Carbine Thong

[Bill Ricca]

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

[BrianQ]

All mine are from Farnum-Coleman, Inc.

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

[Bill Ricca]

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.

[BrianQ]

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.




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

[painter777]

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

Thank You
Charlie

[Bill Ricca]

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.

[frankderrico]

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

[Bill Ricca]

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.




All below are brass: