Sam Browne belt

[thescot]

RetroTed, your photo says it all. It looks really sharp.

And Streetcar makes the important linguistic point that in the US in modern parlance, "Sam Brown[e]" refers to a pistol/gear belt, with or without a shoulder strap (which almost no one wears these days). Rogerson's site reference--http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/...?TxtModelID=B2--shows a Bianchi belt exactly like on e I owned 30 years ago for police work, and everyone called it a Sam Browne.

When I was in the Corps, we had some very handy suspenders which attached to our web belts to help carry the weight of our gear, and from Cajunscot's site reference, it would appear that the old traditional Sam Browne was based on the same concept. It showed some photos of leather suspenders (braces for you lads on the other side of the pond) on a belt.

[thescot]

Having worn one for 6 years prior starting my driving career, would you mind if I told you that both terms are incorrect? In a uniform configuration, it is a duty belt. A duty belt, worn over a uniform blouse or jacket, with a shoulder strap for support, is a Sam Brown rig. A duty belt, attached with keepers or hook-and-loop, to a garrison belt which is looped through the belt loops on your trousers, is a Garrison rig.
Without the shoulder strap or garrison, it really is just a belt.

Aparently Bianchi disagrees with you.

[woodard]

Aparently Bianchi disagrees with you.

Eh. Marketing. What can I say. I always used a local guy(Looper Leather) for mine.

[ccga3359]

Further reading as to why the belt alone is not a Sam Browne belt and that it is the belt and diagonal strap together. Realize that the belt was a part of the uniform before Capt. Browne lost his left arm.

[James MacMillan]

Further reading as to why the belt alone is not a Sam Browne belt and that it is the belt and diagonal strap together. Realize that the belt was a part of the uniform before Capt. Browne lost his left arm.

Grant posted all that is needed to know.....

Thanks for saving me the trouble of getting in on this.

[macwilkin]

Further reading as to why the belt alone is not a Sam Browne belt and that it is the belt and diagonal strap together. Realize that the belt was a part of the uniform before Capt. Browne lost his left arm.

Grant posted all that is needed to know.....

Thanks for saving me the trouble of getting in on this.

You evidently didn't see the link I posted before; much more reliable than Wiki. (and the Wiki article gives the Aussie site as a source!) Here it is again:

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...sam_browne.htm

Check it out.

Yes, there were variations of the Sam Browne Belt before Gen. Sam Browne. The article on the Australian military history site mentions that examples of said belts being used by the Americans around the time of the War of 1812. Still, Sam gets the credit and the name.

T.

[billmcc]

RetroTed, your photo says it all. It looks really sharp.

Yes, and I think it is a much better choice for casual wear than a traditional kilt belt with a big shiny waistplate (buckle).

By the way, a few manufacturers are making a Sally Browne belt which is shaped to accommodate the curve of ladies' hips.
See here: http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4824.php

[Sir Robert]

These guys will undoubtedly disagree with me but a Sam Brown belt is the only way to go when wearing a basket hilt sword.

Ultimately the Prince Charley is the equal of black tie for formals but there is another level of dress that does not have a name, just so that we can discuss this I'll give it one: "FANCY." A look at Highland Chieftains in paintings will be illustraitive. Would one wear all that stuff to a black tie event? No. But to say a parade or as a VIP at the highland games ...maybe.

Look at movie stars, in real life they wear blue jeans but on the red carpet they wear $20,000 designer outfits. To be honest if these same people were to attend a black tie affair then they would not dress as FANCY.

For me when I want to dress FANCY I wear Army Dress Blues with all of the Cavalry accrutriments like a cavalry saber and Stetsen. The civil equivalent would be the Sam Browne belt with a basket hilt claymore.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Having worn one for 6 years prior starting my driving career, would you mind if I told you that both terms are incorrect? In a uniform configuration, it is a duty belt. A duty belt, worn over a uniform blouse or jacket, with a shoulder strap for support, is a Sam Brown rig. A duty belt, attached with keepers or hook-and-loop, to a garrison belt which is looped through the belt loops on your trousers, is a Garrison rig.
Without the shoulder strap or garrison, it really is just a belt.

Interesting. Is that US military nomenclature and if so is that universal or is it branch of service specific? Or British and commonwealth forces nomenclature?

[ccga3359]

You evidently didn't see the link I posted before; much more reliable than Wiki. (and the Wiki article gives the Aussie site as a source!) Here it is again:

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...sam_browne.htm

No I read your link and Wiki may have it's faults but it is less graphical and it's format sometimes make it easier to read and to find the information one is looking for. I use Wiki as a starting point but if it's a subject I'm interested in I do indeed search further and find (buy) books on that subject. Todd you slight Wikipedia yet you also mention (in this case) it cites the same scource as you .