# What is the function of a Sam Browne belt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244 "2003-11-04T00:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/1 "2003-11-04T00:42:56Z")
In some countries (nowhere in the U.S., so far as I know), military and police uniforms have a feature known as a Sam Browne belt, which is a belt worn over the uniform coat, around the waist, with a thin strap looping over one shoulder. Why? I suppose the shoulder-strap holds the waist-belt in place, but what is the point of the waist-belt? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/2 "2003-11-04T01:15:29Z")
When I was in the service a Sam Browne belt was an equipment belt, i.e. a belt to which one attached equipment, such as canteens, holsters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/3 "2003-11-04T01:15:55Z")
From [Sam Browne Belt, A full history and a controversy](http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/sam_browne.htm): > [@](#): > > The strap was intended to help carry the weight of a heavy pistol or sword. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/4 "2003-11-04T01:18:57Z")
Originally, it was so you’d carry your sidearm (sword or pistol) on the belt outside of your jacket. And thus the diagonal auxiliary strap, so the weight of said sidearm wouldn’t sag the waist belt to one side. Eventually the holster/scabbard was lost except in exceptional ocassions, and the Sam Browne acquired the approximate military usefulness of a necktie, i.e. it looks sharp. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/5 "2003-11-04T01:24:55Z")
Originally, it was so you’d carry your sidearm (sword or pistol) on the belt outside of your jacket. And thus the diagonal auxiliary strap, so the weight of said sidearm wouldn’t sag the waist belt to one side. Eventually the holster/scabbard was lost except in exceptional ocassions, and the Sam Browne acquired the approximate military usefulness of a necktie, i.e. it looks sharp. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/6 "2003-11-04T02:31:40Z")
The Mounties still use the Sam Browne for their red serge uniforms, and when they do, they carry a holster on the belt, along with a white lanyard to the pistol. (Originally the lanyard was in case the officer dropped the pistol while riding his horse.) Here’s some pictures from the [RCMP Musical Ride](http://www.rcmp.ca/musicalride/postcard_e.htm). Some of the more detailed pics show the belt, holster and lanyard. Also, you can tell from the way the Sam Browne is worn if the officer is non-comm or commissioned: non-comms wear the strap over the left shoulder, commissioned officers wear it over the right shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/7 "2003-11-04T02:48:46Z")
NJ State Troopers have a Sam Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-function-of-a-sam-browne-belt/211244/8 "2003-11-04T03:29:50Z")
_…non-comms wear the strap over the left shoulder, commissioned officers wear it over the right shoulder._ Interesting difference, perhaps related to where a (right-handed) person would place a holster vs. where one would place a scabbard.