Era-accurate Ross rifle sling?

commissar_lubi

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A bit of a detail, but if I'm not incorrect did the military-issue Ross rifles share the same sling as the early Long Lees and SMLEs? That is to say the leather one and not the later white/beige canvas sling.

Cheers
 
Hi Lubi. Martini - Long Lee - Ross - all took the same width of leather sling with stitched keepers and leather thong secure. The SMLE rifle
usually sported a web sling of a slightly narrow width as previous and most often the brass end secures were manufacturer marked and dated.
However many British and Territorial units were outfitted in leather equipments which required matching leather slings of the same pattern as previous but were narrow (same width as web) and usually riveted as opposed to stitched. In Canada white buff Snider slings were passed down to the Martini and sometimes to the Long Lees. P-14s are usually seen in service with leather SMLE slings. i have a British web sling in my collection with the brass dated 1904. Some Ross slings manufactured in 1916 are often dated with manufacturer stamp. JOHN
 
Hi Lubi. Martini - Long Lee - Ross - all took the same width of leather sling with stitched keepers and leather thong secure. The SMLE rifle
usually sported a web sling of a slightly narrow width as previous and most often the brass end secures were manufacturer marked and dated.
However many British and Territorial units were outfitted in leather equipments which required matching leather slings of the same pattern as previous but were narrow (same width as web) and usually riveted as opposed to stitched. In Canada white buff Snider slings were passed down to the Martini and sometimes to the Long Lees. P-14s are usually seen in service with leather SMLE slings. i have a British web sling in my collection with the brass dated 1904. Some Ross slings manufactured in 1916 are often dated with manufacturer stamp. JOHN

Thanks for the good information.
 
Leather Martini slings were made 1-1/2 inches wide. Long Lee were 1-3/8 and Sht.LE were 1-1/4. They were sewn.

The riveted leather Sht.LE slings appeared circa 1904 (I think) as a manufacturing expediency. They were phased out of production with the introduction of the web sling, but were brought back into production in WWII. Originals will be dated.
 
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