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1873 & 1887 RIFLE SLINGS FOR THE SPRINGFIELD
TRAPDOOR RIFLES AND THE KRAG RIFLES – SOME MARKED ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL: These Indian War era rifle
slings are correct for display on your Springfield
Trapdoor Rifles and for the Krag Rifles which followed.
I have the following slings in stock and each is
described and priced individually below with
accompanying photographs.
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NO. 1 EARLY PATTERN TRAPDOOR
RIFLE SLING: This early pattern Trapdoor sling
with the thin pronged double claw hook, is a one-piece
specimen that retains its original length of 69”. The
sling features a shiny surface with an even darkened
russet color. This sling saw use and there are areas of
flexing and crazing, however the leather has no weak
points like those often caused by the sling swivels. The
underside of the sling still retains has much of the
standing nap of the leather. The inspector’s or piece
worker’s stamp is present and legible by the button
slot. The brass button and both leather keepers are
present. While showing some signs of issue and use,
this is still a very attractive example of the Early
Pattern Trapdoor Rifle Sling, which have become quite
scarce. (0528) $225
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NO. 2 MODEL 1887 ONE PIECE
RIFLE SLING w/ EXCELLENT FINISH: This late
pattern Model 1887 Trapdoor sling with the heavier
double claw hook retains its full original one-piece
length of 65.5”, with an overall nice even russet color
to the smooth, shiny leather. This sling shows some
sign of use, with minor flexing in isolated points where
it was pulled against the sling swivels. This wear is
not unsightly and is only mentioned here to provide a
complete description. The underside of the sling still
has much of the standing nap of the leather, and both
leather keepers and original brass button are present.
This is a very attractive Trapdoor and Krag Rifle sling
that would never have to be upgraded. (0525) $225
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NO. 3 MODEL 1887 TWO PIECE
RIFLE SLING – ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED w/ EXCELLENT
FINISH:
This late pattern Trapdoor
sling with the heavier double claw hook retains its full
original 65” length, with an overall nice even russet
color to the smooth, shiny leather. An added plus, this
sling still retains a legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL”
stamp as well as the inspector initial stamps.
As part of the Ordnance Department’s continuing effort
to control costs, periodically the arsenals would survey
the slings that had been turned in by the units in the
field. Those which were damaged beyond being
serviceable but still had usable lengths worth saving
were cannibalized – the damaged portion was cut away and
the usable section was mated with a likewise usable
section from another sling and a very durable joint was
stitched to join the two pieces. This was a standard
practice and two-piece slings such as the one offered
here are well known and documented. It is worth noting
that this method of salvaging slings dated back to the
late 1860’s when slings for the early Indian War rifles
were made from the considerable amounts of surplus Civil
War musket slings remaining in inventory.
This sling shows some sign of use, with minor flexing in
isolated points where it was pulled against the sling
swivels. This wear is not unsightly and is only
mentioned here to provide a complete description. The
underside of the sling still has much of the standing
nap of the leather, and both leather keepers and
original brass button are present.
This is a very attractive
Trapdoor and Krag Rifle sling with the desirable arsenal
marks that would never have to be upgraded.
(0526) $250
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NO. 4 MODEL 1887 ONE PIECE RIFLE
SLING – ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED w/ VERY NICE FINISH:
This late pattern Model
1887 Trapdoor sling with the heavier double claw hook
retains its full original one-piece length of 67.5”.
The leather is supple and strong with an overall even
dark russet color to the smooth, shiny leather. An
added plus, this sling still retains a lightly struck,
but fully legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp. This
sling shows some sign of use,
with minor flexing in
isolated points where it was pulled against the sling
swivels. This wear is not unsightly and is only
mentioned here to provide a complete description.
The underside of the sling
still has much of the standing nap of the leather, and
both leather keepers and original brass button are
present. This is a very solid Trapdoor and Krag Rifle
sling. (0527) $225
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NO. 5 MODEL 1887 ONE PIECE RIFLE
SLING – ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MARKED w/ VERY NICE FINISH:
This late pattern Model
1887 Trapdoor sling with the heavier double claw hook
retains its full original one-piece length of 66”. The
leather is supple and strong with an overall even dark
russet color to the smooth, shiny leather.
An added plus, this sling
still retains a mostly legible “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL”
stamp as well as the inspector initial stamps, and the
piece worker’s initials stamped on the button end of the
sling.
This sling shows some sign of use,
with minor flexing in isolated points where it was
pulled against the sling swivels. This wear is not
unsightly and is only mentioned here to provide a
complete description. The underside of the sling still
has much of the standing nap of the leather, and both
leather keepers and original brass button are present.
This is a very solid Trapdoor and Krag Rifle sling.
(0529) $225
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NO. 6 MODEL 1887 ONE PIECE RIFLE
SLING:
This late pattern Model
1887 Trapdoor sling with the heavier double claw hook
retains its full original one-piece length of 67”. The
leather is supple and strong with an overall even dark
russet color to the
leather.
This sling shows evidence
of use, with minor flexing in isolated points where it
was pulled against the sling swivels, and places where
the surface was scuffed without any loss of the surface
of the leather, nor any structural damage. This wear is
not unsightly, nor does it affect the integrity of the
sling, and is only mentioned here to provide a complete
description. The underside of the sling still has much
of the standing nap of the leather, and both leather
keepers and original brass button are present. This is
a very solid Trapdoor and Krag Rifle sling. (0530)
$175
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