Border Country Belts

18/06/2026

Casting with Mike Powell back in the early days - 2019. If you have a pheasant, stag, fox or hare buckle that is a first or second edition (1 or 2 punched on the back bottom left) it will have most likely have been cast by him.

Mike taught me the whole process from mould making to waxing, casting to finishing. After my first pour he shook my hand and told me I was now a “foundryman”.

Things didn’t always go to plan - the b**g once separated from the can leaving me covered in investment, the waxes often detached from the sprue, blowouts filled the vacuum chamber with bronze and occasionally things caught fire that shouldn’t have.

Sadly Mike passed away last spring after being “retired” for a couple of years. Running the foundry was just one of his many adventures in life, stories of which he shared with me during the many coffee breaks involved in the lost wax process. He was a true gentleman and a real craftsman, who kindly gave me his time and put up with me taking photos and wearing the full safety gear.

09/06/2026

Made by hand, designed for life

25/05/2026

Let us know which buckle he’d like this week and we can get a belt made up and delivered in time.

18/05/2026

Quenching a stag buckle to see how it affects the patination.

26/04/2026

15/04/2026

The Black Buzzard - a one-off bespoke belt featuring a patinated (flame darkened) “heavy” version of the buckle on black oak bark tanned belt leather. Shown here alongside the standard issue belt and buckle.

The bespoke option gives you a made-to-measure belt with a choice of buckle finishes, leather and stitching colours to create a truly unique belt for yourself or someone close to you.

07/04/2026

Looking at the moon from Wambarrows on the top of Winsford Hill

31/03/2026

A couple of “light” fox buckles that have recently left Exmoor on made-to-measure belts. The top “midnight’ fox has been patinated (heated up to age the bronze) and the one below is the standard polished variety.

If you are looking at these from across the pond - you can buy direct from our shop on Etsy - just search Border Country Belts.

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08/03/2026

Just a reminder - that it’s Mothers Day next Sunday

06/11/2025

Will be this weekend (8th & 9th Nov. 10am-4pm) at their Christmas Artisan Market. If you live in Somerset and haven’t ever visited the Bishop’s Palace in Wells, regardless of if you are after a belt, you should pay a visit (£8 for the market - £14 for the grounds as well). It’s a fascinating and beautiful place, particularly on a rainy day when the water that falls on the Mendips raises up through the holy well springs and rushes out through the holy moat.