Carbine Thong

I know there was a disscusion on carbine thongs a while back that was very informative. I was at a gun show Fri. looking for carbine parts, they were few. Four carbines that were over priced, but I found a thong and I am not sure if it is a rifle or carbine thong. It measures 2&7/8"' it did not come with the package. So my question is did I get lucky and find a carbine thong? Thanks.....Frank

Here's the thread. It has a picture showing the two thongs.


A friend found a scarce item - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

Thanks Jim, I did go back to the thread, and looked at the pics from BrianQ but I could not tell the length of the carbine thong. I am hoping that someone can tell us the length of a carbine thong.....Frank

Here is a picture of the thong I bought at Fri. gun show. Does it look like a rifle or carbine thong. Thanks.....Frank

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...09/thong-1.jpg

I don't know for sure.
But by counting the number of coils..it looks to be a Carbine Thong.

Charlie-painter777

Thanks Charlie, I got it for $5.00. I thought if it was carbine O.K. if not I have one for my rifles. My wife and I were at the Titanic display in St. Paul last week, did you know there was a crew member named Charlie Painter? I know that's not your real last name but thought you might find it interesting, have a good one.....Frank

There is some misinformation about the thongs. All brass thongs are short, except for pre WWI which I have been told were issued for the Krag.

My Carbine Thong pack holds the long steel version. The only thing that makes it unique is the contract stating it was for use with the carbine.

Thanks Bill, but I'm confused. In BrianQ's picture (from the thead on carbine thongs) they both look brass, one shorter (carbine) one longer (rifle) I take. So are carbine thongs steel or brass, long or short?.....Frank

I am not sure where Brian got the photograph, but with photo programs today it is easy to adjust items. He probably got it off eBay.

I can only go by what I have:

I have about 1500 steel thongs and they are all long.

I have over 2000 brass thongs and they are all short.

I have about a 8 or 9 extra long, which I cannot identify. I have been told they existed a short time for the Krag. Not sure. They will not fit inside the 03 series of oilers, so maybe they were Krag.

My container of thongs marked for the carbine react to a magnet, so I assume they are the standard length steel.

I took the picture. No photoshop involved. I have 4 or 5 of packages of the thongs with carbine on the label.

Are they all the same contractor as the one I posted?

All mine are from Farnum-Coleman, Inc.

Some are ferrous some are no ferrous. That may be an indication of when the contract ran.

Have you checked the steel to see if they are longer?

I now have to try dating the change of size because I have never seen a long brass thong.

All the packaged ones I have are the short length ones.

Here is a picture of a long brass, a short brass, and a long steel thong. Both the short ones came from packages bearing the Farnum-Coleman name. There is a size difference in the two parts between the steel and brass versions but the overall length is the same.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9/Thongs-1.jpg


I have a long steel thong somewhere around here. I’ll try to find it and post a picture.

Great info guys....
Do you think the steel ones might have been made during the brass shortage?

Thank You
Charlie

Yes, most likely the brass shortage. Actually there was also an aluminum shortage, that is why some M8 and M2A1 rods were made with Steel T Handles.

The puzzling thing is certain items went back to being made in brass, others were permanently changed to steel, and I cannot figure any reasoning as to why some were and others weren't.

Thanks for all the info on the thongs. I take it that a short brass thong can be either a rifle or a carbine thong. That they came in packages of 10 and were labled rifle or carbine. Unless you have an unopened package you can not be sure?.....Frank

The main thing about their being collectable is the markings on the package.

I have never seen a small steel thong or a large brass thong. The large brass thongs I have will not fit inside the 03 series oilers.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ongbrass-1.jpg

All below are brass:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ongcrate-1.jpg