Difference between m1938 and m1953 officers blue dress uniform

[eagle mtn]

Hello all,

 

I’m trying to figure out what the difference is between these two uniforms is. I’ve been looking for a pre-war version for years, but usually when I see one it’s advertised as an m1953.  Visually I can’t tell the difference 

 

 

[doyler]

Recall there wasnt a change or very little from the 1902 Model and during WW2 the dress blue for Army was suspended if I remember right.

 

 

[eagle mtn]

50 minutes ago, doyler said:

Recall there wasnt a change or very little from the 1902 Model and during WW2 the dress blue for Army was suspended if I remember right.

 

 

I think it was discontinued temporarily in 1943 for everyone except for extremely special occasions.  I notice that some that I see have exterior patch pockets and some have interior pockets with only pocket flaps visible.  

[QED4]

The main and most noticeable difference is the pockets on the M-38 coat were inside hung while the M-53 had patch pockets. The strip on the M-38 pants was the branch color and on the M-53 everyone wore yellow. 

[eagle mtn]

14 hours ago, QED4 said:

The main and most noticeable difference is the pockets on the M-38 coat were inside hung while the M-53 had patch pockets. The strip on the M-38 pants was the branch color and on the M-53 everyone wore yellow. 

Thank you!  I don’t understand why this was so hard for others to say. I had my suspicions but I’m glad you confirmed it.  So many for-sale listings would not make this clarification and I’ve had bo luck finding information on this matter.  I take it that this particular uniform was rare even when it was worn. 

[QED4]

You are welcome. I wouldn't say they are rare but they are hard to find. Due to the wear out period everyone didn't buy one right away then the war came along and they were no longer required. You can't go by sale listing, many people just don't know and other will say what ever they think it will take to make a sale. 

[Justin B.]

Another easy difference to spot is the 1938 pocket flaps are basically rectangular, with a straight bottom edge and rounded corners. The 1953 type has "three-point" flaps.

[eagle mtn]

1 hour ago, Justin B. said:

Another easy difference to spot is the 1938 pocket flaps are basically rectangular, with a straight bottom edge and rounded corners. The 1953 type has "three-point" flaps.

Fantastic. I really appreciate the help. Signs are looking good for this one then. Can’t wait to get it in person 

[Justin B.]

3 hours ago, eagle mtn said:

Fantastic. I really appreciate the help. Signs are looking good for this one then. Can’t wait to get it in person

 

Yeah that one's good. I would guess that the shoulder straps are from an earlier period than the coat. As for the name, I can find an artillery officer named Gustave W. S. Stevens, but he died in 1935. The trousers may have a different origin than the coat, of course. Many possibilities.

 

I wish our pre-WW2 blues expert @Jamecharles would chime in on this! Haven't seen him around for a while.

[eagle mtn]

Interesting…. Now I’m eager to see if there’s a filled out tailor tag in the coat. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the insignia on these was pretty sparse. No SSI or ribbons right?

[Justin B.]

56 minutes ago, eagle mtn said:

Interesting…. Now I’m eager to see if there’s a filled out tailor tag in the coat. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the insignia on these was pretty sparse. No SSI or ribbons right?

 

There would be ribbons or medals depending on formality, and U.S. and branch insignia, but no SSI, no DUI, and no service/wound stripes.

[Jamecharles]

Thanks for the tag @Justin B., I am still here and still upgrading my blue dress uniform collection ahaha

BTW the uniform shown by @eagle mtnis a correct blue dress officer uniform, pattern1937, artillery branch, great catch.

 

Often we do a mistake in calling the pre 1953 as model 1938.
Basically the blue dress uniform set were the same until 1936, when the US army decided to re-design the entire set for officer's and EM's; the first design of 1936 was adopted for less than 1 year than swapped for the new design introduced with an AR of 1937 and adjusted with more details in 1938, but the model it self was not changed between 1937 to 1938.

Even if all these arguments seem superfluous, define in particular that the correct way to call the blue dress uniforms made before 1953 should be pattern 1937 (even if they adjusted few minor details in 1938).

 

[Jamecharles]

I add some simple scheme to shown the differences between 1936 to 1937

[Justin B.]

7 hours ago, Jamecharles said:

Thanks for the tag @Justin B., I am still here and still upgrading my blue dress uniform collection ahaha

BTW the uniform shown by @eagle mtnis a correct blue dress officer uniform, pattern1937, artillery branch, great catch.

