How to attach the Model of 1907 Sling to the Rifle

by Walt Kuleck

from the Curios & Relics Federal Firearms License mail list...

At 07:28 AM 6/3/98 -0700, Daniel Potter wrote:

I bought a nice 1907 sling for my Garand.  I know how to assemble it and all that, but the two-piece/brass hook arrangement seems overly complicated when compared to, say, a Swedish Mauser sling.  Can this sling do something that a "normal" sling cannot?

Thanks!

Daniel Potter

Daniel,

The US sling is singularly adapted to steadying one's aim in position shooting.

I have in front of me as I type this the "Imperial Army Series (Based on Official Manuals): Musketry (.303 and .22 Cartridges); Elementary Training, Visual Training, Judging Distance, Fire Discipline, Range Practices and Field Practices, Based on Musketry Regulations" (1915).  In no case is the sling used for support whilst shooting from any of the positions.  It's a carrying strap that just hangs there.  So the Brits were in the dark about the use of the sling as an aid to marksmanship, at least in 1915.

I suspect the Germans were too.

In contrast, here is the U.S. Army way, from FM 23-5, October 1951:

The Gun Sling M1907 (leather) (fig. 1) is placed on your rifle as shown in figure 2.

1. Thread the feed end of the long strap through the upper keeper as shown in figure 3; then place the upper hook in the third of fourth pair of holes near the feed end of the long strap. Engage the lower hook in the pair of holes below the upper hook. The sling is now attached to the rifle.

   

   Figure 3: Attaching the M1907 Sling to the Rifle

2. To tighten the sling (fig. 4), grasp the inside strap of the sling near the trigger housing with the left hand. With the right hand, grasp the sling between the hooks. Now pull toward the butt with the left hand and push toward the muzzle with the right hand until the sling is tight. Slide the lower keeper toward the muzzle until the feed end of the long strap has been passed.

   

   Figure 4: Tightening the M1907 Sling

3. To loosen the sling for carrying purposes, slide the lower keeper down from the feed end of the long strap and grasp the inside strap with the left hand. Now force the inside strap toward the muzzle and at the same time pull the outside strap toward the butt of the rifle.
4. To hold the sling in a tight position, force the upper keeper against the stock ferrule swivel and slide the lower keeper up until it has passed the feed end of the long strap.

Simple, isn't it?

--Walt Kuleck