Black Snake Belt

From the sterling silver snake head buckle, along the curved and supple body, to the rawhide rattlers stitched on the tail, this belt is truly outstanding. Designed and hand braided by Larry Knapp, it is a fine example of the sophisticated leatherwork being produced in the American South West. Larry Knapp initially developed his skills in Spain where there is a long tradition of leatherwork.

This 12 strand belt is braided and then molded with a flat inner side and rounded outer side. The leather used is the finest cowhide. The ends of the strands are tapered, covered, and finished with rawhide stitching. The specially made sterling silver snake head buckle has a hook on the back to hold the belt without pulling the braid on the outside.

We were saddened to hear of Larry Knapp’s death recently. For years we offered his unique braided leather snake belt. As his health failed, we were unable to obtain sufficient stock to include in our print catalogs. We only have a few of the belts left, but have chosen to include here one last time as a tribute to Larry and his craftsmanship. These belts are worthy of any collection. Our stock is very limited, please order early to avoid disappointment.

Although works of art, these belts will last through years of normal use with a little care. The belts may be kept in good condition with a light coating of Pecard Leather Dressing every six months.

Belt size depends on your girth where your belt is worn and the buckle you intend using with the belt. The belt size is measured from the buckle end of the belt leather to the hole used.

You can determine your belt size using one of the following methods. Most of our belts allow about +/- 1½ inches adjustment in size. If you are between sizes, order the next size up.

Method 1

Measure a belt you are currently using from the buckle end of the belt leather to the hole in use. Round to the nearest ½ inch, then determine your belt size from the following chart. This method works best when you have a belt that fits well and will be using a similar belt buckle with your new belt.

Method 2

Measure your girth at your belt loops while wearing your pants. This measurement will correspond to the belt measurement plus the buckle. Determine your belt size from the chart above. This method works well for belts worn around the hips when you do not have an existing belt to measure.

A note on buckles ...

Normal buckles, including all the buckles we sell, add between 1 and 2 inches to the total belt plus buckle measurement when the belt is fastened. If you are planning on using a very large buckle, such as a western style trophy buckle, a smaller belt size might be needed.