Why do Cowboys Wear Huge Belt Buckles?

 

 

In Summer of the Bombers, my novel scheduled to be published April 10, the main character's house burns down when a controlled burn turns into a wild fire. One of the things that "Punkin" Davis misses the most is her rodeo belt buckle.

When I taught in a middle school that was part of a ranching community, many of my students wore big, shiny belt buckles that they were very proud of. Western belt buckles are not just fashion; they have an interesting history and serve an important purpose in Western culture.

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​Until the late 1800s, most men, including cowboys, didn’t wear belts with buckles at all. Pants were high-waisted, and tightened with a cinch at the back, or were held up with suspenders. It wasn’t until after Levi Strauss began mass-producing dungaree jeans that had belt loops that men, including cowboys, gave up suspenders and began wearing belts with buckles. Most buckles then, as now, had a square or rectangular piece of metal attached to one end of the belt, with a tongue that went through a hole in the leather to secure it. 

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Victorian British Army Officer's buckle

The big buckles that cowboys wear have their origins in the buckles worn by soldiers in European Armies, who expected their soldiers to look sharp when they headed into battle. Each unit issued a different belt buckle to their men, making them easy to distinguish from one another. These buckles were often made of brass and engraved with heraldry or insignia that identified their leader.  The buckles of officers were more elaborate, and sometimes made of gold. It became a tradition for these buckles to be worn at parades and other important events long after the war in which it was issued was over. 

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US Army Officer's buckle, 1855

United States picked up the practice of military belt buckles by the time of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, friction belt buckles were mass produced in large quantities. These buckles where the belt is pulled behind and through the buckle to keep the belt in place were issued. Those buckles don’t have a prong or hole, and were made of brass. After the end of the Civil War, many veterans kept their buckles. 

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Most American military units have switched back to functional buckles. The exception is the U.S. Army Cavalry, which stuck with European tradition and maintains large and ornate buckles that incorporated heraldry elements.

When competitive and organized rodeos started in late 19th century Colorado, the only cowboys who wore buckles were veterans of the American Civil War. Then, in the 1920s, men’s pants fashion changed. With the lower waistline, belts became a more practical way to keep them up.  About the same time, Hollywood began glamorizing the wild west. Hollywood cowboys such as Tom Mix and Gene Autry wore flashy buckles that audiences all across America oohed and ahhed over. In 1920, the San Francisco Cow Palace in California began awarding buckles as prizes at professional rodeo events.
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Because belt buckles continue to be awarded for accomplishments such as barrel racing, bull riding, team roping, tie down roping and more, trophy buckles are sort of a cowboy’s resume.  The most coveted buckles are those awarded by the PRCA, and once earned, are worn with pride. 

Of course, not all big belt buckles are awards. Large belt buckles are also for sale. Some have the name of a dude ranch on them and can be bought by tourists. Other buckles feature places of interest, animals, or even brands of trucks. But the ones worn with the most pride have been earned.

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Summer of the Bombers, a middle grade contemporary novel about the devastating effects of a wildfire, is scheduled to be published on April 10th. You can preorder the ebook version on Amazon, or the paperback through the author. 


When a controlled burn goes out of control, it burns a path a destruction through everything that fourteen-year-old Margaret “Punkin” Davis loves. Her home is destroyed, her horse is stolen, and her family is broken apart. She must find the inner strength to rebuild her life one piece at a time or lose everything.
This YA novel about resilience and self determination is based on the events of the devastating Cerro Grande Fire in May, 2000, one of many wild fires that have raged throughout the Western United States.