The RAF strap? A partial history? U.S. Government Specification MIL‑S‑46383 (June 1, 1964)



There is a lot on the Internet including the original drawing for strap and buckle spec for    MIL‑S‑46383.  A fun read if this sort of stuff interests you.  A sample of what is available online on a google search below.  



U.S. Government Specification MIL‑S‑46383

MIL‑S‑46383 is a U.S. military specification for woven nylon wrist straps intended for attaching instruments such as watches, compasses, and depth gauges to the wrist GlobalSpec.

Scope and Purpose

The original MIL‑S‑46383 (June 1, 1964) covered material and fabrication requirements for a woven nylon strap ASSIST-QuickSearch. It was designed to ensure uniformity, durability, and compatibility for military use. The specification was later updated as MIL‑S‑46383B (Sept. 16, 1970) GlobalSpec, which defined three strap types:

  • Type I – Special purpose, non‑magnetic buckle (for use where resistance to magnetization is required)

  • Type II – General purpose

  • Type III – General purpose (additional variant) GlobalSpec

Key Technical Details (MIL‑S‑46383B Type II) National Stock Number+1

  • Material: Plastic polyamide (nylon)

  • Width: 0.625 in nominal

  • Length: 9.750 in nominal

  • Thickness: 0.045 in

  • Construction: One‑piece

  • Color: Black

  • NSN: 6645‑00‑333‑5396

  • FSC: 6645 – Time Measuring Instruments

Status

  • MIL‑S‑46383A (1964) was canceled June 1, 1965 ASSIST-QuickSearch.

  • MIL‑S‑46383B is now inactive (canceled July 13, 1999) GlobalSpec, but historical and archival references remain in use for legacy equipment.

Related Notes

  • The specification is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s standardization system and was promulgated under the Defense Standardization Manual National Stock Number.

  • For current procurement or replacement, military suppliers and commercial manufacturers (e.g., Maratac® “Mil Series” bands) offer products marketed as meeting or exceeding MIL‑S‑46383 requirements CountyComm.

  • The NSN 6645‑00‑333‑5396 is the official identification for MIL‑S‑46383B Type II straps National Stock Number+1.

In summary: MIL‑S‑46383 defined the design, materials, and tolerances for military‑grade nylon wrist straps, with MIL‑S‑46383B expanding on type classifications and performance requirements. While the spec is now inactive, it remains relevant for historical, archival, and legacy equipment contexts.


When built properly, not to the US Government specs but to the highest standards possible the actual strap is really good.  The buckle is not.

The buckle is a stamped piece.  It is not "one piece" but wire that is folded and stamped again.  The tongue is added by wrapping it around the base of the buckle near where the bend wire meets.  But make no mistake the buckle is a weak design.  And the added tongue/tang is wrapped around the buckle which is the real culprit of this design that makes it unacceptable for what I could consider serious use.  I've had this buckle design fail in light use more than once with the watch ending up on the ground when the buckle failed.  Caveat Emptor here! 


This is the design of the mil spec buckle.  You can see where I snipped the corner of the buckle to remove it from the strap.  Once the corner is cut the buckle comes out easily in two parts and the joint on the lower bar.  The buckle is reasonably good it is always the tongue that fails when it bends sid ways and pops through the buckle frame.  Any strap manufacture that claims to be made to US Mil Spec has this buckle.  My warning?  Never trust them.  That warning is from my personal experience of 20+ years of wearing the very best of this strap design.  If you have a strap you want to save, cut out the buckle and replace with a buckle that can use a 2mm x 1.2mm,  heavy duty, shoulderless spring bar.  And more importantly a milled tongue. 

Below is the USM spec buckle in one piece prior to the install.  The Wire stock is obvious on the buckle frame as is the swaging to form the buckle.   And very obvious the "connection" where the wire meets on the back bar.  The result a weaker buckle frame and a tongue that is wrapped on that same back buckle. Knowledge is power.




 Sample buckles that I collected while designing the Go-too buckle.






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