Klingon Defense Force uniform

Klingon uniforms are the uniforms worn by Klingon warriors. Sometimes an officer may wear a sash with a symbol to signify their noble House and rank. They may also wear the symbol on their sleeve. Most of the uniforms acted as armor in hand-to-hand combat.

22nd century

A Klingon officer's outfit

In the 22nd century, the Klingon Defense Force did not appear to have uniforms per se; what they did wear was a garb which was brown and leather-based. They did not carry as many medals and ornaments as in later years, but their gear consisted of edged weaponry or d'k tahgs, primarily for close-combat. These were worn in a sash around their shoulder which may or may not have carried their House symbol. In addition, animal skins and furs were worn.

Several pieces could be added to those outfits such as a padd pouch and a bat'leth strap. (ENT: "Marauders") [1] [2]

23rd century

2260s

Klingon uniforms of the 23rd century
Male (2266)	Female (2268)
3 variants (2268)
Button (2266+2267)	Belt buckle

By the 2260s, Klingon uniforms were made of a gold-colored, metallic substances. Commanding officers would wear sashes across their left shoulder. Every warrior wore a black, long-sleeved undershirt with a gold-colored vest on top. They wore trousers made out of the golden-black-patterned fabric, but in a different hue. Apart from that, warriors wore black long boots, a black belt with a characteristic belt buckle with six round disks and a Klingon disruptor on the left.

Female uniforms were made from the same fabric. Regular soldiers had black sleeves. Officers, like Kang's wife Mara, had sleeves made out of the golden fabric.

From 2266-2267 all Klingons wore two golden buttons on the upper part of the black undershirt, just over the seam of the gold-colored vest. The only person seen not wearing these buttons was Kor, as he wore a sash. Kor himself wore a badge on his sash, maybe a house logo, and Kang wore the same sash & badge. Kor's lieutenant wore the two buttons, but also a different badge on his left shoulder.

During the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Worf's baldric was almost identical to the sashes worn by Kor and Kang, except that Worf wore it over his right shoulder to avoid covering his combadge.

By 2268 the buttons were replaced by rectangular, colored pins made out of a substance similar to mother-of-pearl. Every Klingon wore two of these pins, one on the left and another one of the same color on the right. Some officers had golden pins, some had silver ones and some had purple ones. Kang wore two golden pins on the right side, the sash was draped over the other side. Kang's first officer had two blue pins on his right and two blue pins on his lefter side. Mara was the only Klingon seen with pins of different colors on one uniform. She wore a purple and a yellow pin on both shoulders.

Pins and Badges
File:Kors badge.jpg		File:Kangs badge.jpg
Kor (2266)	Lieutenant (2266)	Kang (2268)
Kang	Mara	First Officer
Yellow	Purple	Silver

By 2269, Klingon uniforms were also observed with more cool-colored silver-lavender fabric in place of the previously noted gold material, worn with a version of the familiar studded angular belt buckle that has been a staple of Klingon uniforms for over a hundred years.

A Female Klingon Warrior's uniform in 2269

2270s-2290s

A male Klingon sergeant's uniform in 2285, with fingerless gloves

Shortly afterwards, the Klingon Defense Force adopted a new uniform. The basic form consisted of a black tunic and black trousers, topped with metallic gray armor vests and large shoulder pads. Several variants on this uniform type were seen: some warriors did not wear the undershirt, and some officers wore sashes or stoles over the vests. When officers wore sashes, they would generally go across their right shoulder, as opposed to their left. Klingon warriors of the time often wore special pronged fingerless gloves on their hands to give them more of an advantage in hand-to-hand combat.

A male Klingon Captain's uniform (with stole) in 2285

A female Klingon warrior's uniform in 2287

A male Klingon Brigadier's uniform (with sash) in 2293

Late 23rd-24th century

2290s onward

A Klingon Warrior's uniform in 2365

A Klingon Warrior's uniform in 2374

After 2290, the Klingon uniform would combine elements from the 2280s and 2260s uniforms. Warriors wore a silver metallic uniform with large shoulder pads and the six-button belt buckle. Officers sometimes wore a special stole over their shoulders showing medals from past achievements.

References

• TOS:
  • "Errand of Mercy"
  • "Day of the Dove"
• TAS:
  • "The Time Trap"
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• TNG:
  • "The Emissary"
  • "A Matter Of Honor"
• ENT:
  • "Broken Bow"
  • "Affliction"

Background

Several badges from different Klingon uniforms were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Other items which were sold off are two pairs of Klingon spats [10] [11], a belt buckle [12], a tabard [13], a shoulder aglet [14], and other costume accessoires. [15] [16]