 

Often we do a mistake in calling the pre 1953 as model 1938.
Basically the blue dress uniform set were the same until 1936, when the US army decided to re-design the entire set for officer's and EM's; the first design of 1936 was adopted for less than 1 year than swapped for the new design introduced with an AR of 1937 and adjusted with more details in 1938, but the model it self was not changed between 1937 to 1938.

Even if all these arguments seem superfluous, define in particular that the correct way to call the blue dress uniforms made before 1953 should be pattern 1937 (even if they adjusted few minor details in 1938).

 

Great information as always, good to see you're still at it!

[eagle mtn]

Jamecharles and Justin B, thank you so much for your assistance. Perhaps I wasn’t looking in the right areas, but I had a hard time find any information on these uniforms.  I’ll be sure to check the jacket for name and let you know. 

[Ranger-1972]

The Army discontinued the full-dress and dress uniforms during and after World War I. In 1929, the pre-war versions of the full-dress and dress uniforms (with standing collars) were reauthorized for wear at the option of the officer. On 13 October 1936, War Dept. Circular 66 adopted an optional trial version of a roll-collar blue dress uniform, convertible to a full dress and a special full dress version, for wear by all officers, warrant officers, and contract surgeons. This uniform had no pockets (upper or lower) and had branch-colored shoulder boards and branch color trim on the sleeves. This was an optional purchase for officers who had the older, standing collar blue uniforms, which could continue to be worn until they were no longer serviceable, but all new purchases had to conform to the new regulation.

 

On 21 January 1937, War Dept Circular 7 reintroduced the blue dress uniform for wear by all officers, warrant officers, and contract surgeons (at the option of the individual officer). These uniforms differed from the 1936 version in that they had two upper and two lower slash pockets (on the inside of the coat – not visible from the outside) with flaps (rounded at the corners but flat across the bottom of the flap).  Existing blue dress uniforms (as prescribed in Special Regulations No. 41 and 42) could continue to be worn until no longer serviceable.  Blue dress uniforms prescribed by War Dept Circular 66 (1936) had to be altered to fit comply with the provisions of the 1937 circular (which is why so few of them survived).

 

AR 60-38 (17 Aug 1938) made wear of the blue dress uniform mandatory for Regular Army officers.

 

In addition to the pocket flaps, another give-away on the 1937 version is the presence of the brass hooks on the rear seam of the jacket, at waist level, designed to support the sword belt when the uniform was worn in the 'full-dress' version.  On the jacket shown, those brass hooks are covered in fabric so they do not stand out.  They were normally sewn onto a piece of cloth with a button hole, which was fastened to a button on the inside of the coat -- with the end of the hook protruding through a small slit in the seam. The sword belt was to be worn only when under arms. The design of the belt was similar to that authorized in 1902, with the exception that all officers (except general officers of the line and general officers of the GHQ Air Force) were to wear what had previously been the company-grade officer’s belt (four bands of gold lace, with three silk stripes of the first-named color of the arm or service); field-grade officers no longer wore the sword belt with 1.5" gold lace. The sword was suspended using a nickel saber chain (rather than the sword hangers (straps) authorized in the 1902 regulation). The dress saber knot was to be worn. (After the new 1953 version came out, sword belts were almost never worn.)

 

AR 60-38 (1938) distinguished between blue dress and blue dress mounted uniforms.  Mounted officers (cavalry, field artillery, and field grade officers) wore "pinks" service breeches and russet leather riding boots, in lieu of the lighter blue riding breeches and black riding boots that had been worn prior to 1936. (Field Artillery officers could also wear long trousers when on dismounted duty.)

 

Per AR 60-38 (1938), the full dress version (with medals, sword belt, and saber) was worn on state occasions at home and abroad; when receiving the President of the United States; when receiving or calling upon the president, sovereign, or member of the royal family of other countries (such as done by attaches at U.S. embassies abroad); at ceremonies and entertainments when it is desired to do special honor to the occasion; at social functions of a general or official nature, when prescribed; and as prescribed for the White House (specifically, for New Year’s and other state receptions before 6PM; other White House events called for wear of the special evening dress uniform).  The dress version (with ribbons instead of medals and no sword belt or saber) was for ordinary wear after retreat; at social functions of a general or official nature after retreat; for social use before retreat; when off post or reservation; and as authorized by the commanding officer.

 

The uniform you pictured (presuming the jacket and trousers are from the same individual) is for a Coast Artillery Corps captain or Field Artillery captain (when dismounted).  

 

There would have been U.S. insignia on the upper lapels, and FA or CAC crossed cannon on the lower lapels.  Junior officers had begun to purchase dress blue caps with metal eagles that were affixed to the front; more senior officers often continued the earlier practice of having a gilt wire eagle embroidered on the front of the cap.

