Sam Browne belt

The waist belt also securely carried a pistol in a flap-holster on his right hip and included a binocular case with a neck-strap.

It was supposedly invented in 1878 by Lieutenant Basil Templer Graham-Montgomery, of the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps, while serving in India.

[13] In the 20th century it was a mainstay in the British Army officer corps, being adopted service-wide in 1900 during the Second Boer War after limited use in India and later becoming popular with military forces throughout the Commonwealth.

[citation needed] During World War I, the Sam Browne Belt was approved by General Pershing, commander of the AEF, for wear by American officers as a rank distinction.

[27] The Sam Browne belt is largely obsolete (except in dress uniforms) in police and security use due to risk of strangulation by potential opponents.

[citation needed] Despite these safety concerns New Jersey State Police Troopers always wear their sidearm on a full Sam Browne belt.

The full Sam Browne belt was adopted by for New Jersey State Police use by New Jersey State Police Col. Norman Schwarzkopf Sr., as the belt gave the wearer a proper "brace"[further explanation needed] (known by General of the Armies John Pershing as the "West Point Brace)".

[31][32] It is part of the ceremonial dress uniform of many agencies, most notably the Red Serge worn by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

[33] RCMP NCOs and other ranks wear a thin cross-belt over the left shoulder to support the pistol worn on the right side.

Non-commissioned members who are left-handed wear the same cross strap over the right shoulder to support the pistol worn on the left side.

[36] In the United States, the belts also became a symbol of civilian authority by "everybody from bus drivers to volunteer schoolboy traffic cops".

[41] However, others have expressed concern that the vertical design of the belt could enable others to gain physical control of law enforcement officers in an altercation.