 7" tall, Buckle is 3.25" x 2 1/8" and will fit up to a 1.5" belt.TW234

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Vintage Mexican Sterling gold overlay 5/8" ranger belt buckle set. Measures 5/8" inside buckle for belt, just a hair under 5/8" inside keepers and about .5" inside tips. Looks like the buckle and one of the tips are a match, and one of the tips matches the two keepers. Still it should all look good together. Selling the lot shown 42.4 grams of sterling with some gold overlay. Missing one ruby and others are worn.anderas

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Vintage Navajo Hand Chiseled silver concho belt. Unmarked 1.75" x 1 3/8"conchos, 176 grams total weight, 38" total length with several small holes to wear at your size.All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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14k/sterling Vintage Southwestern hand engraved belt buckle. 2" x 1 3/8", fits a1" belt, 27.3 grams...my guess is 25% of the weight is 14k gold. That is a thick 3d solid 14k gold bird on the front center. Marked and tested sterling and 14k gold.

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Vintage Comstock Sterling silver Belt buckle. Nice old vintage buckle, lightsurface wear, no bends or dents. Hand engraved, 3" x 2", fits a 1.5" belt. 39.7 grams. It’s probably safe to say that even Henry Comstock—or George Hearst, John Mackay, Mark Twain, Julia Bullette or any of the myriad historical figures who descended upon Nevada’s historic Comstock Lode——ever dreamed of hanging something like the “Blue Diamond” on their waists. Not liable to make anyone blue, it’s a hand-filigreed sterling silver buckle set, hand-engraved and antiqued with 1.5 carats of radiated blue and yellow diamonds. Retailing for $9,500, it’s among the many hand-crafted products created by Comstock Heritage, which bills itself ad “America’s Oldest Western Silversmiths” and is based in Carson City, Nev.“Really,” President James Stegman says of his company, “there weren’t any buckles made before us.” Then he breaks out laughing. But the boast isn’t quite all comical. After all, Comstock Heritage’s history dates more than a century, and few silversmiths, then and now, have earned a reputation that matches these artisans. The biggest surprise you’ll find at Comstock Heritage, Stegman says, is … well … Stegman. “I would have been voted in high school the least likely to work with my hands,” he says.The company began in San Francisco in 1886 when J.C. Irvine partnered with a man named Jachens (his first name has been lost to history) and began making brass and silver conchos (and later badges) at the J.C. Irvine Company (later Irvine & Jachens) on Mission Street. In the 1920s, Christian Stegman bought the company, doing silverwork for saddles for Keyston Brothers and others until parade saddles fell out of vogue in the late 1950s. By 1971, Christian Stegman’s sons had divided the business, with Howard Stegman pushing silver buckles instead of badges and moving his company, rechristened Comstock Silversmiths, to Carson City. Irvine & Jachens, by the way, still makes badges outside of San Francisco.In the ’70s, my dad was doing literally hundreds of buckles a month,” James Stegman says, “inexpensive rodeo buckles, good buckles, handmade 20-40-40-dollar wholesale buckles. It was something I never really thought I would do.”Caught up in the Yuppie movement of the go-go 1980s, Stegman had no interest in following his father in the buckle-making business. Since age 7, he had planned on going to law school, and while attending the University of Washington, he worked for attorneys. But then he realized something: “It’s not the noble love of the law and justice. It’s a business, and it’s a hard business, and I thought, ‘You know, I can make this type of money doing something else.’”In 1990 James Stegman moved his family back to Carson City and worked for his father, and soon began pushing his father to try more expensive looks, using gemstones and better materials. Three years later, he got the go-ahead and Comstock Heritage was relaunched.

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Vintage E&J Little Navajo Sterling/turquoise belt buckle. Nice large buckle 43/8" x 3.25", fits up to a 1.75" belt, 91.8 grams.All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it's marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.

