Name/Title
Sam Browne BeltDescription
The Sam Browne belt is a leather belt with a supporting strap that passes over the right shoulder, worn by military and police officers. It is named after Sir Samuel J. Browne (1824–1901), the British Indian Army general who invented it.Context
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. However, the Army as a whole did not immediately approve its use. The United States Army mandated the Sam Browne belt for overseas soldiers in 1918 under the name "Liberty belt" and for all service members in 1921, this time under the internationally accepted name "Sam Browne belt." It was a standard part of the uniform between World War I and World War II. It was limited in use in 1940 when the Army abandoned sabers and replaced with a cloth waistbelt that was sewn to the officer's jacket.Made/Created
Date made
circa 1918 - circa 1939Time Period
20th CenturyLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Belt, Sam BrowneNomenclature Primary Object Term
Belt, ArmamentNomenclature Sub-Class
Armament AccessoriesNomenclature Class
ArmamentsNomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology