Officers and sidearms on parade

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Did officers wear sidearms when reviewing troops on parade or just swords?

[Pvt Schnapps]

I don't think we have a definitive answer applicable to all units at all times as to whether they *should. Whether they *did was probably subject to even more variation. For me the question would come down to why one would bother with the extra weight for a purely ceremonial occasion. But that's just my opinion, which is worth what it would bring in the market...

PS -- I believe swords count as sidearms though I simply mean pistols above.

[PvtHooper]

Personally, my guess is that it depended on the officer. Those who didn't want the extra weight and left their pistol in camp would not be putting it on and taking it off every time they turned around. If they didn't want to wear it, they would not wear it all the time not just some time (conversely, those who did wear it just always wore it). As to "parade," if you mean morning parade or Sunday inspection parade in camp, I'd say what I just wrote still holds (unless a regimental colonel decreed something in particular on the matter). You just wouldn't want to bother changing what you hang on your belt every time you turn around. Naturally, no pistols when in dress uniform at balls, special meetings, or parties of one sort or another. All that being said, there are no army regulations on the topic.