Thimble 12 Gauge Cartridge Belt

[Yul Lose]

A few years ago there was a pard, Lunger Dan here on the Wire that had built a replica U.S. Army thimble cartridge belt. I guess they call it thimble because the shell holder resembles a thimble. Double  Diamond, the pard that does all the leatherwork on the carts that I’ve built and the match director at Escondido told me about these belts being available on eBay. I’ve wanted one for quite awhile and decided to order one. I want to convert it to hold 16 gauge shells and that looks pretty easy to do. Overall it looks pretty well made and has 25 shell thimbles and lots of room for waste size adjustments.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236366547470?_skw=thimble+cartridge+belt&itmmeta=01KA2B1XHTFF9R3XCANPNV9QBP&hash=item37088b4a0e:g:opgAAeSwmBRo4CIg&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cOVJ2hzeyImwAycTC0MEeWxNjUZxWw7gXVnyc%2FYSfTwdfnok%2F%2BckES5mwa4efftR3grxNEqBPyxzJiDoBxnYoHCb2IC3%2F3wh%2BiCJY8ccy77D5K4NlcnjSEixZ7MeUnbxCG%2FDCW4dHwsHEwm%2FD1dcsnwxeBS1FbfMDmQIqtA1BffYVt3o8WHQGwsQK979e6EtyC58G7YRXGL1CpcTyMC0TDXpF5nGXxQpZDZr7%2FRHyP0msapeWA4bjHnH8AIrsNs4sVXcA1Tw9TzoWaP836IrcKjwkEc1Ytkw8GFWwr94EKOA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4rZh8vQZg

Edited November 15 by Yul Lose

[Jiminy Cricket]

That's fantastic.  I've been daydreaming about something a lot like this.  It's good to know they exist.  I'll start looking for my own.  Thank you for sharing.

 

Regards,

Cricket

[Blackwater 53393]

How well does it secure those brass shells?  I’m guessing that the one shown is one of your 16ga.!

 

on edit: I blew up that photo and YES, that’s a 16ga shell.

 

Edited November 14 by Blackwater 53393

[Yul Lose]

1 hour ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

How well does it secure those brass shells?  I’m guessing that the one shown is one of your 16ga.!

That’s a great question. I went out to the shop and grabbed 3 12 gauge Winchester AA shells and they fit very snug and I doubt you’d have to worry about them jumping out as you maneuvered the stage. I don’t have any 12 gauge brass hulls to try.

 

If you’ll notice there is an embossed ridge around the upper lip of the thimble and this helps hold the shell securely in the thimble and allows for easy extraction when pulled.

Edited November 15 by Yul Lose

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Thanks Yul, I've always thought those were very neat.  The ad said they had one left so of course I had to order it. 

[Yul Lose]

4 minutes ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

Thanks Yul, I've always thought those were very neat.  The ad said they had one left so of course I had to order it. 

You’re welcome. From what I see so far the quality is very good. Looking forward to a few revisions and use it in a match in a couple of weeks.

[Dapper Dave]

I have never heard of such a thing, very cool, thanks for sharing!

[watab kid]

thats a pretty good replica of the original , i like the look of it and i see what your saying of the adjustability for waste size but how will you alter it from 12ga to 16ga " squeeze the individual thimbles or add a leather pad ? 

 

i cant wear two belts im just too short wasted to make that work , but if i could - this would be my choice , 

i still have my original 'second' belt for shotshgells that i use if i shoot cowboy trap - very seldom anymore - but i have my cowboy trap shotgun too 

[Yul Lose]

25 minutes ago, watab kid said:

thats a pretty good replica of the original , i like the look of it and i see what your saying of the adjustability for waste size but how will you alter it from 12ga to 16ga " squeeze the individual thimbles or add a leather pad ? 

