Canadian Manufactured Sten sling?

[Flying10uk]

I recently purchased this Sten sling which is believed to be of Canadian manufacture? The main difference to all other known U.K. produced Sten slings which I've seen is the use of rivets rather than machine sowing. Does anyone know if all Canadian made Sten slings were made this way by using rivets rather than sowing and is anyone able to confirm that this sling is definitely Canadian manufactured, please? The maker marking appears to be "W M Co Ltd and I think it is a Canadian acceptance mark? thanks for any info.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Rivets in webbing....... We had a big section at the big workshop called Equipment Repairers, who had big industrial sewing machines and all the materials to repair and patch all of the small and big stuff of course, including truck canopies to L42 nylon slings........, handles, you get my drift.

They weren't permitted to repair webbing with rivets UNLESS the rivet holes were enlarged through the webbing straps using a semi pointed thing called a bradawl (correct me if that's wrong.....), done WITHOUT cutting any of the webbing weave. Because once any part of the webbing was cut by the rivet or punch, the strength had gone at that point. It seems as though these rivets, through the webbing weave are contrary to that notion - unless it's a repro.

If you have a look at a rifle/Bren sling, under the brass tab, you'll find that the rivet hole has been opened out as opposed to punched out

[Flying10uk]

That's a good point which you make, Peter, about the rivets and something I haven't thought of. The problem for me with this particular sling is that it is the only example which I have or I've seen which I think is of Canadian manufacture and so I have no other Canadian examples to compare it with. I have another dozen or so Sten slings of various British makes and dates, all of which are sown. When I saw the rivets which appear to be professionally crimped/peened over I assumed that this was done to speed up the production process.

[tankhunter]

Interesting 'variation' if it is genuine?.... Look at the end, it is FRAYED! British Versions would NEVER have been left with the potential to do THAT!

Has it been shortened for some reason, & Rivits fitted as a 'quick fix' rather than have access to an industrial sewing machine perhaps?

If it is genuine, then it has been VERY Poorly constructed In my Opinion! I have never ever seen a sling like this before, & have seen/ handled thousands!

Also a thought........If it is genuine, Ill bet this variant was withdrawn VERY quickly from Issue. For the above reasons, & others pointed out by Peter.
Hence it's rarity, IF. It is indeed genuine?.....

[mrclark303]

1942 dated Canadian example here, Canadian STEN Sling

Looks to be identical, though both appear to be unissued and absolutely mint..

It's probably just me, but I am always suspicious of manufacturer stamps that appear too clear and fresh..

[Peter Laidler]

Nope........., not convinced by that one either. Different manufacturer but identical method? It's just that based on seeing zillions of slings and seeing how they are used and abused and.......... you know the sort of thing. Two brand new rivetted slings that are totally contrary to the norm for load carrying stuff, frayed ends that will only get worse........ Nope....... The very LEAST that would happen is that the end would be folded in/under to protect it.

Just going to find/speak with me old pal Jock McGill who ran the Equipment repairers when it was in being. As a matter of interest, he/they put into being the first of the useable experimental current SA80 slings from the sketches and ideas and stapled mock-ups submitted during the 80's trials.

[Vincent]

Scroll down to post #63 - Field Guide to Canadian P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) - Page 3

[browningautorifle]

Thing is, the rivets are vastly different. I believe these in question are brand new type...here's the other. These rivets have a washer held on by a hollow rivet. The other has a cap that is held on. Those are new.

[Vincent]

Yes, the rivets are different. The swivel and ring are different too. It’s also not adjustable, lacks the buckle.

The Canadian Stengun sling.
Looking at his British counterpart this is really simple made.
Just a strap with some rivets.
This one is made by ZL&T.Ltd in 1942

Have you heard of ZL & T , Ltd?

There’s a picture of an adjustable one on a Sten and at the bottom of this page. The Sten Gun

More here.. www.canadiansoldiers.com

Sling, Machine Carbine, Sten, 9mm, Mark I

A special web sling was created for the Sten; these were manufactured in Canada and the UK. A 43-1/2" web strap 1/2-inch wide was used with a metal ring at one end and a curved hook at the other. The curved hook at the leading end passed through one of the cooling holes on the barrel jacket of the Mk II Sten.

Post war slings were similar, with 1-inch wide webbing, and larger buckles and hooks.6

[Flying10uk]

Another point which may be worth mentioning that I've noticed with "my Canadian Sten sling" is that the weave of the webbing appears a little closer together/finer than what I've seen on British equivalents. There are no washers on the rivets but perhaps with finer weave webbing it was decided to not be need washers???

The rivets are not quite as shiny in real life as they may appear in the pictures which is probably due to camera flash. If you look at the cut ends of the webbing there is slight "storage stain/tarnish" of the webbing, something that would be hard to fake, I would suggest.