Yesterday, my wife and I were watching Blue Bloods, season 12 episode 18 (Long Lost). Very soon into the episode, one of the characters is a United States Marine captain in uniform visiting Commissioner Reagan in the commissioner’s office. The captain was wearing a belt with a strap going from the belt over the shoulder (I think it was the right shoulder).
I don’t recall ever seeing that in a Marine uniform. Is that correct or just a bit of TV costuming?
Like the strap on the Marine in the foreground of this photo?
That’s it! Thanks. I really don’t remember seeing that before.
Disclaimer: I am not a Marine, nor did I ever serve in the military. I’m just digging around on Google.
The strap appears to be part of a “Sam Browne belt,” which is part of dress uniforms for officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
Some states State Troopers wear those as well. I always thought it was a form of keeper to secure the duty belt.
Canadian Mounties wear Sam Browne belts too, only they do so from the left shoulder to the right hip. But that’s just when they are in dress uniforms; for everyday policing, they look like any other police officer.
In case it’s not obvious, the purpose of it is to support the weight of a sword and a pistol.
Around 1852, Sam was a young Indian Army officer. What he designed could be called the U.K.’s very first “Integrated System” of accoutrements as, once assembled, it was put on like a waistcoat. During the Indian Mutiny, in 1858 Sam won the Victoria Cross, in an action that cost him his left arm, virtually severed at the shoulder by a mutineer’s tulwar. With no left arm, he was unable to Carry Swords, when walking and must have given some thanks for his foresight in having invented – years before his loss- the belt that carries his name today.
http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/officers/sam_browne/sam_browne_intro.html
Follow on question: So, when should the officer wear the Sam Browne belt? In the episode, he wasn’t wearing a scabbard with sword.
From what I read, it seems to be an individual choice. Subject to permissions of course.
My father, who was an Army officer after WW2 considered them a bit passé unless you were actually wearing a sword on parade.
I think officers wear it on the right shoulder to left hip. The reason is that non-officers carry a pistol, so want the support on the right hip, where the holster is. Officers in dress uniform wear a sword, so the support is needed on the left hip.
Since the OP’s question has been answered, I’ll comment. I watched that episode, too, and I was sweating it-- bracing myself for one or the other of the men to salute (inappropriately!). I think a lot of inappropriate saluting goes on in the show. (The show irritates the hell out of me but I still watch it every week. Go figure.)
I’m left handed, so I would want the holster on my left hip. Would that screw up all the dress codes? Would I face discipline?
No idea!
It would provide a very convenient place to be grabbed by an opponent during hand-to-hand combat.