 

I have a M1936 (roll collar but no pockets) uniform worn by an aide and the M1937 (upper & lower pocket flaps, but no exterior patch pockets) mounted uniform worn by a CAC colonel up until his retirement in 1941. The 1936 uniform came with the WWI Victory Medal, full-dress gold shoulder knots, and the aide's gold aiguilette and sword belt; the 1937 uniform came with the WWI Victory Medal ribbon (not the medal itself) and sword belt -- the colonel also wore an Expert badge for Coast Artillery, Small Bore, and Mines, a Sharpshooter badge for Pistol, and a Marksman badge for Rifle. Officers in the USMC still wear their shooting badges, but Army officers today generally do not. That was not the case before WWII.

 

Wear of the M1937 dress blue uniform was suspended in June 1942 for the duration of WWII.  In 1947, President Truman noted the absence of a dress uniform for his Army aides (the Navy and Marines had continued to wear dress uniforms during WWII) and reauthorized the pre-war version to be worn.  On 11 April 1951, D.A. Special Regulations No. 600-32-1 authorized the optional purchase and wear of the dress blue uniform, blue mess uniform, and special evening dress uniform.  On 7 August 1953, branch color stripes on officers' and enlisted men's trousers were replaced with 1.5" wide gold stripes, exterior patch pockets were added to the jacket, and pocket flaps were redesigned to have three points on the bottom. This was written into D.A. Special Regulation 600-32-10 Change 5 in October 1955.

 

As of 18 February 1963, all officers and warrant officers were required to possess the Army blue uniform, and it was issued to enlisted men assigned to ceremonial units and recruiting duty.

[Jamecharles]

I have a silly question for all of you: did the dress belt still regulated with the new AR in 1953? I never saw an officers in blue dress with dress belt since 1953 .
Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer that question.

[Justin B.]

11 hours ago, Jamecharles said:

I have a silly question for all of you: did the dress belt still regulated with the new AR in 1953? I never saw an officers in blue dress with dress belt since 1953 .
Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer that question.

The dress belts are still around but only for ceremonial duties by The Old Guard 3rd Infantry Regiment. As such, only in infantry colors. I don't think they are in the actual uniform regulations since they are strictly items for that unit. There are enlisted, company grade and field grade belts. They can be seen in official ceremonies around DC, such as the recent state funeral and inauguration.

[Jamecharles]

Thanks Justin! My question popped up in my mind after long research of 1950s references of officers in full dress with dress belt and I was not able to spot any of them

[KurtA]

And notice the style hats the ceremonial detachment wears- much less diameter on the top “saucer” than the standard dress blue hats worn by other Army officers. 

[lmxs]

On 2/5/2025 at 12:35 AM, Jamecharles said:

我有一个愚蠢的问题要问你们：1953年的新AR是否仍然规定了警服腰带？1953年以来，我从未见过一个穿着蓝色制服的军官配有警服腰带。
提前感谢能回答这个问题的人。

still,you can refer the follow photos

the old guard

this looks like in the old time,the cold war times maybe.

[lmxs]

ha,here.different arms,but also from the 3rd regiment,they are not infantry,you can see the belt's color is different

[lmxs]

general also have a gold belt.why?the answer is for the saber.

[Wolfhound63]

The belt the field grade officers wear in the Old Guard has reverted to the 1.5”all gold braid, which was true Army wide until 1937. Shown below on right in 2025.

 

The female officer in Imxs’ picture above is LTC Meghan V. Ederle. Her belt braid is all gold like the officer above on right, not in branch color. 

Company grade officers of the Old Guard wear the traditional belts with four gold stripes interspersed with the first named color of the branch, which is infantry blue.
 

According to Ranger-1972 above, the four stripe pattern was worn by company and field grade officers of all branches, in all the colors, from 1937-1953.
 

Evidently no one makes the braid with four gold stripes in any color but infantry blue anymore, so company grade officers of other branches use a belt with cap band type braid in the branch color instead of the pre 1953 four stripe braid.
 

I can’t find any regulation for this new belt with cap braid but Marlow White sells it, albeit with a different buckle. In my opinion it’s a shame they don’t make the traditional four stripe braid in all the colors. 
 

I saw the cap braid belt being used with the traditional 1851 pattern belt buckle during the recent presidential funeral service in January 2025.

 

If anyone has any further information on current regulations for this please share. 
 

[Ranger-1972]

Actually, there is a traditional company-grade belt that could be worn by FA or ADA or ENG officers.  It is issued to officers and the Drum Major of Pershing's Own, the US Army Band.