Special Air Service Stable Belt.

[oc14]

Originally Posted by Mike H

. Yet im sure i never saw him wearing any type of wings.

My brother is entitled to wear wings but never does. When I asked him why he doesn't his answer was "I know that I've jumped out of aeroplanes, why does everyone else need to know ?"

PL

[Royal]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Yes, stable belts were (are still?) private purchase, although not having one wasn't an option - you bought one and that was that.

Still the same - on both counts

[badgecollector]

hi all
so can i confirm the buckle i posted was worn by the australians?
did the aussies wear the round style as well?
bc

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Still no evidence that it was ever worn by anyone on the British SAS.
That saved me some money.

[54Bty]

Interesting thread.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30089893

Marc

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

Interesting thread.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30089893

Marc

It appears that this belt in the IWM link is the "Victor" mentioned in post no. 9 of which my belt is stated to be a poor quality Du Boras sold copy.
It's interesting to see how ill fitting the locket of the original Victor belt is.

[Mike H]

It must years old though . If i recall correctly PDLB 1st served with the SAS when they were in Malvern .

[Colin S]

Originally Posted by badgecollector

hi all
so can i confirm the buckle i posted was worn by the australians?
did the aussies wear the round style as well?
bc

The Australians only wore stable belts for a very short period and, as far as I know, they only wore the Brit style with a locket like that made by Victors of Aldershot. The one you have was confined to the NZSAS accordingly to my information.

[badgecollector]

thanks colin
my information is the opposite.
seems like the one i posted was worn by the Australians and they other type by the Kiwis.
heres a fantastic web source
http://www.stablebelts.co.uk/

bc

[Colin S]

Originally Posted by badgecollector

thanks colin
my information is the opposite.
seems like the one i posted was worn by the Australians and they other type by the Kiwis.
heres a fantastic web source
http://www.stablebelts.co.uk/

bc

Different sources.....my source for the NZSAS angle was an ‘insider’. However, it is interesting to see that the Australia section of Stablebelts (which is a great resource) shows the Aussies as using both the Victors type locket and the later Hobsons type version. The Hobson style buckles first came out in the mid 1980s when the Australian Army was starting to experiment with stable belts, so do they fit the time frames. Other units, such as 1 Commando Regiment and their attached Signal Squadron used a Victors style locket. I’ve just checked and an Australian militaria dealer is selling both types as being worn by the SASR in the 1980s.

I suspect it is matter of what was available and what was approved by each unit. The original UK SAS belt used the Victors buckle and this was the version used in both 22 and the TA units. It was also used by the Rhodesian and NZ units. I have never known the Hobsons buckle to be worn by a UKSF unit.

The Australians were relative latecomers to using stable belts and probably also used British made belts. However, it seems that the Hobson style buckles were also worn in both Australia and NZ, which might be a result of difficulties in getting enough British belts with the Victors buckle. Whether the Hobson style buckle belts were a regimental bulk-buy by the SASR and the NZSAS or down to individual initiatives I don’t know. I also don’t know if stable belts are issue items for the Australian and NZ armies or whether they are private purchase items, as they are in the UK. If they are private purchase items, that might account for both styles being tolerated in Oz and NZ?

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Originally Posted by Colin S

The original UK SAS belt used the Victors buckle and this was the version used in both 22 and the TA units. It was also used by the Rhodesian units.

Just to clarify. The Victor style buckle used by the RhSAS were made in Rhodesia not the UK.

[Frank Kelley]

What do make of these, Peter?

Originally Posted by rhodesianmilitaria

Just to clarify. The Victor style buckle used by the RhSAS were made in Rhodesia not the UK.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Look like Reuteler.

[engr9266]

Mike, I believe Du Boras closed many years ago

Originally Posted by Mike H

As i recall,Du Boras wasnt the cheapest place to shop. Are they still there ?
I thought all stable belts were privately purchased.
A guy i served in the TA with was ex 23 . Yet he wore an RE belt with an Airborne locket (pegasus) rather than the winged dagger. Yet im sure i never saw him wearing any type of wings.

Jerry,
I fairly sure it's still there, i remember visiting the old shop in the centre of town to find they had moved to station road, and subsequently found them there. They did have the last remnants of the victor's 'small crown' berets which is what i was looking for. Best Regards - Mark