Every Strap Is Hand-Painted, Not Printed
Why We Still Paint by Hand- It’s About Tradition, Not the Latest Technology
Back in the day before mass production, firefighters made their own leather gear and crafting custom hand painted radio straps became an off duty past-time. Leather working became a craft passed down through the brotherhood. At Axe and Awl we are proud to honor this tradition and carry the craftsmanship forward by hand painting our custom radio straps.
What “Hand-Painted” Means for Durability and Look
Firefighters personalize radio strap colors for a variety of reasons but it boils down to showing their pride in who they are and what they do. Firefighters choose paint schemes to honor their departments, their passions, and themselves. A common concern is that the paint will wear, but this concern deserves a re-frame: paint tells a story- your painted radio strap will go through all the elements with you and your crew and as the leather and paint wear together over time, you’ll have a visual recording of your career milestones and stories to tell. Plus, you can always get a paint kit from us for touch ups, we use Angelus Leather Paint specifically formulated for leather.
Inspiration from the Team- Our Favorite Radio Strap Paint Schemes
Spencer’s Choice – Natural Radio Strap with Black Fill and White Outline Paint
Spencer’s choice is classic. He chose the natural strap as a base, this is our only un-dyed leather option and will patina (darken) beautifully over time into a nice darker brown color. Talk about leather telling a story. The black fill and white outline will complement any other colors in any fire service uniform world-wide. The cherry on top of this strap is the vertical axe stamp painted to look like a thin red line flag, this stamp displays pride in the fire service and country all at once.
Courtney’s Choice- Walnut Radio Strap with No Fill Paint and Black Outline Paint
Courtney’s choice is also classic, but understated. The black paint adds a contrast between the letter stamping and the dark strap allowing for better readability without being flashy. Omitting fill paint and going with just an outline is a good option if you are someone who is extra hard on their gear and worried about wear over time. The cross and waving flag image stamps communicate that this firefighter is a man of God and his country.
Travis’ Choice- Walnut Radio Strap with Turquoise Fill and Gold Outline
Travis’ choice won’t be missed. The complementary turquoise on walnut leather will draw the eye from across any room making it easy to identify at the station and attractive to look at over the back. The choice to leave off extra painted images balances the colorfulness of the paint, keeping the look clean despite the bright colors.
Dan’s Choice- Black Radio Strap with Neon Green Fill and No Outline Paint
Dan’s choice looks radioactive- it’s full of energy and ready for the job. This one is impossible to miss and likely reflects the first responder’s job as EMS. The color green means different things depending on where the first responder is from but worn on the first responder’s home turf, first responders on any job will know exactly what this person has arrived to do whether they stop to notice the pearlescent blue star of life image stamp or not.
Natalie’s Choice- Black Radio Strap with US Flag Paint Scheme and Gold Outline
Natalie is our painter and loves an artistic challenge so naturally she chose the flag paint scheme. Natalie recommends always choosing to outline flag paint schemes for a cleaner look.
This firefighter is obviously full of pride in where they are from and wants to honor the tradition of hand painted leather goods in the fire service by going all out. The US flag is not the only flag we can paint, but keep in mind the letters we are painting within are about 1” and we don’t digitally apply the color so you can expect that classic hand painted look. Every flag painted strap comes out one of a kind and reflects the values of whoever wears it.
Lizzie’s Choice- Black Radio Strap with Purple Fill and Metallic Silver Outline
Lizzie’s choice has personality, and the first responder who chose it probably does too. If the purple and metallic doesn’t give that away, the storm trooper image stamp definitely does. First responders wear uniforms in part because on duty they act as a team, not an individual, but that doesn’t mean they can’t celebrate their personal interests, hobbies, and identity in subtle ways.
FAQ
What is the Lead Time for Custom Hand Painted Radio Straps?
Order through our custom radio strap listing. Paint doesn’t prolong the lead time, our leathercrafters make radio straps in batches that enter production as a group based on when the strap was ordered. A radio strap doesn’t get made faster just because it’s not painted. The lead time changes but is kept up to date on the product listing.
Can my Department get Matching Custom Hand Painted Radio Straps?
If you want to look really sharp as a crew, check out our bulk department orders. There’s a 5% discount for bulk orders and matching gear is a great way to show pride in the department.
Can I Get Something Other than a Flag Painted?
You can ask. Our painter once painted a corn cob on a radio strap, which is more or less the Indiana flag. Give us a call and get your design approved.
How Does Pink Look?
Great.
What is the Most Common Color Choice for Painted Radio Straps?
Red fill with a white outline. The most classic choice.
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