Well, I might have another alternative as my better half also brought me back a very nice (and sharp) "skivving" (sp?) tool. This things is kinda like a razor and I think with practice I could shave enough thickness off this 72 inch belt to make it work. Funny you should say that a 72 inch leather strap is hard to get rayg, Tandy has tons of stuff in their store like that. I guess it must of course been likely an Alberta cow to get a piece of leather that long? LOL