NZ marked sling...too good to be true?

[mrclark303]

The fittings for the the sling in the first photos are British.

To date I haven't seen N/|\Z marked L1A1 slings. Plenty of Australian, Canadian (No.4,Mk1) and WW1 dated slings in the past and some British Slings in the Ancillary Packs, brand new dated 1963/4, but none of them NZ marked.

How clear are the markings on yours John? What is the small wording perpendicular to the N/|\Z

New Zealand stopped marking rifles NZ in 1960, I can't see why they would bother to mark slings, unless it was applied by the manufacture for some reason?.

The marking doesn't match the earlier N/|\Z marked .303 slings as they have Serifs on the letters

Hi Kev, mine is NZ 1943, I assume it started life on a lend lease No4 MK1*.

[Aragorn243]

Price is high even if original. Like others said, post war. Probably original, doubt they are making repros of post war slings yet. Dated war examples are in the $30's.

[mrclark303]

Price is high even if original. Like others said, post war. Probably original, doubt they are making repros of post war slings yet. Dated war examples are in the $30's.

When I collected general militaria as a teenager back in the late 70's early 80's, , I used to buy pattern 1937 webbing for peanuts from a surplus store called Russles in Swindon Wiltshire.

You could buy a complete set of P37 webbing in the colour of your choice for £15, large bins of it.

You just added the entrenching tool, water bottle and bayonet for another £20 ish

There was so much of it you could easily put a set of RAF blue webbing together from the same manufacturer!

Slings, I used to rummage through the slings to find the best ones, with clear markings .... And put back the WW1 dated examples as they didn't interest me!!!

P37 slings, £1.50.

If only I had bought all the WW1 slings, I would have had a bloody retirement fund, the amount they go for today....

I ended up with numerous complete sets of web equipment, all manufacturer and colour matched in spotless condition.

When I took up shooting, I ended up selling the lot to dealers at arms fairs and they went silly over it, such is the interest in reenactment these days.

I recall it payed for my first two Lee Enfields!

[Strangely Brown]

And put back the WW1 dated examples as they didn't interest me!!!

P37 slings, £1.50.

The 1960's in Brighton Sx had similar experiences for me; although being the pedant that I am, rifle slings never had a pattern number attached to them, they were always, "Slings, Webbing, Rifle." up until (I assume) the advent of the SA80 era?

[mrclark303]

The 1960's in Brighton Sx had similar experiences for me; although being the pedant that I am, rifle slings never had a pattern number attached to them, they were always, "Slings, Webbing, Rifle." up until (I assume) the advent of the SA80 era?

Good point Mick, what pattern are the Canvas slings, appearing in 1916 'ish', I would suppose an extension of 1907 pattern??

[Flying10uk]

a surplus store called Russles in Swindon Wiltshire.

Was that the surplus store near Sergeants tool shop on the main road into Swindon from Wootton Bassett? I've been trying to remember the name of this particular surplus store.

[mrclark303]

Was that the surplus store near Sergeants tool shop on the main road into Swindon from Wootton Bassett? I've been trying to remember the name of this particular surplus store.

Morning mate, now you're asking, we are talking 45 years ago now and I really can't remember.

It was in the town centre, the owner was a slightly built guy with a Beard, always wore his 'product', so ended up looking like some sort of revolutionary....

[Strangely Brown]

Good point Mick, what pattern are the Canvas slings, appearing in 1916 'ish', I would suppose an extension of 1907 pattern??

Not really my field of expertise but I believe the webbing style was accepted into service in 1907 but officially bears the pattern date & number of 08.

[Flying10uk]

from a surplus store called Russles in Swindon Wiltshire.

I found an image. I use to visit this store in Swindon in the 1980's but some years earlier there was also a larger government surplus store at least twice the size. It was on the same road but closer to the centre of Swindon.

I still have some of the first aid tins that were purchased from there in the 1970's, "Outfit First Aid Small For Armoured Fighting Vehicles" and also a pair of field telephones.