I have a very important question for you: is it possible to love a belt buckle? Please say yes because this girl is totally in love with my newest find, a belt buckle in the shape of my beloved Montana.

My favorite state shape? Hands down, Montana.
My favorite state shape? Hands down, Montana.

Let me explain. Earlier this winter, I went over to the Made in Montana Tradeshow to meet my mom to do some buying for my family’s general store in Augusta, Montana. Sidenote: if you haven’t been to the little town of Augusta, be sure to put it on your list of places to visit. It’s located on the Rocky Mountain Front and is one of the most charming western towns in Montana. 

While I was wandering the aisles looking at all of the different made in Montana products, one booth in particular stopped me in my tracks: Wild Horse Steel Works. Based in Bozeman, Montana and owned by the husband and wife team of Marty and Barb, Wild Horse Steel Works had an array of belt buckles that were all handcrafted right here in Big Sky Country.

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Hello you gorgeous buckles.
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Barbed wire and a Lone Peak sunrise.

And a few of my personal favorites…

This was was thisclose to going home with me. Next time, beautiful buckle. Next time.
This one was THISCLOSE to going home with me. Next time, beautiful buckle, next time.
A belt buckle and a bottle opener.
Two uses: a belt buckle AND a bottle opener.
Fun fact: the barbed wire on this buckle is from a working Montana ranch.
Fun fact: the barbed wire on this buckle is from a working Montana ranch.

The best part about finding these awesome belt buckles? I went home with one.

Question: is it normal to be THIS excited about a belt buckle?  Answer: When your name is Tia, YES.
Question: is it normal to be THIS excited about a belt buckle? Answer: When your name is Tia, YES.
My buckle's new home is around my waist.
My buckle’s new home is around my waist.

And if you want your own piece of Montana to wear on your belt? There are a handful of stores in Montana (including Allen’s Manix Store in Augusta, Red Lodge Furniture Studio in Red Lodge, The Purple Pomegranate in Whitefish, Mother Moose Gifts & Gallery in Missoula and the Beehive Art Gallery in Livingston) that carry the buckles or you can peruse them on Wild Horse Steel Work’s website.

xo,
TT

April 16, 2015

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Comments

Eric Barlock
love the buckles. I work with a startup Pawnshop in Minnesota. I believe we could market these buckles-especially the barbwire or if you could come up with some representative of Minnesota-they're that cool!!!
Bachmann Alfred
very nice!
Kurt Williamson
I want to purchase o belt buckle
Bruce
Came across your story about belt buckles on Facebook. You stated you had a general store in Augusta, Mont. I traveled thru there in 1975 with friends to backpack in the Bob Marshall. We stopped, did some shopping in town, and on our way out had a shower in the old hotel,a beer and some food. Always have wanted to go back thru the area. May get a chance this fall as our ND State Bison play the Grizzlies. I did graduate from U of M in 1978. Thanks for listening and memories. Bruce
tiatroy
Hi Bruce, Thanks so much for sharing that memory! Yes, my mom and dad own the General Store (Allen's Manix Trading Post) in Augusta. Please be sure to stop in if you make it back through this fall...it's a great little town!
tiatroy
Kurt, that is awesome! I'm seriously in love with those buckles...You can check more out at http://wildhorsesteelworks.com/.
tiatroy
Erin, they are fantastic aren't they?! Contact Marty at Wild Horse Steel Works - I know he does custom buckles.

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