Can someone tell me about this unusual 1903 rifle sling!

[rayg]

It's the same length and configuration as the standard M1907 sling having two brass double hooks but it's stamped in two places on each end, "Rock Island Arsenal" 1905.

Is it an experimental/trials sling, early made 07 sling or what? I can't find anything on it? The brass fasteners look to be earlier Krag/TD style having slight bevels on the sides and the pins ground flush. I seem to remember seeing another early sling dated 1905 but it had only one fastener. Possibly it was an early 1903 RB rifle slings before they went to two fasteners or else they were later Krag slings. Ray


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Information

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[rayg]

Just counted the holes and the sling has 16 double holes on the short end and 24 on the long end whereas the regular 07 slings have only 16 on both ends. I also checked my TD and Krag slings and they only have 16-18 double holes total.
There is also an inspectors stamp on the sling. Ray
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[Johnny Peppers]

Rock Island never threw anything away, and the two markings on the sling may indicate that earlier parts were used to construct a Model 1907 sling. There were two or three earlier versions dating back to 1903. The inspector's initials would have been the T.C.C., and the additional initials may have been the "piece worker's" initials. The employees of the harness shops were paid by the piece and some marked the pieces they did with their initials to keep count of what they did. I have a magazine pocket for the Model 1911 pistol that has the T.C.C. under the R.I.A. and date, but also has two different sets of initials in different places indicating who made and assembled the parts.

[rayg]

The only problem I see with using and/or combining other slings to make it is the long length has 24 sets of holes in it. No other earlier sling I can think of has that many holes. The TD/Krag slings have only 18-19 sets of holes total, musket slings less also. It seems that the sling maybe was originally designed that way with that number of holes or why else would thay add that many more holes? In fact not sure why they would need that many holes. Ray

[Johnny Peppers]

It would be easy enough to punch additional holes as needed.

[browningautorifle]

I wish you'd take a good clear pic of the sling off the rifle so we can see it. The description of what's different doesn't quite make it. The pic on the rifle is a bit small...

[rayg]

Ok, here's the sling off the rifle. You can see the difference in the spacing of the holes. All the holes on the long strap appear to be machine spaced and punched so it was originally made the way it is and the holes weren't just hand added. I'm starting to lean a bit toward a Trials sling, Ray
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[browningautorifle]

Thanks for the pics...yes maybe a trials or maybe as was pointed out since they never threw anything out it was a piece of a 72" sling modified to this type...I wonder. Great shape anyway, I'd have loved to have found that one. Problem is, it would then prompt me to buy a rifle of the correct period to mount it on...kind of like buying a rifle for a bayonet you have.

[rayg]

Jim, I checked the Krag/TD slings and there would be enough length of the sling with out holes in it already to re-use for the long length. But why not just punch the normal amount of holes if there were none already in it. Why that many holes unless it was intentional. Another thought, but probably way remote, but maybe it's a scrap piece that was used in setting up the punches and as nothing was discarded they just used it. It's the extra amount of the holes that create the question as no other obsolete slings have that many or that pattern of holes. I still lean a bit to a Trials sling. Especially with the RI stamp and date on each end to indicate Arsenal approval/done. Ray

[browningautorifle]

Still a VERY nice sling and in great shape, considering most that age are almost like parchment, all dry and crisp or cracked.