| Subject: What is a Garrison Belt? |
Author:
Stan
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Date Posted: 14:44:58 02/16/17 Thu
Because garrison belts are frequently mentioned in posts dealing with corporal punishment, I thought I'd try to shed some light on what they're all about.
However, a picture's worth a thousand words. So, for those readers who are totally unfamiliar with garrison belts, I recommend you go to Google Images, do searches on "garrison belt", "basketweave belt", and "Sam Browne belt" and view the photos displayed there before reading the rest of this post.
First, a few general comments: Garrison belts are usually categorized as uniform belts or work belts. Though most commonly associated with police officers and security guards, they are also worn in various government and private service jobs, such as postal employees and repairmen. In World War II, they were part of the standard US Army dress uniform. And ironically, during the rebellious 1960s, just about anyone wore a garrison belt as a "casual belt".
Now, I'll attempt to explain the term "garrison belt" by breaking it down into minute details:
(1) Belt Width - I believe that when most people refer to a garrison belt, they have in mind a belt that is 1-3/4" wide. Actually, many manufacturers of garrison belts use the same term when referring to similar belts of a different width such as 1-1/2".
(2) Belt Color - Most people think of garrison belts as being only black in color, but they have also come in various shades of brown. Brown garrison belts were more common in the past than they are now. I have a theory why brown garrison belts have declined in popularity. County sheriffs, especially in southwestern desert states, most frequently wear tan-colored uniforms. And they used to wear brown leather accessories (including belts) with those uniforms. I suspect that the popularity of the TV program "Chips" (California Highway Patrol) demonstrated that tan uniforms can look at least as attractive with black leather accessories as with brown. Perhaps, brown leather accessories (just like brown shoes) were subsequently considered to be unfashionable, motivating many sheriff departments to switch from brown leather to black leather for their uniforms.
(3) Belt Finish - I imagine most people think of garrison belts as having a plain leather finish, but they are also made with a "basketweave" finish, which is most commonly associated with law enforcement. A basketweave finish is a raised design stamped into the leather giving the appearance of a weave. Much less common than either are garrison belts made with a glossy (patent-leather) finish. The only time I ever saw anyone wear a garrison belt with a glossy finish as part of their uniform were MPs when I was in the US Army.
(4) Belt Buckle - To quote a post by a Ron S. dated February 5, 2006 on the website www.xdtalk.com, he hits the nail squarely on the head when he states, referring to garrison belts, "The thing that is distinctive is the buckle". The only inaccuracy in the post, and it's minor, is when he says "the buckle is square." Garrison belt buckles (for 1-3/4" wide belts) are 2-1/4" high and 2" wide, which, in my geometry book, makes them technically "rectangles". Admittedly, they give the impression of being square. He goes on to describe the unique way the belt attaches to the buckle which I paraphrase as follows: The inner end of the belt is attached to the vertical crossbar in the middle of the buckle, while the outer end of the belt passes under one side of the buckle, over the vertical crossbar, and then under the other side.
One additional comment about buckles: Garrison belt buckles are generally silver-colored these days. When brown garrison belts were more common, the buckles for them were usually gold-colored.
(5) Creased Edges - One thing I've seen on all belts I call garrison belts, but which I've rarely seen mentioned, is the existence of creased edges, that is, 2 shallow grooves running the full length of the belt. Those grooves are parallel to the top and bottom edges of the belt and are located about 1/8" from either the top or the bottom edge. These creased edges add to the distinctive appearance of a garrison belt. I don't consider a belt that lacks these creased edges to be a true garrison belt.
(6) Belt Keeper - Garrison belts are almost always sold with a leather belt keeper even though, because of the buckle's unique design, the outer end of the belt would probably remain flat even without the keeper.
(7) Variable Details - Although garrison belts are fairly standard in design, there are a few details which might vary:
(a) The outer tip of the belt may be either tapered to a point midway between the top and bottom edges, or it may be rounded forming a half-circle. The rounded tip seems to be an older style.
(b) The holes in the leather for the buckle's prong may be either circular or elliptical. Elliptical holes seem to be an older style.
(c) In the past, the inside surface of garrison belts (the part not visible when worn) was always tan in color. But, more recently, I've noticed that the leather of many garrison belts seems to be dyed black all the way through. This process is referred to as "drum dyed". So now, the inside surface is often black.
(8) Primary Use - To hold up one's pants. This may seem obvious, but I bring it up because there seems to be some confusion between the terms "garrison belt" and "Sam Browne belt". Ignoring historical derivations, I believe the most common current usage for both terms is as follows:
A garrison belt is basically a pants belt. That is, it is threaded through the belt loops of one's pants, whereas a Sam Browne belt is what most people loosely refer to as a holster belt, a gun belt, or perhaps, more accurately, a utility belt. The Sam Browne belt is not threaded through belt loops but rests on the officer's hips. A police officer's gun holster, baton, handcuffs, and numerous other accessories are all attached to his Sam Browne belt.
Sam Browne belts are generally 2-1/4" wide and may have either a plain leather or basketweave finish. The buckle is rectangular and is about 2-7/8" high and 1-7/8" wide. The buckle has 2 prongs, rather than one. And the buckle doesn't function like most belt buckles. Most belt buckles are attached to the inner end of the belt. Not so with a Sam Browne belt where the buckle may be attached, via the prongs, to any pair of holes in the belt. This allows the belt to be adjusted for different waist sizes. There are 2 curved metal hooks on the inner end of the belt which catch onto the vertical crossbar in the middle of the buckle. The officer's Sam Browne belt is attached to his pants (garrison) belt by means of leather keepers which wrap around both belts, and the ends of the keepers snap together. Since a lot of weight is hanging from the Sam Browne belt, and the Sam Browne belt is attached to the officer's pants belt, it is important that the pants belt be sturdy too. That is why garrison belts are wide and made of fairly stiff leather.
(9) Secondary Use - To be used when one's pants are down as a disciplinary instrument. I have read countless testimonies by people on the Internet that their dad's garrison belt was an effective spanking instrument. However, that needs to be qualified. When a garrison belt is relatively new, it is generally quite stiff and does not make the best spanking instrument. It is only after the belt has become well-worn and flexible that it makes an effective (and memorable) "educational aid".
For additional information about garrison belts and my own preferences regarding them, see my post titled "Shopping For A Garrison Belt".
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