Marked Carbine Sling

I recently picked up this khaki carbine sling for a reasonable price; nice condition and no real issues. I hadn't unhooked the "Lift the Dot" until I had it home, and then opened it and found the marking "S.M. Co." over "1943". It's my first sling that has any manufacturer's marking on it. I believe it to be correct after looking at other examples online, but some of the comments say that this marking is "rare." I paid $45 and it's not for sale, but I would appreciate knowing if the marking is rare and, if so, what would be a reasonable price for something like this.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...SlingaM1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...SlingbM1-1.jpg

I have some marked slings. A few of them are S.M. Co. But all of mine are dated 1944 not 1943.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ine00411-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ipSling1-1.jpg

Most carbine slings from WWII for carbine production were unmarked.


Here are a few more markings from WWII:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/gs_slg-1.jpg

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

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

One note: When you see S. M.CO markings, they are either fakes or legit slings with fake markings. The O was never capitalized. S.M.Co is correct.

Bill,

Do you know who the makers are of the slings you show?

The only marking on the sole GI sling I have is ".25c" (cents sign) in grease pencil on the back. Kinda brings a tear to y our eye, don't it?

Thorin; nice sling.

NICE score thorin6! :thup:

I've never seen a 43 dated sling either, and it's in outstanding condition.

G-S - Garco Products for Standard Products

G-S Overmarked with S.M.C. is a Garco sling which was over inventoried as Standard Products lost its contract (assumption) and sold to Sturges Manufacturing Co.

One of the problems is for years I and everybody else based upon my sling research have always assumed S equals Schlegel. But since Schlegel has had different S markings, along with Standard Products (S-S2), I now think there is a small chance the S could be another maker like Springfield Leather Goods, or Charles Sorin Company. I doubt it is Sturges. Small chance, but nothing that can be confirmed yet.

S-S2 - Schlegel Manufacturing for Standard Products.

Not easy to see due the image size but these marks are quite scarce:

S.M.Co
1942 (Closed)

S.M.Co
1943

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/evolut-1.jpg

Bill,
Thanks for the info.
Jim

Here's a picture of ones dated 1942 that was posted here in January. - Bob

Attachment 135734

Way to stay on top of things Bob! :thup:

In all my years I have seen and owned 3 1942 dated slings. Each one had the narrow slide. The narrow slide was removed from production circa mid 1943 and replaced by the two versions (stamped and circular steel) of the late slide.

Either the markings are not legit, or the slide has been changed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cafdfw

Way to stay on top of things Bob! :thup:

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I've had some pretty good help here on the forum. ;) Still trying to learn all I can about these pesky slings. The slide controversy came up in the thread posted in January - a few feathers became ruffled - https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....614#post153614

Very early slings with the wide slide can be a possibility that some were changed during or before issue. I can be 99% sure they were not produced that way.

I have had a few 1943 with the narrow slides too. I even have an OD, new, original folded from box, with a narrow slide. It had to be a production error. It looks like a very late sling with the C tip modified in a vice. I suspect it was a certain maker because only a few packed the slings in boxes.

The narrow slide is a disaster when it comes to adjusting the sling. The 1960's nylon sling (produced again in 2002) usew two of the narrow slides. It works fine with nylon, not good at all with web.

As far as markings of 1942, I have the contract records but I will not publicly let out the period of production. Keep in mind that there are fakes slings, fake slings with fake markings, and original slings with fake markings. One better know the details to survive in authenticity.

With all of the excellent pictures and information concerning slings, shouldn't this thread be saved and posted as a sticky for future reference?

---------- Post added at 10:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ----------

With all of the excellent pictures and information concerning slings, shouldn't this thread be saved and posted as a sticky for future reference?

I have never seen this type of Slings before.Please keep posting these kinds of pics everyday.I find many information about carbine slings.Infect i have no knowledge about this thing before.

Thanks to Bill Ricca for solid advice. There is a guy currently on Ebay selling what he purports to be S M CO (note the capitalize " O") 1943 M1 carbine slings.....$250 or best offer. As Bill has stated the " O " Co was never capitalized. Expensive mistake in the making for those failing to do their research.

I know this is an older thread, but I just saw it and was wondering if you could tell me what the maker's mark on the M-1 carbine sling that says "S-N" means? Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozglide

what the maker's mark on the M-1 carbine sling that says "S-N" means?

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Only a guess, but I'd say Schlegel Manufacturing Co for National Postal Meter.

Remember.. Just a guess.

Welcome,
Charlie-Painter777