So this is billed as authentic but it looks a bit "surspicious" to me. No tarnish on the buckles especially concerns me. I have and NZ marked Mk1* that needs a proper sling and this would fit the bill but I would rather not spend 70$US to find out its a fake with a nice stamp. I have not seen NZ marked repros before but Im not sure how much stock i put in that.
Here's a picture of mine on my NZ SLR for reference.
.303, helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889
Sorry for the late reply, price wise, it's difficult to say, I bought mine on eBay about 9 years ago, to go with my NZ issue L1A1, I can't remember the price, but it was nothing like £50 ( $70).
It's of course entirely subjective, they rarely come up for sale here.
.303, helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889
The length of the SLR and SMLE/No.4 sling is the same at 45". I just compared a handful of older slings to a nos Australian L1A1 sling. Bren slings are longer.
The fittings for the the sling in the first photos are British.
To date I haven't seen N/|\Z marked L1A1 slings. Plenty of Australian, Canadian (No.4,Mk1) and WW1 dated slings in the past and some British Slings in the Ancillary Packs, brand new dated 1963/4, but none of them NZ marked.
How clear are the markings on yours John? What is the small wording perpendicular to the N/|\Z
New Zealand stopped marking rifles NZ in 1960, I can't see why they would bother to mark slings, unless it was applied by the manufacture for some reason?.
The marking doesn't match the earlier N/|\Z marked .303 slings as they have Serifs on the letters
Last edited by nzl1a1collector; 02-22-2024 at 11:18 PM.
So this is billed as authentic but it looks a bit "surspicious" to me. No tarnish on the buckles especially concerns me. I have and NZ marked Mk1* that needs a proper sling and this would fit the bill but I would rather not spend 70$US to find out its a fake with a nice stamp. I have not seen NZ marked repros before but Im not sure how much stock i put in that.
The Correct Sling for a New Zealand No.4 Mk. 1 (LB) would be a Khaki sling made by the Canadian's for the their rifles. They come with both Brass and steel fittings. We didn't' have special slings for the rifles, we used what came with them for decades, then used the same slings with the L1A1 rifles, not the nice new ones that were supplied with the L1A1 rifles, they would have to wait to be used when the old .303 slings had been used up. If its a Savage No. 4, Mk. 1, then look for one of their [S] marked slings and use that..... or a Canadian, British, Australian, South African, Web Sling.. they system didn't care where it came from, just that it matched the description and was serviceable.
Where are these slings being sold from? can someone send me a link to them. Is it a store or feabay?
The problem is, and I've discussed this with an equipment specialist here in New Zealand, like most things that are created, they have tripped up by not knowing their subject.
Green Slings didn't come into service until the introduction of the L1A1 and the LoCs date the introduction as 1957, before that the slings were Khaki or dyed various colours
New Zealand had stopped using that marking by 1930.
Originally Posted by mnmkeller
So this is billed as authentic but it looks a bit "surspicious" to me. No tarnish on the buckles especially concerns me. I have and NZmarked Mk1* that needs a proper sling and this would fit the bill but I would rather not spend 70$US to find out its a fake with a nice stamp. I have not seen NZ marked repros before but Im not sure how much stock i put in that.
PM