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2 Vintage Exart Mexican folk art belt buckles. Selling both buckles shown. Not<br>really sure how they work. One takes a 2" belt, the other 1.5". Penny for scale.<br>tw208

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Antique Knights of Templar belt buckle. Likely from the first quarter of the 20th century, 3 1/8" tall will handle up to a 1.75" belt. oxidation and wear as shown.Tw208

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3 1970's Oilfield/communication Brass belt buckles Oilwell Materials and<br>hardware Keller Oilfield services. Selling the three buckles, bottom one dated<br>1976, all from 70's and 80's, all cool. All for 1.5" belt.<br>tw208

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Vintage Navajo Sterling and Turquoise Sandcast Concho Belt. Nice old concho belt, each piece is signed on the back by the same artist that I'm unfamiliar with. The buckle is sandcast, conchos hand cut and hand stamped. Great concho belt from the second quarter of the 20th century. No significant issues, buckle and 6 conchos measuring 2.25" x 2.75" Fits between a 31" and 35" waist with existing holes. Tested sterling silver.tw239

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3/4" Vogt Hand Engraved Sterling silver ranger belt buckle set. A few dents on buckle, still beautiful and functional. Fits a 3/4" leather belt. anderas

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1" Vogt Sterling Hand Engraved Sterling silver ranger belt buckle set. Greatcondition with no issues, Fits a 1" leather belt.In the 1960s, Norm Vogt traveled to Old Mexico. A traveler and visionary, he had called Northern California home since leaving his birthplace of Oklahoma on a freight train at 18 years of age. Norm served in World War II, piloting an amphibious plane for the Navy, and came home to start a ranch in the Golden State. But while in Mexico, he encountered a group of artisans practicing leatherwork and silversmithing in the Old World style. This sparked a partnership that lives on today in the enduring art and craftsmanship of Vogt Silversmiths. anderas

