Rifle sling on 1873 Winchester...

[Stillwater]

Is a sling ever considered an appropriate atachment to a 1873 Winchester?

I have seen one, in an 1870's era picture, of a 1860 Henry, slung on a guys shoulder. Other than that, I haven't seen anything about old timers using slings.

The reason I'm asking is that I have an arm, surgicall disabled. Carrying the rifle sometimes becomes hard to do because of the loss of use and the missing muscles, make the shoulder ache after a little while.

Bill

[Forty Rod]

I have a russet-colored Henry-style sling (Rich Bachmann, Old West Reproductions, Florence, MT) with hook-and-eye Winchester sling swivels on mine.  Maybe Rick has those, too, or you can get them from Dixie Gun Works.

The rear eye screws into the butt stock on the bottom about half way between the toe and the rear of the lever.  The front has a stud that goes through a hole drilled through the nose cap on the bottom and has a washer that fits over the stud.  I had mine spot welded on. Not sure how you'd attach it if you had a carbine with a barrel band instead of a nose cap.

[Stillwater]

I have a russet-colored Henry-style sling (Rich Bachmann, Old West Reproductions, Florence, MT) with hook-and-eye Winchester sling swivels on mine.  Maybe Rick has those, too, or you can get them from Dixie Gun Works.

The rear eye screws into the butt stock on the bottom about half way between the toe and the rear of the lever.  The front has a stud that goes through a hole drilled through the nose cap on the bottom and has a washer that fits over the stud.  I had mine spot welded on. Not sure how you'd attach it if you had a carbine with a barrel band instead of a nose cap.

Thank you for the answer.

I'll follow your suggestions. Again thank you...

Bill

[Advertising]

[Forty Rod]

Hope it works for you. Let me know.

[Freedom]

If you don't want to drill holes into your gun, a good way to attatch  is with a leather butt cuff for the stock and a tie around the barrel or magazine tube.

[River City John]

Stillwater,
you're getting some helpful responses so far by Pards, but I'd be a bit cautious. The Henry was used as a military weapon and was issued with sling hooks, so there is ample evidence that it was slung.
As far as the '73 Winchester, I will wait for our National Judge, Trap, as to a historical counterpart.

This does not go to say that for your circumstances it wouldn't be allowed, but your original question was asking about the historical evidence as far as NCOWS guidelines. That being said, look to the military usage of the '73 Winchester by foreign armies, i.e. Canada, where the '73 was issued in musket and rifle configuration to Irregular units, and was slung I believe, for what may be an acceptable configuration to alter your rifle. Such sutlers as S & S Firearms (best for repro military parts of the era) offer many types of add-on sling hook combinations and I would choose a known military configuration rather than the contemporary buttstock cup-type sling, simply because there is no counterpart in the document record of usage for the '73. The overwhelming majority rode in a scabbard or were stored on a rack somewhere. And remember, some types of leather hunting scabbards had slings. Perhaps another way to carry without having to alter your beloved '73 Winchester.
 
RCJ


 

[Stillwater]

Thanks fellas, a lot of good information for me to consider.

Bill

[Dedwood Dave]

I have a 73 Winchester with two spots I can put a sling on but I've never heard of a period correct sling.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

     I don't think it would have been uncommon for a man to use a sling to carry his 1873 or the like, when horses weren't available or not practical, like in deep snow where a man would use snow shoes to be able to walk, or in mountain es terrain where both hands were needed for climbing, a sling was used, some high country hunters were known to hunt on foot, and didn't always carry there rifle in hand, and would post there mule at a base camp and then hunt on foot, some used a sling only and some used a covered deer or elk skin rifle blanket with a sling attached my understanding is this was used on most rifles that were used in the day. Our forefathers weren't dummy's when it came to doing things that made life easier for them.

                       
                                                Good luck with your arm

                                                      Regards

                                                  tEN wOLVES 

[Books OToole]

According to The Winchester Book by Madis, nearly all of the Winchester models were available with sling swivels.


Books





[ How else would you carry your rifle ,shotgun and two pistols. ]

[Delmonico]

Wison's Winchester book has pictures from a Winchester Catalog showing them.  My scanner is broke so I can't post it.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Books
Perhaps a Pack Mule 

[Stillwater]

According to The Winchester Book by Madis, nearly all of the Winchester models were available with sling swivels.

Books

[ How else would you carry your rifle ,shotgun and two pistols. ]

I need this book. I'll search the Internet for it.

Thanks for all the good information from the membership here...

Bill

[Joss House]

Here's some photo's of an original '73 Winchester rifle with sling swivels. Click on each image for a larger view. This is at the RareWinchesters.com website.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/M73-001066/73-1066.shtml

There's also a '73 carbine shown with sling swivels. Scroll down.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/model_73.shtml

And if you want to prove earlier existence, There's a couple of '66s with sling swivels.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1866/model_66.shtml

[Dedwood Dave]

Huh, I learned something today . Now the question is are slings NCOWS legal.

[Books OToole]

Huh, I learned something today . Now the question is are slings NCOWS legal.

Why wouldn't they be?  We have proved that they existed on weapons made prior to 1899.


Books

[Trap]

  An easy way to use a sling and not alter the rifle. Find a good leather strap, A flat rein works well and can be had at any place that carries tack, cut a slit at each end parallel to the strap, make a loop through the slit. put one end over the barrel the other over the stock, tighten youre done.

[Stillwater]

I need this book. I'll search the Internet for it.

Thanks for all the good information from the membership here...

Bill

Update:
I found this book today, and a new copy too.

It's on it's way to me, was we speak.

Bill

[Stillwater]

Here's some photo's of an original '73 Winchester rifle with sling swivels. Click on each image for a larger view. This is at the RareWinchesters.com website.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/M73-001066/73-1066.shtml

There's also a '73 carbine shown with sling swivels. Scroll down.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/model_73.shtml

And if you want to prove earlier existence, There's a couple of '66s with sling swivels.
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1866/model_66.shtml

You have been a real big help to me. Thank you for the excellent url's, to verify any questions I may face.

Thank you again...

Bill

[Stillwater]

According to The Winchester Book by Madis, nearly all of the Winchester models were available with sling swivels.

Books

[ How else would you carry your rifle ,shotgun and two pistols. ]

I found a NEW copy of the Madis book, in Brooklyn, NY, and it was delivered today... The suggestion to acquire this book, was a very worth while suggestion. This is a very good book!

I was able to purchase the book, the last copy this dealer had, for less than $60.00.

Some thieves were asking as much as $289.00, for a used copy in "Good Condition," what ever that means.

Bill