The Buffalo Leather Belts Story
From Gold Country to Pittsboro, NC.
From California's Gold Country to Pittsboro, North Carolina, Brian Bradt has followed a fascination with Old West craftsmanship into a life spent making things by hand.
A trade born in the Old West.
Born in Sonora and raised in San Andreas, California, Brian grew up surrounded by Gold Country history. He explored old mining towns, visited museums, and studied the clothing, tools, and useful things people carried in the 1800s.
In the early 1990s he tried making Old West clothing himself. Soon he was working with leather: belts, holsters, straps, and gear inspired by what he had studied. Later, while living in Nevada, he developed his skills in pattern cutting and leatherwork.
The craft grew alongside other work for years. About a decade ago, he began selling pieces through eBay and Etsy before taking his work to flea markets, festivals, and community events. By around 2024, leatherwork had become his full-time trade.
The trail to the leather stand
Where it began
History, ghost towns, and the everyday working gear of the 1800s captured Brian’s attention.
Learning by making
Old West clothing led to belts, holsters, and the practical skills of working leather.
Meeting customers
From online orders to fairs and flea markets, leatherwork grew into a business.
Made by hand today
Belts, repairs, custom projects, and conversations at a traveling leather stand.
In Brian's words
“When I started doing this, it didn’t feel like work. It just felt like me doing what I was meant to be doing.”Brian Bradt, leather craftsman
Made for the person who wears it.
Today, Brian works in and around Pittsboro, North Carolina, meeting residents and travelers at his leather stand. He also brings his goods to fairs and markets. Belts remain a specialty, but every day brings a different request, and the people he meets are part of what makes the work worthwhile.
Whether it's a belt measured for an exact fit, an older leather item needing attention, or a new idea to make from scratch, the goal is the same: useful work at a fair price, made with care.
Build a belt
Beyond the belt
Ask Brian about availability for other leatherwork.
- Leather bags and straps
- Holsters and accessories
- Repairs and adjustments
- Custom leather projects
Projects and prices are discussed directly. Not every item is available as an online selection.
Ask Brian about a projectCome see the leather for yourself.
Brian hopes to open a permanent location in Pittsboro, NC one day. For now, he is a traveling leatherman. Call before visiting to confirm where the stand will be.