Leather 1907 sling issued to the L42

[chosenman]

Hi all. I'm interested to know if the 1907 sling first issued to the L42 was UK marked and was it dated?? Would really like to find one but as it happens I can't even find a picture of one.
Can anyone confirm these slings carried British acceptance marks and were dated. I would expect the date range to be 1970 - 85'ish.

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[Simon]

Could be wrong but I would have thought that any 07 pattern sling issued with the L42 programme would have been a carry over from the No4(T). There would be hundreds of them in store and countless thousands of surplus ones available from the good old US of A so I wouldn't see the need to manufacture new.

Cheers,

Simon.

[chosenman]

Cheers, Simon. I ask because I've seen on US websites that 1907 slings are knocking around marked MRT and some with an 80's year date.

[Peter Laidler]

Our leather slings fitted to the L42 were indeed taken straight off the No4T's. And they were allocated to the No4T's after a huge stockpile were discovered languishinbg in store at Didcot in 1940! Right up until the old leather slings were declared obsolescent (they were never declared obsolete.....) they still carried the old US Military issue part number. A UK B2/BB or CR number was never issued nor was the B1/1005-99 number issued.

These slings were originally supplied on the P'14 rifles according to the paperwork BUT......... I was told that this was clearly a mistake because they would have come here on M-17 rifles although I suppose that it's a bit academic really. Maybe someone on the forum could add to that! But they were all in store at Didcot where they were found and used

[Patrick Chadwick]

The 1907 sling must surely count as one of the longest-used small-arms accessories?

[chosenman]

Definitely Patrick. I think elements of the US military and security forces still use it. Turner Slings produce a synthetic version which has been around for a while now. It's use will continue for many years to come as even if the military eventually sack it it has a huge following in civilian circles. It has the potential to take the title as the longest serving piece of military kit.

[Peter Laidler]

I think that if you look at it like that, then Bedford Trucks win the prize by a mile..........

[chosenman]

I can see a new thread! Hahahahah.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I think that if you look at it like that, then Bedford Trucks win the prize by a mile..........

Well I think of accessory equipment as something you can carry. I could manage to lift a Dinky Toy model of a Bedford, but the original...???

[Gil Boyd]

KFS have got to take the prize surely. The ones that fitted together now making a fortune on ScrewBay