Rifle Sling on canteens

[P.Brown]

Has anyone ever seen an original example or read an account of the use of a rifle sling as a canteen strap either in the Federal or Confederate ranks specifically on a drum canteen (of course one might assume if this practice exists it would be seen more in the Confederate ranks). And, yes I have checked the forum using the search engine and all other available resources.



thanks,
Philip Brown

[roundshot]

Re: Rifle Sling on canteens

I've seen a dug Federal "bullseye canteen" from Burnett's Farm (Federal Hospital) near Cold Harbor that had musket sling hooks still attached in both side loops, as if two joined slings were utilized for carrying purposes. Of course, improvisations such as this were not uncommon among fighting men either then or now.

[billyreb61]

Re: Rifle Sling on canteens

In the book, Don Troiani's Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War, it shows a confederate tin drum canteen with a federal gun sling.

[Cleaveland]

Re: Rifle Sling on canteens

There is one in the Atlanta history museam"s collection.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Rifle Sling on canteens

Good question...Rifle slings were used for all sorts of purposes other than the one for which they were intended, if period specimens and accounts are to be trusted. I believe Columbia Rifles Research Compendium 2nd Ed covers some of the alternate uses for slings in the chapter on the US pattern slings. Waist belt, improvised backpack strap, canteen sling and so on. It helps explain why slings that were issued do not always show up in camp life pictures of rifle muskets.

[John E. Tobey]

Re: Rifle Sling on canteens

In the Antietam Visitor's Center there is a CS canteen (wooden stave type) with what appears to be a US rifle sling on it.

John Tobey