Rifle Slings

[Witlain]

Hello, this is my first post here on Authentic Campaigner so please feel free to move this thread if I posted it in the wrong category.

I recently bought a civilian .45-caliber rifle from a local reenacting store and it does not have metal sling loops attached to it. I am in a cavalry unit and am looking to find a period way to carry it. I have tried researching whether or not soldiers or civilians in the Midwest would have used rope as a way to make a homemade sling.

[Alexander Vasquez]

Re: Rifle Slings

August 1986 National Geographic has a section about the Oregon Trail. In the article a civilian hunting rifle is displayed and there is no visible means to attach a sling to it.

Years ago I also read in an account of an emigrant (and I am very sorry that I cannot cite it now, the link died and I never printed the text out) about an accident on the Trail; one man went hunting and his rifle somehow broke. He borrowed a rifle from a drover, did not shoot anything, and went to pass the rifle back because he could not carry it any longer and handed it muzzle first to the drover. The weapon fired during the transfer, killing the drover. Author implied that this sort of stupidity was common. What's important to you (possibly) is that the hunter could not carry the rifle on the horse probably because it had no sling.

My information represents a very small sample size. Others can likely speak more intelligently about slings, and civilian hunting rifle use in cavalry outfits.

Alexander Vasquez
Late of Co. C, 15 IA

[Philip cav]

Re: Rifle Slings

Have you taken the arm to a gun smith? They may be able to install some loops for you. Just me thinking out loud.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Rifle Slings

Will,

Welcome to the AC and its "equine contingent"! We are certainly glad to have you.

I can envision alternative materials and methods for carrying a "brought into service" (or other) weapon. While I would first suggest checking to make sure that your weapon is of the right pattern and "de-farbed" as to components and finish, you are certainly on track in thinking of ways to authentically carry the weapon on horse back in military fashion as opposed to common civilian employment. For example, it has been my observation of period illustrations and descriptions that a very common method for civilians to carry long arms (think- fur traders, mountain men, explorers, pioneers, travelers, hunter/farmers, etc.) was straddled/balanced/rested over the pommel (or horn). Physical evidence of worn off leather and tree wood of surviving saddles bear this out. However, this method would be impractical and dangerous in a column of troopers. The two most common military alternatives would be a sling from the shoulder "cavalry style" as in a common carbine sling or, a common rifle sling slung over the back. Without an "issue" sling on the weapon one would have to improvise methods with materials. Given one's "station in life", various options would be considered such as blacksmith made sling loops or probably more likely, a strap of leather (sewn) or rope (tied) to the top and "wrist" of the weapon. There are, no doubt, many other variances to this that other "weapon's guys" can articulate here. Regardless, this is very authentic and largely un-seen in our hobby's routine portrayals.
Anecdotal Evidence: In one of the rare mounted photographs of Confederate cavalryman, a close examination of the trooper, Mississippian Pvt. James Secrest of the Jeff Davis Legion, ANV., one can see his Maynard carbine slung to his body by a rope.
Good post and a good idea for others! Give it some research, thought- then go for it!

OK Gents! the man is looking for some "authentic" ideas...i.e. methods and materials. Experiences?


Ken R Knopp

[GenuineInformation]

Re: Rifle Slings

While I must first admit I have no knowledge of matters of the horse, I did peruse images I have seen and saved of 19th Century sporting men. Slings are rare in those images, but I believe that reflects the quarry these men intended--probably doves, pigeons, perhaps quail afoot, deer, and bear. In short, most of them would not be hunting from horseback and there was perhaps not another pressing reason to have a sling. I did, however, find a few images, which I have attached below, that show sporting pieces with slings attached.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Rifle Slings

Hallo!

As already shared... the first part of any discussion is what is the rifle you have acquired. The common reproductions used in the rendezvous/buckskinning community bear little or no resemblance to the civilian hunting and sporting rifles in the mid 19th century.
If those meet your Mental Picture and your needs, you can order "after market" sling swivel additions for not much money that typically replace on of the ramrod pipes and has a swivel on it and IIRC a screw swivel affair for the buttstock.

The historical record is not abundantly clear on slings on other than military guns and a few shotguns/fowlers. In brief and to over generalize, the common way to carry a Plains rifle was across the pommel, nominally tied to the saddle horn so it would not be lost. A number of originals exhibit extreme wear under the forestock, and several have added metal plates to prevent wood destruction.

I do not know historically why hunting rifles are NUG slingless while shotguns occassionaly have them. In theory the idea is to free the hands up and for ease of covering distances. So it is easy to carry back a number of ducks or geese with a gun slung over the shoulder. But it would make as much, or more sense, to have free hands when dragging or carrying a heavy deer back home. Even with a horse, one still has the rifle after a deer or antelope is tossed on the back of the horse.

Much beyond that, lads can get divided on "necessity is the mother of invention" and stretch the Unknown with good ideas ("I think of it now, I could have thought of it then."). Yes, a rope can be made into an impromptu sling, as can a cloth or leathern belt. NOT to use it other than the modern illustration of how "easy" it can be.. is Josh Brolin as "Tom Chaney" in the 2010 "True Grit" where he has added a rope sling to a Henry (IIRC).
One also finds leather homemade slings on Plains Indians guns, but leather is fragile over time, and one can never know with absolute certainty when such a sling was tied on- 1876 or 1936.

Again, being brief...

Curt

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Rifle Slings

In addition to Curt's excellent considerations, I might like to add one other tid bit of information regarding slings. It has been well documented that large numbers of carbine slings were manufactured by the south beginning quite early in the war. Records from several arsenals and contractors show quantities were being manufactured and even some descriptions throughout the war. How many were getting out into the field, to whom issued and when is a more difficult question. More were captured along with Federal arms as the war unfolded. The point here is that they were being made and issued quite early and somewhat continuous so that information should be considered when employing a sling for your choice of weapon, the event "period" you are attending, geographic location and whatever else in your portrayal.
Several years ago I wrote an article on CS carbine slings that may be of service for understanding the breadth of materials, etc. However, it does NOT cover rifle slings. I note the link to my web site below....

http://confederatesaddles.com/cswp/?p=325

Ken R Knopp