1907 Sling Question

[spitfireblue]

Does this sling and bag look familiar to anyone? The sling itself does not appear to be marked the bag is marked
1005-714-1245
GUNSLING M1907(MOD)
1EA
DA-19-058-AMC-876(W)
A-5/65
Curious who made the sling? It appears good quality, the leather is stained lightly were the frogs rested against it .. and ofcourse the metal parts are discolored..frogs appear to be parkerized steel,brass rivets. Any help would be very much appreciated!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Is it heavier than normal? Or is it just the way it looks? They made some for match use that were heavier didn't they? That would have been about the right time too. 5/65...

[spitfireblue]

the leather does seem kinda thick..and just a little wide. not much experience in slings I assumed it was because it hadn't seen any use. Thanks.

[browningautorifle]

I know there's others here that will be sure. I don't know if they were over wide(1 1/4") but I've heard they were thicker. I'd love to see it...up close.

[spitfireblue]

I wish you could too!...I had read on another site that the military had quit making leather slings during WW2 and that as they got used up they were replaced with some type of web gear or other.. I bought the sling thinking it was US issue based on the bag it was in(or hoping really). But I had also been told that US slings are always maker marked.. this is not.

[browningautorifle]

I still think it's US made but just not the WW2 makers we're used to seeing. They continued to use leather for match slings. The WW2 (end and post)canvas slings are common to see on here.

[spitfireblue]

Thank you very much Jim for your time and sharing your knowledge ..

[Johnny Peppers]

Agree with BAR, as the M1907 type slings were apparently made after WWII production ended. I have one that was on an 03-A4 supposedly bought out of Benecia Arsenal in the late 1970's, and it has no marking other than a 3-64 MRT marking. Most of the post manufacture MRT marks were ink stamped, but this one is machine stamped with a die.

[spitfireblue]

Thankyou Johnny, I think I will put it on my old Enfield (T). Initially I was pretty disappointed that no maker was identified on the sling . Now Im thinking , oil it up and put it to work!

[RT Ellis]

There is no doubt that the sling is genuine.

"DA-19-058-AMC-876(W)" is the contract number DA for Department of the Army, and AMC for Army Material Command. Unfortunenatly this contract is a little before the listings available from the National Archives on line contract data so I cannot give a contractor name, however Bianchi was making leather accoutrements at about that time and is a possible manufacturer.
"1005-714-1245" is consistent with the digital arrangements of the Federal Stock Number system at the time. Even the clear plastic bag is consistent with military specification packaging.

I was issued an M-14 NM with a nearly identical sling, except I recall it had "MART" and numbers ink stamped on it, as was previous mentioned in this thread. I'm sure your sling was acquired specifically for use by rifle teams on match rifles.