M1907 Sling Dated 1918 - Real or Not?

[tj214]

Picked up a M1907 sling off eBay from seller that claims it was unissued. It certainly was not issued, but I don't know enough about these slings to know whether it's legit.

Arrived behaving like stiff cardboard, so have been "marinating" with leather conditioner to restore as much flexibility as possible. Making substantial progress, but still too stiff to attach to my Enfield No. 4 Mk. I (T) (yup, the Brits issued their WW II sniper rifles with American slings, presumably cannibalized from the massive number of P14s received via Lend-Lease).

Short strap is dyed dark brown on both sides and clearly unissued. No (or extremely minimal) leather cracking or splits. It's embossed (stamped) G&K, 1918, JLR on the exterior just below the brass hook.

Long strap is dyed dark brown ONLY on the exterior while the reverse is undyed standard light brown leather. Again, clearly unissued. No (or extremely minimal) leather cracking or splits.

Do I have a real 1918 M1907? Hope the photos show enough detail.

Should I dye the long strap reverse the same dark brown as the exterior? If so, what leather dye should I use?

TIA.

[browningautorifle]

Gratton and Knight. It sure looks correct to me, they usually were same color but if you put together two different slings you get a mismatch color. You COULD use Febings leather die, it tends to stiffen things so careful. Also the mismatched ends look like two different slings.

Just by the look of the brass frogs and their attachment, I think it's real.

[tj214]

The dyed brown color on both straps is the same even if they look different in the photos (which I lightened in Photoshop to show detail).

I wondered whether the straps could be from two different slings, but on the other hand they are both unused (no/minimal cracking or wear, no claw hole elongation, etc.). Does having straps from different slings make the overall sling in any way less legit from the issue and operational perspective? If my speculation is correct the 4 (T) slings were cannibalized from the hundreds of thousands of L-L P-14s, I would assume H&H (or stores troops?) could take their pick of the best parts to cobble together the highest possible quality slings for the snipers. Makes sense, but doesn't mean it's correct!

I don't want to damage the value (too much...), but I don't like the raw leather color on the underside of the long strap. Is Febings the recommended dye? Does it repel leather conditioner and/or dubbing? This leather is already stiffer than a well-used and well-maintained sling, so I don't want to cause much more stiffness.

I'm amazed at how the suppleness has improved with several applications of leather conditioner. The sling arrived coiled and both straps were so stiff I was afraid to straighten them for fear of cracking or splitting the leather. Suspect it will take 2-3 more applications before I'll be willing to bend them into a sling shape.

[browningautorifle]

Does having straps from different slings make the overall sling in any way less legit from the issue and operational perspective?

No, we can't prove they came from different sets.

Is Febings the recommended dye? Does it repel leather conditioner and/or dubbing?

Fiebings (I spelled it wrong before)is about the best. You need a leather conditioner anyway. These pages are full of the arguments over which one is best. They get stiff with age, sounds like you have that in hand.

Nice piece overall. You DO have the loops to go with, right?
https://www.ima-usa.com/products/ori...eeper-unissued
M1907 Keeper

[tj214]

That's good news. I'll give the Fiebing's a shot...so to speak.

Yes, I have the loops, just forgot to include them in the pics. Those loops on IMA look quite good too.

Thanks for all your help (on this and numerous other subjects)!

[browningautorifle]

Pleasure. I'm still surprised no one else has come so far. They'll be along.

[oldfoneguy]

I'm curious as to your intentions for this sling. Do you actually plan to use a potentially 106 year old piece of leather as a functional loop sling for target shooting?

[tj214]

Fair question, and nope, not for shooting. I want it supple enough to mount on the rifle for "display" purposes. The rifle is in fairly near pristine shape and came with a perfectly serviceable aftermarket (Hunter) M1907-style sling and that's what I am and will use for shooting. It's actually very nice, but of course not original.

I'm just trying to accumulate (VERY late in the game as far as the market is concerned, so prices tend to be sky-high) the stuff that would have been with the rifle when issued. I have a near-mint scout telescope Mk. IIs inbound from the UK but it's been sitting in NY Customs for more than a week. With luck I'll see it in a few weeks. A piece here and a piece there and I'll eventually meet my goal.

Speaking of ancient artifacts, I've seen a bunch of hard-used 1918 M1907s that are in truly abysmal shape that I'm not confident I could ever return to good enough condition to put on a rifle. Rips, tears, cracks, slices, etc., common, as befits equipment that old that was actually used and abused by soldiers. Probably some out there in decent shape, but I haven't seen them in the several months I've been looking. Feel like I truly lucked out on this sling.

In the immortal words of Col Hannibal Smith, I love it when a plan comes together!

[oldfoneguy]

Although I've been collecting milsurps for 45 years only in the last few have I found the lions share of American martial arms in the condition I wanted them in. I could have bought lesser versions back when and saved a bundle but that's not what I was looking for. I now have an outstanding condition version of American cartridge fired rifles from the Trapdoor to the AR and a couple of multiples in the middle. Next is the slippery slope of carbine versions. Often faked and seldom worth the asking price, I'm sure I will be gone long before I finally accomplish that task.

[tj214]

I'm sure I will be gone long before I finally accomplish that task.

I hear that, brother!!