Bronc Belts for Cowboys & Bikers
Last week when I told someone that I based the Pecos Pete Jacket off of an old bronc belt they looked at me quizzically.
ah, you know, a bronc belt? … a bucking belt? …a kidney belt?
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So it got me to wondering about their true name and their origin and I ended up doing a little digging around on Google.
Here is what I found out about bronc belts:
- they came into vogue after cartridge belts became antediluvian,
- they were used by early cowboys to support the lower back,
- they were used by rodeo rough stock riders from the early 19th century through the 1930′s,
- they were adopted by early motorcyclist in the 1920′s,
- they were easily personalized by both cowboys and bikers with names, brands, various jewels and nail heads,
- and they are still used and worn today by both modern cowboys and bikers.
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So whether you call them “bronc belts,” “bucking belts,” or “kidney belts,” these vintage belts are truly amazing. Take a look at some of my favorites:
Chaps & Bronc Belt with the JD brand of the Valley Ranch, Cody WY
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Bronc Belt from the Visalia Saddle Co Catalog
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101 Ranch, Studded Bronc Belt
Bronc Kidney Belt with Studded Heart & Star Inlay
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Incredible Bronc Belt from Round Top Antique Week
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Beautiful Studded Kidney Belt from Ebay
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Woman's Native American Beaded Bronc Belt ca. 1920's
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Beaded Bronc Belt with Floral & Four Winds Motifs
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Wide Bronc Belt: "Smokey Jim"
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Studded Bronc Belt
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Bronc Belt with Studded Horseshoe Motif
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Jewel Studded Bronc Belt with Contrast Lacing from the Double D Ranch Archives
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Kidney belts on early motorcyclist - Photograph courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company Archives. Copyright H-D.
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Vintage Harley Davidson Kidney Belt with HD Wings
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Biker Kidney Belt with Pockets and USA Eagle Motif
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Wide Kidney Belt with Concho & Zipper Pockets
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"Grief" - Wonder if this biker's mom gave him this name?
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Page from Rin Tanaka's Motortcycle Jackets: Ultimate Biker's Fashions
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1940's Woven & Studded Kidney Belt (photo: Rin Tanaka's Motortcycle Jackets: Ultimate Biker's Fashions)
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Studded Kidney Belt, date unknown
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Bucco's Super Deluxe Woven Belt, ca. 1947 (photo: Rin Tanaka's Motorcycle Jackets: Ultimate Biker's Fashions)
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Bucco's studded kidney belt No. 527, late 1940's to mid 1950's (photo: Rin Tanaka's Motorcycle Jackets: Ultimate Biker's Fashions)
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Studded Kidney Belt from the Double D Ranch Archives
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Those are amazing. I had actually never heard of them before…thanks for the history lesson!!
Love all of these belts – You girls are amazing..keep up the great work!
Thanks Helen, I love them too!
They are great, aren’t they?
These are so cool! So is DD going to make replicas of them to sell? I hope so!!!
I wish I had a good belt manufacturer to work with, then I definitely would. They are great, aren’t they?
Hey sweetie!
Long time no talk to! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! xo…deb
Howdy, I just found one of these cool belts in an antique store in Santa Fe. Made in Yakima WN, it has the pendelton roundup slogan “let er buck” in 1/2 in studs acrost the back. The belt is in great shape, I was wondering if you had seen this design before? And any idea on value?? Thanks, John in Kansas
John, I think a good bronc belt depending on age could start anywhere around $250 and go up. Yours sounds like a jewel. I would love to see a picture of it – congratulations!
I have several of these belts in various needs of repair. Mostly new buckles, I also have a great belt guy, that could copy the ones I have. If ya’ll are interested shoot me an e-mail and we will see what can be done, thanks jw
Jeff, your emails are getting kicked back. Can you send your contact information to our web contact page?
http://www.ddranchwearwomens.com/contacts/index/