Do You Wear a Sam Browne / Duty Belt with Your Motorcycle Jacket?

[Carlos840]

There's nothing fetish about wearing a sam browne belt or any belt with a jacket meant for it. That's like saying my pants have belt loops, and I wear a belt, bring on the gimp. Wearing a Cal jacket and full Ponch and John are two different worlds. I'd also consider that more reenactment than fetish. Honestly all the laces are worse to me asthetically and comfort factor than a belt, but I still don't consider it a corset. The back of the highwaywan does remind me of one now that it was pointed out, before then it was just function over form. I personally don't use the side laces on my Cal as I can't get them to sit right, so a belt is mandatory. Really at the end of the day its all about how it works for you.

Edit

@Carlos840 all this fetish talk has me a little nervous to google bluf community lol

It seems you and @Fifty150 and using "duty belt" and "Sam Brown belt" as if they were the same thing, they are not...

This is a "sam Browne" belt, the "Sam Browne" refers to the extra strap that goes across the chest, IMO there is no way to wear this that isn't weird (unless part of a real uniform), loops or not. Everytime i have seen a chest cross strap worn above a leather jacket it was linked to BLUF.

 

[Edward]

Regarding fetish, i don't know if we have many people from the Bluf community here.
Personally i get nothing sexual from leather, i just enjoy collecting and i think the police jackets look cool, but i would never try to dress like a cop. I don't actually own a Sam Brown belt.
What you describe above sounds a lot more like reenactment than fetish.

I think we've had a few folks over the years pass through here who were at least on the fringes of the BLUF scene - which is fine, TFL doesn't judge! IT's not my bag, but I can see the psychology: I think for a lot of folks involved in that world it's not only about power dynamics alone, but also about the fact that it presents an image of strong, masculine archetypes. Both the Village People and Tom of Finland explored this in different ways. Not all that different, really, from the way police, soldieres or especially firemen are sold as 'sexy archetypes' to heterosexual women.

I think the fetish part of the belt is linked to "uniform power" more than specificaly "I want to be a sexy cop", the Sam Brown belt is after all originally a military uniform piece, not specifially a police uniforme piece.
It was widely used by the German army during WWII which i am sure is also a part of it.

I have a feeling that - as you identify in your later post - we're talking a bit at cross-purposes. When I read Sam Browne, I think of the full belt and shoulder strap too. The shoulder strap was the key element of what made a Sam Browne belt: the eponymous Browne - with an 'e', though this seems often to be dropped by this point in time - was a General in the British army in India who had lost his left arm, and as a result wasn't able to raw his sword with his right hand while using the left to steady the belt / scabbard and make it easier. It was also quickly discovered that the shoulder strap also prevented the scabbard or holster from jostling about when charging into battle. A less commonly seen version had two shoulder straps, worn vertically, instead of one diagonal. Presumably the latter dominated because of reduced cost. They have been widely worn across various military and paramilitary groups across the world since, including both sides in WW2. THey were even popular with the un-uniformed IRA during the Irish War of Independence, then worn by both sides during the brutal Civil War that followed - on the uniforms of the Free State Army, and over the civvies of the anti-Treaty forces.

From what I see here, it appears that our American cousins refer to the belt itself as a Sam Browne, with or without the shoulder strap. The holes on the modern version to allow for the attachment of other equipment in different configurations and so on does seem to make them very distinctive, though like yourself I tend to think automatically of the shoulder strap as an integral part of the design.

I think that a lot of agencies buy those Taylor Leather jackets. Mass distribution. Nationwide chain uniform suppliers sell them. If you guys are looking for something authentic, that is it. You can buy one, and have a good tailor take in whatever part of the jacket to give you a good fit. Thousands of cops across the country are wearing them. They sell a CA style also.

I picked one up on eBay awhile back, in (if memory serves) the Chicago style. Very nice indeed; I'd be tempted by another in that longer, button up DB NYPD style.

Well, I learned who Sam Browne was...

Yip, it's a fascinating story!

There's nothing fetish about wearing a sam browne belt or any belt with a jacket meant for it. That's like saying my pants have belt loops, and I wear a belt, bring on the gimp. Wearing a Cal jacket and full Ponch and John are two different worlds. I'd also consider that more reenactment than fetish. Honestly all the laces are worse to me asthetically and comfort factor than a belt, but I still don't consider it a corset. The back of the highwaywan does remind me of one now that it was pointed out, before then it was just function over form. I personally don't use the side laces on my Cal as I can't get them to sit right, so a belt is mandatory. Really at the end of the day its all about how it works for you.

Ironically, I spent over a decade wearing various corsets, dressed as Dr FRank'n'Furter, and I still don't much like lacing on a bike jacket. Totally see the practical purpose, of course.

 

[SinSir]

I couldn't agree more that with strap is where it gets into another territory. I'm speaking of the belt only like Cal calls it a sam browne belt. To me its just a belt and part of the jackets intended function and design. I don't feel a cop vibe when I wear it even though its called a lapd. Others may but to me its more throwback or retro feeling.

 

[Edward]

I couldn't agree more that with strap is where it gets into another territory. I'm speaking of the belt only like Cal calls it a sam browne belt. To me its just a belt and part of the jackets intended function and design. I don't feel a cop vibe when I wear it even though its called a lapd. Others may but to me its more throwback or retro feeling.

