Belts by Don (Tallbald)

[RoninPA]

I just received 2 belts I ordered from Don (Tallbald). These are just too nice to just reply by PM to him. These are some of the nicest belts I have ever seen/handled/worn. More than worth the price paid.

Here's how good of a guy he is: He finished the belts but during his inspection he saw some things that weren't quite right to his eyes (I doubt anyone else would have seen it) or his standards. He wrote me and asked if he could take a bit longer to ship the belts to me because he was not happy with the results. I didn't have a problem with that. He made (oops wrong word) he CRAFTED completely new belts for me. Told me he wouldn't send out anything he wouldn't own himself.

Thank you Don, these are beyond extremely nice.

 

[Tallbald]

Ron I'm so happy that you are pleased. So very happy. I appreciate your understanding of my wish to re-craft them to you after I found some surface imperfections. Thank you so much for the kindest of words.
And for the first time I've noticed your military background. Let me say thank you for your service to our nation. I wished so hard in 1976 that I could join the USAF as my father had in 1951. I envisioned a career in the service, but it was not to be. Both my folks had lost their jobs due to serious illness in the mid 70's, and upon high school graduation I had an opportunity to move to Newport News, Virgina and begin serving my machinist apprenticeship in the shipyard there. That allowed me to rent an attic room from an older woman there in Hampton for $25 weekly, keep some out for gas and food, and send the rest of my $121.06 weekly paycheck home to my folks to keep things going. I appreciate and yes envy a bit your service experience Ron.
Thank you again. Don Sterchi

 

[Kevin]

Don, I know you've posted pictures of them before but I can't find the link. I'm not on Facebook... My wife's parents are coming to town for Christmas, that would make a nice present for my father in law.

 

[Tallbald]

Kevin at the risk of self promotion I can post a link to the thread if it helps. I can craft about ten to twelve belts a month due to the air dry time each requires. Give me a few minutes though please. I use farcebook because it's free to Penny and me. Thank you so much for your interest. Don Sterchi, Bowling Green, KY

 

[Tallbald]

Kevin I'm not able to find the original posting. Might be that it fell off as an old post. I hope it's OK if I PM you a link to the farcebook site. I think it lets a person in to see stuff without being a farcebook "membership". I have no website per se. I would be happy to share photos and such with you if it doesn't let you see what I put on the FB page.
I take pride in what I work to craft and my greatest concern is folks pleasure. And I appreciate your interest so very much. Don Sterchi, Bowling Green, KY

 

[gunzo]

Some of Don's belt pics on page 15 in the classifieds section.

 

[Fox Mike]

Some of Don's belt pics on page 15 in the classifieds section.

Here's a link to that page.
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=229120

 

[Tallbald]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your help. Don.

 

[blume357]

I received two last month... absolutely top notch work ..
Proves one simple thing... you get what you pay for.
in fact one of the guys I was at Front Sight with this past week wants to get one....
I need to send him Tallbald's info....

 

[Tallbald]

Blume357 I sure appreciate your kind post. I appreciate your offering to tell others about what I do. Advertising is of course expensive and I understand advertisement costs. Ads are not some entitlement program although I'm sure they would be if Obozo had his way. Any sales I make come from a free Facebook page to show photos and my order form, and so far just this forum's classified listing (thank you again so much to the forum's owner/moderators for having the classified section to begin with). Oh. I did craft two belts this fall as a result of displaying them at one of the art and craft shows Penny and I participated in too. Penny designs and creates "boutique" jewelry (costume jewelry) that sell at the shows too, where we share a booth.
Penny and I wish nothing but the best this season has to offer folks here. Times are somewhat scary, and she and I, like so many others, view the future with measure of apprehension. Stay alert for people and events that threaten our nation and families. All our best. Don Sterchi

 

[Rancher Will]

Those are beautiful belts. Made me remember about a belt that I wore for years until I no longer owned it in 1949 when I enlisted in the USAF.

When I was a young man, I worked as a cowboy on an Idaho ranch until 1949. In those years, everyone in Idaho and Montana were paid in "Hard Money", no paper money. In fact, Hard Money was still the standard long after 1949.

My belt was a money belt, the same as most everyone else wore. I also wore my holster on that belt to carry my Colt .44-40 revolver most of the time. The money belts were made with a flat strip of leather, wide enough so that the strip was folded over and stitched along the edge to make a flat tube. Just next to the buckle, there was a slit in the leather so that coins could be inserted inside the belt. That's how we carried our money. I earned $40 per month as a working cowboy and carried my pay inside my belt.

Another aside that I remember. After I came to Colorado and was living on my ranch, every year for some years my wife's parents came to visit us for a couple weeks each year when hr father was on vacation. Her parents lived in Spirit Lake, Idaho, and her father worked most of his life as an Edgerman in the sawmill at Newport, Washington, just north of Spirit Lake.

In 1962 the mill was bought by an Eastern Corporation and on Friday, after the change over, the workmen went to the paymaster's window. (They were paid every Friday at the end of the week's shift.) That Friday, the paymaster started to hand out paper money. The men all refused to accept paper money. In fact, in the dispute they all went on strike. The mill workers were all members of the IWW Union (Called "Wobblies" in Idaho), the International Workers of the World Union.

It was while the strike was on that that year that my wife's parents came to Colorado to visit us until the strike was settled and the men went back to work.

 

[blume357]

One of the guys in my group at Front Sight noticed my belt and wanted to know where I got it from... I've sent him Tallbald's contact info.

 

[Tallbald]

Blume357 I just today saw your 12/13 post and want to thank you again so much. All I have is a farcebook page and the one classified listing here on our RF. I've recently been allowed to show my belts in the classified section on another wonderful forum that's dedicated to the art of bullet casting, but haven't received any belt requests as yet. Hoping folks there will develop trust in who I am and what I craft, and will begin to look more closely at my work. Folks satisfied with my art telling others about it helps immensely. Thanks again, Don Sterchi

 

[Joe S.]

Good leather is important if you carry a gun on your hip. glad ya found a leather guy you like! I know a few that I think the world of!

 

[luvs2hunt62]

MIne came in--absolutely awesome---WAY BETTER THAN I EXPECTED

 

[Tallbald]

Thank you all so very much for the kind words. I truly care about what I craft, and that people feel good about their belts and holsters they allow me to make for them. Don Sterchi.