pics of my sling..... questions???

[ChipS]

If you were in the Army or Marines, you can have that weapon off your shoulder and in action in about 2 seconds.

With all due respect, no, you can't. That's probably why the US developed the top sling and swivels (nomenclature?) after the Vietnam war, so the rifle could be fired at waist level and up fast if needed. In Vietnam we made top slings out of web straps, cord, etc. tied or taped to our rifles I got in pretty late (1970) but I spent most of my tour in the field as Marine infantry and I don't recall EVER seeing a rifle slung on a shoulder outside of a relatively secure area (I probably saw one but I don't remember it). Many guys didn't even mount a sling on their rifles. Fast is in your hands. Today I see a lot of soldiers wearing kind of a chest harness/sling with their M4 carbine in one or both hands when in a danger zone. This makes sense to me.

I do see benefit in a sling while hunting , hiking, etc. where there is no danger present and I do use one when moving in the field, or steadying the rifle for a shot. JMHO.

Information

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[ABPOS]

My Dad bought both the carbines at a Gun store in WI (the standard products one too). It was a ways a way from us. He had to drive a couple of hours. I don't even remember what store it is, although I do have the receipt in the basement. Have no clue what the history of it is. They didn't really get into that. And my Dad wouldn't have known, as someone put it, "apple butter from baby poop" on the subject. I didn't know a whole lot either at the time, aside from the fact that we wanted USGI. There's no import marks on either one, so I guess it's possible they are DCM guns. Maybe some old guy sold them to the store. I don't know. Sorry.

So.... I looked at the other thread too, the stickied one (thank you by the way for posting it here USGI, sorry I missed it) and I'm thinking this thing looks real too. The snap looks real, the webbing looks real and the tips look real. The other thing, what do you call it, the adjustment loop thingy, that looks real too. So I don't know. It IS in good shape too. Feels a tad, well, you know, not super clean. Like surplus material feels. But not falling apart.

I won't wash it.

If it is real, is it wise to leave it off? I put it in a plastic bag for now. Is that OK?

[painter777]

The other thing, what do you call it, the adjustment loop thingy

Often called the Buckle. My understanding is the correct name is the Keeper. There were different style / shaped Keepers.
Post is called the Finial.
Finial snaps in to the Fastener.
Note: That instead of blackened brass, both a Finial and or Fastener can be found made of blackened steel, made during the conserving brass campaign.

I've bought many steel finial / fastener slings thought to be repro / fake because of this not widely known fact.

Here's a pic from the top box of my Sling stack......

CH-P777



Steel Finial and Fastener;

[painter777]

P.S. Your Fastener looks to be Blackened Steel.

IMHO, Until Mr. Ricca weighs in with his opinion, I couldn't say if it's real.
But very possible.....

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777

[INLAND44]

International Silver, like many other corporations involved in the war effort, most likely did not make military equipment before the war. They certainly did make many magazines and oilers during the war though, probably several millions of each.

[Bill Ricca]

The sling looks OK to me.

[ABPOS]

The sling looks OK to me.

Thanks Bill. I appreciate your input!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe how nice it is though. There is nothing wrong with it. I guess I do get lucky sometimes.

The other sling I have looks USGI and has that M R T on it real faint. With some other words that I can't make out underneath it. They're smaller. I'll have to get pics just for fun. I never really noticed but the weave is different and definitely looks like a different material.