Slightly off-topic but is there any point to jodhpurs beyond fashion. Does that style of pant confer any advantages when riding? Or was it just a trend from long ago?
The tight lower section fits into a tall riding boot much better. The roomier upper section allows movement without chafing of the thighs which is important to a rider. Jodhpurs are also tight across the ass to prevent bunching and creasing between the rider and his saddle.
Motorcycle police here in Alexandria sure have the riding boots and shoulder strap-belt combo.
The thing I’ve never understood about that form of uniform was the one long keeper that goes entirely around the officers chest.
I’m in law enforcement and that thing screams ass kicking!!!:eek:
It may look fancy, but in a fight a suspect is going to grab onto that thing! Unless I’m wrong it doesn’t look like it’s made to “break free” like a clip on or velcro tie does. Grab that thing and swing-n-twist to your left or right and whomever is wearing it is going down HARD! If you really know how to fight you understand what the hell I’m talking about. I’m glad we don’t have to wear those here!
The Sam Browne design is a way to wear a pistol/sword belt **over ** a military tunic w/o it sagging down on the side where the holster/scabbard’s hanging. Considering how a lot of the old-school wearers of this rig also had their pistol attached to a lanyard looped thru the epaulets, it seems the main consideration was to keep you from dropping your sidearm, not hand-to-hand fighting.
ISTM that a lot of the US police departments who use the Sam Browne are state-trooper units and highway police, who for their own reasons adopted a lot of accoutrements of early-20th-century cavalry, including the jodhpurs, high boots, and even the broad-brimmed hat. Many urban/city police departments, OTOH, seem to always have worn their gun/ammo belts on-the-hip.