Sling for a 66/73 Lever Action...Anyone Done It?

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

 I'd really like to have a leather sling for my Uberti '73 lever for when I hunt with it. Nothing fancy or adjustable...just something with which hang the carbine over my shoulder occasionally. My thoughts are the butt end could be made with, or sewn in to a leather butt cover and the barrel end could...I don't know...maybe just be a cut slot in the end of the sling that would slide over the barrel and magazine tube?
Anyone ever tried any such thing?

Thanks!

Cholla

[Marshall John Joseph]

Go to Dixie Gun Works or Track of the Wolf.  They should have what you are looking for.  They sell them for muzzle loaders.  They lace around the buttstock and wrap around the barrel so you do not need sling attachments or drill into your stock.

MJJ

[dwight55]

Just be sure that after you get a sling like that, . . . you take it (loaded, safety on, everything as you would on a hunt), . . . go for a walk on the range with it, . . . un-sling, . . . shoot some targets, . . . re-sling, . . . walk, . . . etc.

Some guns work well with slings, . . . or maybe, some slings work well with some guns, . . . but there is no "all purpose".

It took me the longest time to get a decent sling made for my black powder rifle, . . . and had I bought one just off a shelf and not had the ability to change it, . . . it would be in a drawer right now.

Take your time.  Be safe.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

Thanks for the responses, PM's and emails. I guess I should clarify by stating that I am wanting more of a "carrying  strap" than sling. I say that because it won't be used as slings normally are, for extended carrying of a rifle and for use while shooting, rather it will be used as an option to leaning the rifle against a tree or laying it down when I need both hands free.
  When these rifles came in to being 125+ years ago were there slings fashioned for them?

    Cholla

[MJN77]

When these rifles came in to being 125+ years ago were there slings fashioned for them?

Yes.
Sixth one down has sling swivels, as does the eighth one.
http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/United%20States%20Rifles/Winchester/winchester%20models/1866/Winchester%20Model%201866_files/Winchester%201866.html

http://www.icollector.com/Henry-Marked-Winchester-Model-1866-2nd-Model-Lever-Action-Rifle_i13827681

http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/1866-winchester-rifle.htm

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/12555261_conrad-unrich-engraved-winchester-1866-la-rifle

I have seen an original 1873 rifle that had a sling attached with rawhide strips wrapped around the barrel and butt stock.

[Gabriel Law]

I had the same desire - to carry my rifle hunting.  And I know from experience, a sling makes a huge difference in my comfort level after a full day of packing a rifle.  Mine is a Uberti 1876 Winchester Centennial rifle with a 28" bbl and weighs about ten pounds.  So I made a set of sling swivels for mine, after researching as best I could from images from this site on original set-ups.  The sling itself is adjustable, but once it is fitted, it never gets adjusted.  It's made from 8 - 9 oz veg tan and dyed dark brown.  Here's a picture or two of the swivels I made.  I made an error with the forward one...I filed a flat on the bottom of the forend cap and attached the swivel base with a machine screw from the inside.  I think the originals were set in a circular milled flat and were allowed to rotate.

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

[Massive]

I use a single point sling on mine, works if you have a saddle ring, and I make a no mar attachment for it also.  But it is very tactical.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Did you want to alter the gun or not?
You could slip a leather cover over the butt and attach the front by the screw that holds on the fore end cap. When you don't want the sling on just remove it and it would be like it had never been there.

[pony express]

"They" make a clamp on sling mount for tube magazine rifles that attaches to the magazine tube, they come in various sizes. You could combine with the leather butt cover attachment already mentioned. I forget where I looked at them before, but probably Midway, Cabellas, Brownells, should list them.