Officer's Sam Browne belt with single strap : Victorian Military Forces

Officer's brown vegetable-tanned Sam Browne belt with single shoulder strap. The belt is made from a single length of 2 3/8 inch wide leather. Its finished length is 44 inches. At the proper left end lies a double-tongued brass buckle with a separate rounded safe lying behind. At the proper right end the rounded billet has nine pairs of holes for adjustment with four tear-shaped cuts which fit over a brass stud behind the buckle. A sliding running loop lies adjacent to the buckle end of the belt . A brass hook is affixed through the belt. Three brass D-loops are sewn along the top edge of the belt under leather tabs and further secured with a brass tudor rose stud. These loops take the shoulder strap. Two brass D-loops are sewn along the lower edge with tudor rose studs which provide attachment for a sword. The shoulder strap is made from a single piece of leather which measures 45 inches in length and 1 1/2 inches at its widest point. At the front a pointed billet with two tear-shaped cuts passes through a brass D-loop on the belt and is secured over the brass stud sewn under a leather tab to the strap. The end of the strap can be secured under a shield-shaped leather tab. At the back the pointed end of the billet passes through a brass D-loop and is secured with a brass buckle. The belt has decorative stitching on its surface and all of its edges are incised (tooled) with a decorative line. There are no maker's marks or other inscriptions on the belt.

This particular belt has been associated with the uniform of a staff sergeant of the Victorian Cavalry, though no evidence could be found to support this. Sam Browne sword belts are first mentioned as part of the uniform of both Headquarters Staff and the Victorian Mounted Rifles in the 1893 Dress Regulations for Victoria.