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Red Adair, (1915-2004) Texas Oil Well Firefighter belt buckle. 3 3/8" x 2.25", takes up to a 1.75" belt.Paul Neal Adair was born in Houston, Texas in nineteen fifteen. He was one of five sons of a metal worker. He also had three sisters. While growing up, he became known as Red Adair because his hair was bright red. The color became a trademark for Adair. He wore red clothes and red boots. He drove a red car, and his crew members used red trucks and red equipment.As a young man, Red Adair dropped out of high school to help support his family. He worked as a laborer for several different companies. In nineteen thirty-eight, Adair got his first oil-related job with the Otis Pressure Control Company.During World War Two, Adair served on a trained army team that removed and destroyed s. After the war, he returned to Houston and took a job with Myron Kinley. At the time, Kinley was the leader in putting out fires in oil wells. Red Adair worked with Myron Kinley for fourteen years. But in nineteen fifty-nine, Adair started his own company.During his thirty-six years in business, Red Adair and his crews battled more than two thousand fires all over the world. Some were on land. Others were on ocean oil-drilling structures. Some fires were in burning oil wells. Others were in natural gas wells.Red Adair was a leader in a specialized and extremely dangerous profession. Putting out oil well fires can be difficult. This is because oil well fires are extinguished, or put out, at the wellhead just above ground. Normally, s are used to stop the fire from burning. The explosion robs the fire of oxygen. But, once the fire is out, the well still needs to be covered, or capped, to stop the flow of oil. This is the most dangerous part of the process. Any new heat or fire could cause the leaking well and the surrounding area to explode.Red Adair developed modern methods to extinguish and cover burning oil wells.They became known in the industry as Wild Well Control techniques. In addition to s, the techniques involved large amounts of water and dirt. Adair also developed special equipment made of bronze metal to help extinguish oil well fires. The modern tools and his Wild Well Control techniques earned Red Adair and his crews the honor of being called the "best in the business."Red Adair was known for not being afraid. He was also known for his sense of calm and safety. None of his workers were ever killed while putting out oil well or gas fires. He described his work this way: "It scares you -- all the noise, the rattling, the shaking. But the look on everyone's face, when you are finished and packing, it is the best smile in the world; and there is nobody hurt, and the well is under control."One of Red Adair's most important projects was in nineteen sixty-two. He and his crew put out a natural gas fire in the Sahara Desert in Algeria. The fire had been burning for six months. This famous fire was called the "Devil's Cigarette Lighter."Fire from the natural gas well shot about one hundred forty meters into the air. The fire was so big that American astronaut John Glenn could see it from space as he orbited Earth.The desert sand around the well had melted into glass from the extreme heat. News reports said Adair used about three hundred forty kilograms of nitroglycerine material to pull the oxygen out of the fire.Adair's success with the "Devil's Cigarette Lighter" and earlier well fires captured the imagination of the American film industry. In nineteen sixty-eight, Hollywood made an action film called "Hellfighters." It was loosely based on events in Red Adair's life. Actor John Wayne played an oil well firefighter from Houston, Texas whose life was similar to Adair's. Adair served as an advisor to Wayne while the film was being made. The two men became close friends. Adair said one of the best honors in the world was to have John Wayne play him in a movie.Here is John Wayne in the film "Hellfighters." He has just flown into Venezuela to help his crew fight a dangerous fire. He has brought needed supplies with him.In nineteen eighty-eight, Adair fought what was possibly the world's worst off-shore accident. It was at the Piper Alpha drilling structure in the North Sea. Occidental Petroleum operated the structure off the coast of Scotland. The structure produced oil and gas from twenty-four wells.One hundred sixty-seven men were killed when the structure exploded after a gas leak. Red Adair had to stop the fires and cap the wells. He faced winds blowing more than one hundred twenty kilometers an hour, and ocean waves at least twenty meters high.In March of nineteen ninety-one, Red Adair went to Kuwait following the Persian Gulf War. He and his crews were called in to help put out fires set by the Iraqi army as it fled from coalition forces. But Adair faced serious problems in putting out the fires. In June, he flew to Washington, D.C. to talk to government officials about those problems. He told congressional lawmakers that he needed more water and more equipment. He also described his concerns about medical services for his men, and the buried landmines throughout Kuwait.Adair also met with then-President George H.W. Bush. President Bush listened to his concerns and offered his support. Within weeks, Adair had the equipment he needed to complete the job.The Red Adair Company capped more than one hundred wells. His crews were among twenty-seven teams from sixteen countries called in to fight the fires. The crews' efforts put out about seven hundred Kuwaiti fires. Their efforts saved millions of barrels of oil. Some experts say the operation also helped prevent an environmental tragedy.The job had been expected to take three to five years. However, it was completed in just eight months. In a ceremony, the Emir of Kuwait extinguished the last burning well on November sixth, nineteen ninety-one.In addition to Kuwait, Adair and his men carried out sixteen other jobs that year. They worked in India, Venezuela, Nigeria, the Gulf of Mexico and the United States.Red Adair had spent his seventy-sixth birthday in Kuwait working side by side with his crew. When asked when he might retire, he told reporters: "Retire? I do not know what that word means. As long as a man is able to work, and he is productive out there and he feels good – keep at it."Still, Red Adair finally did retire in nineteen ninety-four. At that time, he joked about where he would end up when he died. He said he hoped to be in Heaven. But he said this about Hell: "I have made a deal with the devil. He said he is going to give me an air-conditioned place when I go down there – if I go there – so I won't put all the fires out."Red Adair died in two thousand four. He was eighty-nine years old. At his funeral, many family members and friends honored him by wearing red clothes. Many Americans remember Red Adair for his bravery. He lived his life on the edge of danger. He was known for his willingness to risk his own life to save others.During his life, Adair received Special Letters of Recognition from Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. One of the letters said this: "You have served your country well by your willingness to do a dangerous and important job with a rare ability. In an age said to be without heroes, you are an authentic hero."anderas

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Vintage Hopi Overlay Sterling Belt Buckle with bear. Very nice quality handmade, unmarked vintage piece. 3" x 2 1/8" x 1.5" belt loop x 50.5 grams. Unmarked tested sterling.

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2 1960's Bell Nickel Silver Native American style belt buckles. Selling both buckles shown. 3 5/8" x 2.5" x 2" belt.tw208

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