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

[rondog]

What's the correct color for a sling for the No.5 MK.1 Jungle Carbine? Khaki or green? Or was there even a special sling for them?

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

The standard No 4 sling in either green or Khaki.

[Amatikulu]

I have a "rubberized" sling in my collection that is the same width and length as the satndard lee enfield web one. It has gone hard now with age. It has a canvas outer sleeve.
I've heard that they were made for tropical climates so possibly they were intended for the No. 5? Anyone have more info on that?

[Peter Laidler]

I served in what might be best described as '...tropical climes' Amat and in my time there, we had bog standard sand or dark green slings. Never saw a rubberised sling. They produced plenty of rubber but it'd take more than a coating of rubber to keep the monsoons out of your webbing Yes...., tropical climes. The other words to describe it, off the main roads, was a xxxxxxx pig sty.

[Badger]

I have a "rubberized" sling in my collection that is the same width and length as the satndard lee enfield web one. It has gone hard now with age. It has a canvas outer sleeve.
I've heard that they were made for tropical climates so possibly they were intended for the No. 5? Anyone have more info on that?

It may be similar to one we have on our H.T. Sniper rifle.

With thanks to Advisory Panel members Lance, Son, John Thorne, Wheaty and Jollygreenslugg for their assistance, there's an entry in the Australia - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here), complete with a 222 picture photo montage.

Australian No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (click here)
c/w matching serial number A.O.C. Model 1918 (3x) Scope
(Mfg by Australian Optical Co., Victoria)
c/w Canvas web sling with an inside layer of hard plastic (latex?).
(Mfg in 1941 by B.H.G. Ltd)

There are several follow up sections with additional pics noted in the "Collector's Feedback and Comments" section of the main library entry, including Comment #5 by John Thorne about the WWII ersatz canvas sling.

5. The sling shown mounted on the No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle in this Knowledge Library entry is a WWII version of the ersatz sling, made of folded canvas due to the shortage of webbing. Most but not all of these went to the home guard - the one in the MKL entry here looks particularly nice. B.H.G. Ltd are Barrow, Hepburn, and Gale. This was the WWII version of the name for one of the great British military suppliers - a firm that dates back to early Victorian times and were at times variously called Hepburn Ltd.; Hepburn & Gale; Hepburn, Gale & Ross (aka 'HGR", the most prolific supplier of leather goods, as well as some web, during WWI); and other names as the small military suppliers combined forces to stay alive. ....... (Feedback by "John Thorne")

(Click PIC to Enlarge)(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Hope this helps ..

Regards,
Badger

[Amatikulu]

That's it exactly Doug!

[rondog]

Well, I've won a khaki sling on Gunbroker, and just won a green one on eBay, so I guess either one would be OK? Don't have either in my hands yet though.

But pretty much, there wasn't a specific sling made for the No.5? Just a standard Enfield sling?

[Terry Hawker]

Well, I've won a khaki sling on Gunbroker, and just won a green one on eBay, so I guess either one would be OK? Don't have either in my hands yet though.

But pretty much, there wasn't a specific sling made for the No.5? Just a standard Enfield sling?

rondog,

As Peter and Strangely stated above, the Rifle, No. 5 Mk 1, took the same, standard web sling, of either color, as the No. 4. There was nev...,(pheew, that was close, almost broke the cardinal rule about discussing Enfields!), I mean, as far as I know, there wasn't any special sling for the No. 5.

To put the old chestnut to rest that the "rubberized' or ersatz WW II canvas, (not web), sling had anything to do with the No. 5, all one has to do is look at the photos Badger kindly posted. These slings are usually dated about three years before the earliest No. 5 rifles were ever produced, not the usual sequence of events for the introduction of an accessory for a new arm.

Cheers,

Terry

[bearhunter]

I picked up a No5 a couple of years ago with a "blue" web sling. From what I gather, the "blue" slings were air force issue for their No4 rifles.

[Peter Laidler]

You're right there Bearhunter. Unbelieveably, we (in Britain) used to equip ore Army with sand/dark green/Kakhi webbing, the RAF with a blue/grey webbing and the Navy with white webbing. Nobody ever seriously questioned it until Sir Derek Rayner was called in to save some money and that's one of his master strokes. Now, after the early 70's, we all wear the same Army webbing. Even the RAF issue Sterling SMG sling was dark blue/grey! He also got rid of costly army staff cars.....especially painted in kakhi. RAF vehicles painted in Blue/grey and Navy vehicles painted in Navy Blue. But I digress as per usual. Now, any vehicle that is unlikely to ever see the battlefield is left in the bog standard commercial colour. Just as an example, it cost the Army an extra £110 (at 1972 prices) to have the Austin 1800 cars painted kakhi. Then, because no one wanted a kakhi car after they were sold off at the auction, the return price was zilch