Straptology: Tail length & Keeper configuration

[Travelller]

Lads,

One of my favorite strap-makers, D9, made me another super Swiss Ammo strap which I recently received; The strap came in the classic configuration of a fixed and floating keeper.

However... when it comes to the thick-style straps we usually pair up with our PAMs, I prefer to go with one fatter, "floating" keeper. So John, being the great guy the he is, will reconfigure my strap for me

This did bring up the question of how the average PAM wearer prefers their [custom] strap?

Here's the argument for my own personal preference...
Although the OEM rubber strap that came with my 233 fits my 6 3/4" wrist fine (75x115, one ~15mm keeper) I usually have my thicker PAM straps made to 75x130 so that there's a little bit of tail "hanging out". If I measure the amount of tail starting from the strap-hole "in use", then I have 65mm on my 24x24 Swiss ammo strap. Once I pass it though one standard (~11mm) keeper, I have about ~30mm still sticking out. On my 24x24 ammo, it's quite fortuitous as the +Sz stamp is visible...


If I pass it through two, I have only maybe 10mm sticking out and (of course) the stamp is hidden...


So my preferred configuration in general is one, fatter (~15-18mm) floating keeper:




The nice thing about having the one floater is that I can move it towards the tail if I need to have it fit nicely under a shirt-sleeve Clearly this will backfire some years down the road when the keeper is too loose to properly keep the tail in place, but I alternate my straps often enough and of course thoughtful strap-makers (like John ) usually include one spare keeper so I can swap out the keeper; Worse case, I can send the ailing keeper off to the strap maker for some TLC ;)

Of course, I have no problem with off the shelf straps, they work and look fine too...

(l)Wotancraft 80x130 and (r)OEM 75x125, both w/std sized fixed and floating keepers.

...but since you've got options when going custom...

75x130, 4-holes, one floater

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So let's hear your preferences and please tell us why, while you're at it


Next chapter, strap holes - where to start and how many should there be...