No 4 Mk 1 (T) Questions

[jmoore]

It works even better with the web sling. The butt mounted swivel is probably a passing fad. Note that many military muzzleloading weapons had no butt attach point, but rather a swivel in the front of the trigger guard. This arrangement was hard to keep spiffy on parade, though. I think that's the real reason it got moved further back.

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[Surpmil]

It works even better with the web sling. The butt mounted swivel is probably a passing fad. Note that many military muzzleloading weapons had no butt attach point, but rather a swivel in the front of the trigger guard. This arrangement was hard to keep spiffy on parade, though. I think that's the real reason it got moved further back.

I suspect it also had something to do with the stability of the rifle when slung as well. If slung from near the muzzle and in front of the mag the butt tends to 'flop around' on the march etc. When the sling is on the butt it is more directly stabilized and controlled by the sling.

In the muzzle loader days when most of the weight and length was ahead of the lock, it didn't matter so much.

cwbuff, I'm surprised that you're surprised, since slings attached at that point are nothing new on military rifles or rifle ranges, from well before WWI. Off hand I know the 1905 Ross had a swivel on the guard, so did the SMLE although it didn't rotate so less useful. Even the No4 MkI "Model C" trials rifle of circa 1935 had a swivel on the guard - again non-rotating.

Capt. J. A. Barlow's book from the 30s, "Elements of Rifle Shooting" which I used to have, shows him using the SMLE guard swivel with a "rifle club" sling around the left arm. The non-rotating swivel tended to cant the rifle to the right of course.

But enough about that...!