TBH, I was fascinated to discover some years ago that Cali had aleather jacket for the CHP. As with so many of us of a certain age, I'm sure, most of my awareness of the CHP comes from the old TV shoe CHiPs, in which they never wore anything I can recall other than a short sleeved-shirt, gloves, and that police half-helmet on the top half on their bikes... Looking at it as an adult that looks risky in terms of a spill, but I can see the temptation for an experienced rider in the Californian heat!

 

[Fifty150]

I do love the CHP style jacket and I have several of them, but I prefer them to be belt loop free as I have no need nor desire to wear a belt with these jackets.

My jacket does not have any belt keepers attached. That's probably just a fad with the motor officers in this part of the country. This video will show how the gun belt sits at the hip, and not on the jacket.

On certain assignments, the entire motor unit is expected to wear the safety green reflective jackets. Nobody attaches a gun belt to the Hi-Viz jackets either.

In case anyone is curious, the reflective jacket is this style.

 

[Fifty150]

they never wore anything I can recall other than a short sleeved-shirt, gloves, and that police half-helmet

It's for comfort. You can't wear a heavy leather jacket in hot weather. Real cops wear body armor. Internal organs are protected.

 

[Edward]

It's for comfort. You can't wear a heavy leather jacket in hot weather. Real cops wear body armor. Internal organs are protected.

Still a lot of skin to loseon the face / arms, though! But that's one of the reasons I've beenwary of visiting CA thus far - I couldn't cope with the weather.

 

[El Marro]

But that's one of the reasons I've beenwary of visiting CA thus far - I couldn't cope with the weather.

Now that is not a sentiment I’ve heard before! Most people seem to really like our weather out here.

 

[Fifty150]

Opinions vary.

The obvious solution is don't go anywhere where you are not comfortable. Bernie Sanders, no relation to The Colonel, went to Russia on his honeymoon. I have chosen not to visit Antarctica. Plenty of people, at the moment, are not going to China. Young girls at the bar don't go home with me.

 

[navetsea]

totally agree I don't go to the sea since Jaws

 

[Fifty150]

I stopped buying Panda Express since Big Trouble In Little China

 

[Fifty150]

Still a lot of skin to loseon the face / arms, though! But that's one of the reasons I've beenwary of visiting CA thus far - I couldn't cope with the weather.

Obvious solution is not to fall off the bike.

 

[Edward]

Now that is not a sentiment I’ve heard before! Most people seem to really like our weather out here.

I'm Irish; we don't cope well with sun and heat. After twenty-one years living down here in the heat of Southern England I've finally gone shiny-white. I started off a pale blue colour. CA is one3 we'll do eventually, but definitely in what passes for Winter over there. I'd be the same with Florida.

Obvious solution is not to fall off the bike.

Ha! I once met a guy who refused to wear safety equipment of any sort on a bike because he insisted it made you morel iikely to have an accident because you were already expecting one to happen.

 

[jonbuilder]

I rider faster when riding fully gear up. The gear will and has protected against road rash but is less effective against a body collision with an immovable object such as trees & automobiles.

 

[Edward]

I rider faster when riding fully gear up. The gear will and has protected against road rash but is less effective against a body collision with an immovable object such as trees & automobiles.

If nothning else, the Dunlop boys and their various fates have given me a very healthy respect for the dangers of speed on two wheels!

 

[Peter Mackin]

If nothning else, the Dunlop boys and their various fates have given me a very healthy respect for the dangers of speed on two wheels!

Totally agree,,lots of Walter Mitty’s claim to be fast,,do it on the track & keep everyone safe.

 

[Fifty150]

Just my personal bias. You can be the best motorcycle rider. But you are powerless when it comes down to unskilled drivers, and poor road conditions. Not your fault if the road surface is in poor repair, it's wet, there's oil, and loose gravel. Not your fault when drivers aren't looking. Not your fault when something falls off a truck. Not your fault when a truck tire blows out. It doesn't matter. You are the one who goes down. Go-ahead and argue in court about who is at fault: if you live through the accident.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Started riding a MC in 1972 and owned one ever since. Let see...Full face helmet ... Heavy leather jacket with armor, of course...pants with armor, of course...heavy boots...armored gloves, of course. Did I leave anything out? Mouthpiece perhaps ?? Sure sounds so comfortable, wind in your hair freedom and fun. Er no thanks, if I must do all that I'll just take the car for a relaxing drive.....

 

[Fifty150]

You learn to minimize your exposure to injury and death. Along the way, you find a comfort point for yourself. I know a few people who only ride on local streets, as they think that freeway speeds are unsafe. I know a few people who won't ride in The City traffic, but think that long trips on an open road are much safer. I've disabled the seat belt warning alerts on my car, so that I can drive without wearing my seat belt.

Back on topic. The jacket was made with keepers for a gun belt. A gun belt which not everybody attaches to the jacket. The belt is not a functional part of the jacket. The jacket was made to be functional to the belt. Which serves no purpose, if you don't have a gun. The same jackets are worn without the gun belt, and made without the belt keepers. But if you enjoy the way it looks, then it's all that matters. You may was well load the belt with an empty holster, pistol magazine pouches, handcuff case, radio carrier, and a baton ring. Then you'll truly be properly outfitted.

 

[roadking04]

if I must do all that I'll just take the car for a relaxing drive.....

Right on HD!