Shoulder belt (military)

In military uniforms, a shoulder belt is a wide belt worn usually over the right shoulder and across the body. It was used to carry a cartridge box, a bayonet, a sword ("sword belt" was also the term in this case), or other military equipment.

Initially shoulder belts had buckles. In the second half of the 18th century the British army replaced buckles with shoulder belt plates. The latter ones were solid metal plates fixed with two studs to one end of the belt and used a hook to pass through one of several holes by the other end. This arrangement allowed for quick readjustment and a more neat appearance. Officers used to wear fancy gold and silver plates with elaborate engravings. Soldiers wore brass plates, usually with numerical or other design indicative of their regiments.