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MODEL 1855 CARBINE SLING – RARE ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL MARKED SLING - MAKER MARKED SNAP SWIVEL –
EXCELLENT CIVIL WAR THROUGH INDIAN WAR SPECIMEN:
This Civil War/Early Indian
War Cavalry Carbine Sling is full length, in the
original configuration, and is complete with a maker
marked snap swivel. Of special note, the sling leather
was manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal and is so
stamped immediately above the brass tip. The vast
majority of surviving sling straps were manufactured by
civilian contractors such as Gaylord. I have only seen
three – this one included - of these sling straps which
have been marked as this one is, with the Rock Island
Arsenal stamp, making this specimen a very special
offering.
Many of these carbine slings, once in the surplus market
and in the hands of companies such as Bannerman’s, fell
victim to the demand for metal during both World Wars
and the brass buckles and tips were removed. As little
care was taken in these salvage efforts, more often than
not, the sling leather was severely shortened.
This Model 1855 Carbine Sling escaped those salvage
efforts, with the sling retaining its full length of 51
˝ inches. The leather surface is overall smooth and
bright with only some minor flexing. The sling is
supple and the leather has not hardened, making it a
very nice piece to display. The original brass tip and
buckle have a nice, even aged patina and are full form.
The snap swivel is fully functional and has a smooth,
bright finish with no pitting – one of the nicest ones
I’ve seen in some time. The inside surface of the snap
is stamped “O.B. NORTH & Co., New Haven, CT", the
maker.
Given the continued use of these Model 1855 Carbine
Slings through the Civil War, then onto the frontier
where they were used well into the late Indian Wars, and
the loss to the surplus efforts as described above, full
length specimens with the original buckles and tips have
become very difficult to locate on the market. Further,
the added value of the Rock Island Arsenal stamp on this
specimen makes it a particularly special offering, and
it will be a significant addition to your cavalry
accoutrement and carbine grouping. SOLD
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