 

i cant wear two belts im just too short wasted to make that work , but if i could - this would be my choice , 

i still have my original 'second' belt for shotshgells that i use if i shoot cowboy trap - very seldom anymore - but i have my cowboy trap shotgun too 

I’ve come up with a jig that I’ll use to squeeze the thimbles to the 16 gauge size. I’ll post pictures tomorrow, the trial went very well.

[watab kid]

1 hour ago, Yul Lose said:

I’ve come up with a jig that I’ll use to squeeze the thimbles to the 16 gauge size. I’ll post pictures tomorrow, the trial went very well.

that sounded like the best solution , i just hadnt thought of a jig to do the job [i would want to do it without removing them from the belt or damaging the securing system , 

 

ill be interested in seeing your system and the results 

[Blackwater 53393]

Sold out this morning!!

 

I have it on my watch list!

[Yul Lose]

11 hours ago, watab kid said:

that sounded like the best solution , i just hadnt thought of a jig to do the job [i would want to do it without removing them from the belt or damaging the securing system , 

 

ill be interested in seeing your system and the results 

Well my jig is really simple, it’s a hose clamp. Works pretty slick but time consuming. The 2 16 gauge shells to the right of the hose clamp are in the thimbles that I resized. The 3 12 gauge shells are to the left are in original sized thimbles. It’s a rainy day so that’s what I’m doing today.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Those reproductions look great!  I purchased an original one several years ago.

[Yul Lose]

1 hour ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

Those reproductions look great!  I purchased an original one several years ago.

Have you ever used yours in a match?

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

On 11/15/2025 at 3:37 PM, Yul Lose said:

Have you ever used yours in a match?

No the leather is too fragile and now I want to get one of reproduction ones like you posted about. A fellow Texas cowboy who shoots Classic cowboy made his own several years ago and he shot with it in a classic cowboy showdown in Kansas.  I shot on his posse and it worked well for him with brass shotgun shells. @Johnny Knight

Edited Thursday at 03:37 AM by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

ABILENE:  Since you snagg'd the "LAST" one, you are now, officially on my "I Think I Hate You" list.

 

BLACKWATER:  ME TOO!!  That Thimble shotgun belt is obviously made from pure "Gottahavieum."

[Eyesa Horg]

5 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

"Gottahavieum"

I like it! 🤠

[Bladesmith, SASS 113085]

As an FYI, The company that sells these shotgun belts (What Price Glory) has a lot of historical, and especially military related, clothing and accessories. Their inventory changes as they seem to do runs of certain items. I purchased some of their 1878 jeans that I posted about previously 1878 Jeans. I’ve used them regularly for CAS and they’re holding up very well. They’ve got a lot of cool stuff.

[Bladesmith, SASS 113085]

@Blackwater 53393, these are showing as back in stock as of now. 
 

 

On 11/15/2025 at 12:07 PM, Blackwater 53393 said:

 

Sold out this morning!!

 

I have it on my watch list

 

 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

15 minutes ago, Bladesmith, SASS 113085 said:

@Blackwater 53393, these are showing as back in stock as of now. 
 

 

 

Thanks I just got one and it says there are 3 left.

[Blackwater 53393]

The vendor contacted me this morning! Thanks!!

 

Yul decided that it wasn’t going to work for his 16ga shells and offered me his.  

This bunch of folks is the best!!  Sharing information, experience, and ideas is something that seldom happens in any competitive activity!  It takes a special breed!

 

Thanks, Yul!

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

SHAZAM!!!!!!

 

Just placed my order.  Should be here inna couple of days.  Too Kool fer Skool.  It'll hold an ENTIRE box of shells.  Gonna weigh a TON you betcha.  However, It's gonna look the Biz wid an ENTIRE box of All Brass Hulls!!!!  Burma Shave.

 

ABILENE:  I can now remove you from the "I Think I Hate You" list.

[Blackwater 53393]

I may FINALLY  sell my last canvas SG belt!  The only drawback would be if I can’t make a few of the “thimbles” expand enough to accommodate my 10ga brass shells!

