Sam Browne Button

Sam Browne Button

A Sam Browne button is available in several different sizes and colours and is used as a closing mechanism on, among other things, leather belts, bags, purses, and knife sheaths. It is also popular on shoulder straps for riffle bags – hence the name.

Assembling the Sam Browne button

A Sam Browne button is mounted by screwing it together with the supplied screw. On some projects it may be beneficial to apply a small amount of superglue to the screw thread to prevent the screw from loosening during use.

The buttonhole for the Sam Browne button

A round hole with a slot is preferable as it allows you to make the smallest hole possible.

You can buy a buttonhole punch that makes a hole with a small slot.

When choosing a buttonhole punch for your Sam Browne button, it is the diameter of the neck that is important. The hole must not be larger than necessary, so that the Sam Browne button fits as tight as possible, as it expands in use.

Example: A 5 x 6 mm buttonhole punch means the hole is 5 mm in diameter and the slot is 6 mm.

This punch is suitable for use with the small Sam Browne button, where the diameter of the neck is 5 mm.

However, there are exceptions: if you work with thin material, you can easily choose a smaller size buttonhole punch, and if you work with very thick and stiff material, it may be necessary to choose a larger size punch.

How should the buttonhole punch be placed?

On purses and bags, the slot must face away from the edge of the flap. On belts and straps, it must face away from the end of the end/clip of the strap.

Note

The above is indicative only. Always make a sample on a remnant of the material you are working with.