What's a correct sling for a No.5 carbine?

[rondog]

FWIW- Back when I was collecting #5MK1s.

I used to use web slings, original Brit. stuff, but I never did find out for what rifle they were made for.

The slings were sage green web, slimmer than the standard Enfield slings, and have brass ends.

They were perfect for the #5MK1.

Slimmer, smaller, and looked good on a #5MK1.

I'm sure someone knowledgable can chime in and tell us what rifles these smaller, thinner, slings were made for originally.

The slings were basically like the web Enfield sling, but without the large rib on the edges. I have seen them only in sage green.

I can post a picture of one of the slings, if needed.

There was only one source of these slings. It was an outfit in Oklahoma that used to have a table at our gun shows in L.V.
They had a lot of old Military items.

This was quite a few years back and I may still have a link to their web site.

Like this one? I just won this on eBay.

Information

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[#5MK1]

NO.

Your sling is the regular Enfield slings and have the ridge on the edges.

The slings I am refering to are the same type web with brass ends, but aren't as thick and they don't have the thick ridges on the sides.

[rondog]

NO.

Your sling is the regular Enfield slings and have the ridge on the edges.

The slings I am refering to are the same type web with brass ends, but aren't as thick and they don't have the thick ridges on the sides.

I knew you were gonna say that.....

[JBS]

Look like any of these ? some of the L1A1 slings have very thin edges.
British L1A1 Sling

[#5MK1]

No,the slings I am refering to do not look like anything anyone has posted.

Interesting.

I'll take some pictures this week end and post them.

[gew8805]

#5MK1, I think I had a couple of the slings you are referring to. They were flat rather than having the ribs and were green in color but were made of a slightly narrower and thinner nylon or some sort of synthetic material. The brass hardware was almost identical to the standard "Sling, rifle, web, G.S. (Mark I) (second issue)" but slightly narrower to fit the sling. I purchased these slings directly from Century Arms International back in the early '90s. They cost $1 as opposed to the $2 price of the standard British slings. The biggest problem with them was that they would not stay adjusted to a certain length: in other words, if you tried to carry a rifle with the sling over your shoulder, the brass fittings would allow the sling to slide to a longer length and would not stop until they hit the brass hardware. Yes, they looked good but for use they were totally crap.

[#5MK1]

#5MK1, I think I had a couple of the slings you are referring to. They were flat rather than having the ribs and were green in color but were made of a slightly narrower and thinner nylon or some sort of synthetic material. The brass hardware was almost identical to the standard "Sling, rifle, web, G.S. (Mark I) (second issue)" but slightly narrower to fit the sling. I purchased these slings directly from Century Arms International back in the early '90s. They cost $1 as opposed to the $2 price of the standard British slings. The biggest problem with them was that they would not stay adjusted to a certain length: in other words, if you tried to carry a rifle with the sling over your shoulder, the brass fittings would allow the sling to slide to a longer length and would not stop until they hit the brass hardware. Yes, they looked good but for use they were totally crap.

Yes, the description is right.

I ony used those slings for show.

When I take my #5MK1 coyote hunting, I install a wide leather modern type sling, padded for comfort and easy to use.

However, the sliding problem problem and not staying adjusted on the surplus web slings was easily corrected by tweaking the brass prongs on the end of the sling.

Even with that fix, I would not use any military sling for personal use. They just aren't comfortable.

Military slings are OK for show, but they are not as user friendly as a GOOD commercial sling.

I think most of the guys using #5MK1s for truck guns out west here on ranches, use a commercial sling for ease and comfort.

But, the green web slintgs mentioned seemed to look the best on #5MK1s. I don't think they were made for the rifle, and we never found out what rifle they were for.

[nzl1a1collector]

Like this one? I just won this on eBay.

I think your going to be disappointed... or maybe elated with your sling........ I'm guessing when you get it you will have trouble trying to slide it through the sling swivels.

I believe you have an Indian 1A1/2A rifle sling these are wider (1/8 of an inch wider) then a normal Lee Enfield type sling.

[krinko]

"The ABL slings like Peter has already mentioned are Belgium"

And here I thought ABL was "Armee Belge/Belgische Leger", which I believe means "dry clean only".
Learn something new every day.
-----krinko

[rondog]

I think your going to be disappointed... or maybe elated with your sling........ I'm guessing when you get it you will have trouble trying to slide it through the sling swivels.

I believe you have an Indian 1A1/2A rifle sling these are wider (1/8 of an inch wider) then a normal Lee Enfield type sling.

Thanks! That's why I bought two, have a khaki one coming from another source. It probably won't work either.