Krag leather slings - new

[butlersrangers]

You missed part of my explanation, (and I've repeated this often).
Frank Mallory noted this 'shooting adaptation', of the model 1887 Krag sling, in a photo of the U.S. Army Team from the 1st National Matches at Seagirt, New Jersey, in 1903.

That one, '1909 shooting team - sailor', definitely knew what he was doing!

[P0H0]

How does it help?

[butlersrangers]

Easy Peasy!
(It kind of works like using a model 1907 sling, for shooting).

[P0H0]

Ah I see… okay makes sense, running the sling up to the stacking swivel removes slack.

While researching why there are 3 different lengths (64”, 67”, and 72”) of M1887 slings being sold, I came across a post on the Gun Boards by Tom B. — BR do you have any more detail on this?

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/m1887-sling.1236635/

The first slings used on Trapdoor rifles had a single hook on one end and a brass button on the other end. They were 65 inches long, but the length was later increased to 70 inches. In 1887 they did away with the single hook on the one end and replaced it with a double hook/claw. They also shortened the sling from 70 to 66.5 inches. Sometimes they would take two older sling straps and sew them together to make the sling.

So is the 67” the Krag sling?

[Knute1]

Maybe to confuse the discussion:
Townsend Whelen wrote an article on shooting positions. It has photos and doesn't show the use of the sling to any great extent. See pages 28 to 48 that ends with a comment about slings. This is copyrighted 1906 and covers the 1898 and 1903 models of rifles.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Su ... frontcover

FWIW, I have an M1887 sling on my full military 1892/1896 Krag and a M1907 sling on my Krag sporter with a 24" barrel.

[butlersrangers]

Thanks Knute! Great information from Lt. Townsend Whelen, a huge proponent of the 'shooting-sling'.

He described the sling on the 1903 Springfield (in Plate-1) as the "Shaw sling".
It was adjusted to serve as a shooting aid and immediately could be thrown over the shoulder for carry.
This sling appears to have two double-hooks (Frogs), that are located at each end of the single strap. It must predate the model-1907 sling.

I wish Whelen had specified the length of the strap.

[Knute1]

A little more history of the rifle sling used as a shooting aid in step with Whelen's 1906 book:

https://www.ssusa.org/content/rifle-sli ... -shooting/

And here is an article by Townsend Whelen in an April 26, 1906 magazine "Shooting and Fishing" on page 51 discussing the Shaw Sling. The leather strap is reported to be sixty inches.
There is another short article on the Shaw Sling on page 85.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sh ... frontcover

Now here is a more contemporary article (2008) going thru the history. Of course, Whelen is mentioned in this article.

http://pronematch.com/a-short-history-of-the-the-sling/

That will probably be enough reading for one night.

[butlersrangers]

Knute - Thanks for the article on the 'Shaw' sling!

[butlersrangers]

POHO asked for observations on why the reproduction "Model 1887 Sling" is being made in a variety of lengths, (64", 67", & 72").
He was also wondering about the "correct" length.

I think part of the challenge is that model 1873 Springfield and Krag slings were not made to high tolerances. The slings served mainly as a carry-strap.
Some of these slings were made from recycled earlier slings and straps. Length specifications appear to have changed at times.
Any surviving original slings are old, well used, have been subject to the elements and less than ideal storage. Leather items do shrink, stretch, get altered and repaired.

Vendors and makers may have used some incorrect information and specifications. A lot of reproductions are made from poor quality, overly thick and stiff leather.
The 'sliding-keepers' are not made correctly. One of these should be 'larger & looser' so that it can fit over four thicknesses of leather.
Original slings were likely of thinner, more consistent and pliable leather.

(Original photographs suggest that sometimes soldiers were not familiar with proper sling installation and put them on wrong).

Brophy and Mallory provided a lot of good information on slings in their books.

I was getting a bit suspicious of the term "model 1887 sling".

Reviewing Brophy's book showed an official Rock Island Arsenal drawing that gave details and dimensions of the model 1887 sling.
This RIA 1889 drawing indicates the model 1887 sling is 66 1/2 inches long. One of the leather 'sliding-keepers' was larger, to accommodate more thicknesses of leather.

I suspect some reproduction model 1887 slings have been made overly long just so that they are easier to use on the model 1873 Springfield with inferior leather.

On the model 1873 Springfield, to switch from a taut sling to a 'carry' position, the brass hooks had to be released from the sling.
The sling had to be 'unbuttoned' from the trigger-guard swivel, so the hooked-end could pass through the swivel.
The hook was then engaged on the rough inside of the sling to adjust 'carry' length.
The 'button end' of the sling was reattached to the guard-swivel.
All in all, a clumsy process!

Attached are some swivel spacing dimensions and reproduction sling dimensions:

[P0H0]

Thanks BR. I imagine that is indeed the case — a lot of slings of various lengths over the years due to different reasons. I do think 66.5” seems to be a good length based on your photo.