 

Dern thing WILL look rather snazzy with all them shiny brass shells, but I don’t think I’ll fill all those thimbles very often!! 😜

[watab kid]

On 11/15/2025 at 11:56 AM, Yul Lose said:

Well my jig is really simple, it’s a hose clamp. Works pretty slick but time consuming. The 2 16 gauge shells to the right of the hose clamp are in the thimbles that I resized. The 3 12 gauge shells are to the left are in original sized thimbles. It’s a rainy day so that’s what I’m doing today.

i like that - simple but effective , ive used hose clamps for many things just hadnt thought to them in this case yet , looking good 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

BLACKWATER!!

 

You betcha.  But, and however, I'm gonna have show at a match come spring with the belt FULL UP at least once 🤪   I don't know that it will completely replace my "normal" shotgun belt but it will make "Show and Tell" several times a season you betcha!! 🤩  I think I mentioned, loaded full up it's gonna weigh a TON!! 🤠

[Blackwater 53393]

8 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

BLACKWATER!!

 

You betcha.  But, and however, I'm gonna have show at a match come spring with the belt FULL UP at least once 🤪   I don't know that it will completely replace my "normal" shotgun belt but it will make "Show and Tell" several times a season you betcha!! 🤩  I think I mentioned, loaded full up it's gonna weigh a TON!! 🤠

NOW!! Think of that sucker full of 10ga brass shells with 110gr of FFFg and an OUNCE AND A HALF OF SHOT!! 😜🤣

 

I’ll probably have to rig a set of braces to keep it from pullin’ my britches down!! 😵‍💫🤣

 

 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

54 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

...I’ll probably have to rig a set of braces to keep it from pullin’ my britches down!! 😵‍💫🤣

That's why the originals had braces attached! 

[Yul Lose]

I’d be interested in pictures of you pards trying these out.

[Blackwater 53393]

48 minutes ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

That's why the originals had braces attached! 

Yeah! I saw that in one of the pictures earlier in the thread!  I’ve used my old canvas shotgun shell belt for costuming a time or two with a live shell in every loop! It’s like wearing a weight belt!! 🙄

 

2 minutes ago, Yul Lose said:

I’d be interested in pictures of you pards trying these out.

I’ll try to oblige when I get out and try it out!

 

 

[watab kid]

5 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

That's why the originals had braces attached! 

my first thought as well , i have a set for my britches 

[Griff]

Ha!  ...my Gordan Davis shotshell belt holds just over a box of 12 ga.  Before I grew a large tool shed and wasted away from the old man noazzatall disease, it sagged in front, made it easy to grab shells... now... not so much!

[Blackwater 53393]

I’m gettin’ antsy!!  I’ve wanted one of these for a WHILE  now!! 😎

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

How is the " pull" on this type of shell retainer?

 

I'm assuming it requires a full UP and out the top pull (and only a single shell at a time?)

Looks to me, like sliced hands just waiting to happen.

[Yul Lose]

9 minutes ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

How is the " pull" on this type of shell retainer?

 

I'm assuming it requires a full UP and out the top pull (and only a single shell at a time?)

Looks to me, like sliced hands just waiting to happen.

Two at a time is quite possible. When I was practicing with the 16 gauge shells they came out very easily. Time will tell, I guess. Pretty sure if you use it enough you’ll developed a technique that works for you. I decided that the way my suspender system is on my regular gunbelt that adding one of these thimble belts wasn’t going to work out well.

[Blackwater 53393]

I already have a nice “modern” shotgun shell belt with elastic loops, pistol/rifle cartridge loops , and all the allowable stuff.

 

I don’t always shoot to be competitive, (less often, now that I have been laid up for so long and so often) and sometimes I just shoot to make a lot of noise and have some laughs!  I have enough plaques, trophies, buckles, and framed awards sheets to cover every wall in my house, both from shooting events and other sporting endeavors!

 

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

 

Cowboy Action Shooting, drag racing, and band competitions are now like visiting a bordello to me! The only person I expect to satisfy is ME!!!