US vs British front sling swivel

[FedOfficer]

Does anyone know the rationale for the British placement of the front sling swivel on the top barrel band vice the general US practice of placing it on the middle band? The US method seems to distribute the weight better, makes it easier to carry (since it doesn't hang so low), and just feels better to me. This is of course assuming you carry it barrel up. Butt up, they both feel about the same to me, but the increased space between the swivels causes the British method to move around a lot more. At least that's my observations. Curious to know if anyone has seen a picture of the swivel being moved on British 3-band weapons down to the middle band. Would probably allow the use of the normal Springfield sling that way too. I've searched the resource material I have and haven't found an image to support this, just curious if anyone else has. Appreciate any inputs!

Thanks,
Rick Rachal

[JimKindred]

Re: US vs British front sling swivel

British muskets were meant to be slung muzzle down.

[RN_PAC]

Re: US vs British front sling swivel

Hello Rick-

This is purely an "educated conjecture", but it would seem that the practice of placing the sling swivel on the uppermost barrel band would make it easier for slinging the musket ACROSS the body (muzzle down) versus simply over the soulder. I can recall reading that 'way back when flintlocks were first being used in the British Army in large numbers, replacing matchlocks, only grenadiers were supplied with musket slings, so it could be slung across the body when hurling grenades or chopping obstacles with their axes when leading an assault on a fixed position. Soldiers in battalion companies supposedly did not use slings. So perhaps this practice was rooted in the tradition of slinging the musket in that specific manner, and extended through the lineage of British longarms to the Enfield? This thought can certainly be refuted or supported easily; I am simply just "thinking out loud" and sharing this idea for "food for thought"... :)

Sincerely,
Tom Scoufalos

[10TnVI]

Re: US vs British front sling swivel

In the Wilder gun collection at Chicamauga Battlefield Museum there is an Enfield , I believe a BSAT model, with the sling swivel on the middle band. Didn't appear to be a field mod but I don't have any further info. Perhaps Lee White,if he's still out there, could supply more info

[Enfield]

Not reliable evidence

Unfortunately, one must be careful in judging anything from changeable details of guns in the *Fuller* Collection at Chickamauga. Those guns have been disassembled and reassembled on several occasions since 1865, and not always put back the way they were before. For example, the barrel bands on almost all the period British arms were reinstalled backwards (or upsidedown, however you choose to view them) when the collection was last gone over (a few years ago).

Geoff Walden