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US - M1907
I specialise in making military specification US M1907 leather slings.
(for M1907 sling fitting/adjusting instructions, click here)
The M1907 slings are ideal for the M1903 Springfield rifles, as well as the US issued M1917 (the US version of the British P.14),
the WW2 US issued M1 Garand, the Korean War & Vietnam issued Winchester 70 sniper rifle,
the Vietnam issued M14 rifle & the Vietnam to current day issue M40 USMC sniper rifle.
The M1907 sling was also part of the C.E.S. (Complete Equipment Schedule) for the WW2 British .303" No.4(T) sniper rifle
& it was sometimes seen on the post-war conversion, the 7.62mm L42 sniper rifle.
Unlike the cheap Chinese/Far Eastern "MRT" copies currently flooding the market, my slings use the correct 10-oz weight of vegetable tanned leather, correct parkerised steel fittings (in stock) or blackened brass (on permanent back-order)
& the slings are fully hand-sewn throughout - including the two hand-sewn keepers.
These slings have sold very well over the last 25 years or so, with many repeat orders from customers at Bisley & WW2 re-enactors.
MY M1907 slings are MADE TO BE USED
These slings will take the same level of punishment & abuse that the original issue slings were subjected to on the battlefields of WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, etc.
The standard M1907 slings made are marked with a "R.I.A. 1942 JM" stamp (photo below):
as this looks like a WW2 maker mark but was designed to give the sling a contemporary WW2 feel, while being obvious to collectors that the slings are not real WW2 vintage; there were no leather workshops at RIA in WW2!
I can also mark slings with a similar "period" 1918 dated stamp, for WW1 Doughboy approval.
I'm NOW IN STOCK! of the metal D-rings (loops) - (THAT ONLY TOOK ABOUT 3 YEARS TO FIND A SUPPLIER!)
These new D-rings are steel, so are correct for the most commonly seen M1907 slings
& are well matched to the 1942 date stamp I add to the sling, plus the current frogs I use are steel too.
The default M1907 sling produced is undyed natural leather, with the "RIA 1942 JM" stamp.
UNLESS YOU ASK FOR ANOTHER YEAR/COLOUR, THIS DEFAULT IS WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE.
PRICE £60 ea., inc. P&P worldwide
National Match
There is also a National Match variant of the M1907 sling available - this has the same basic layout as the US GI sling, with a longer front section. The US GI sling has a 48" OAL, Match slings are around 12" longer.
Match slings also usually have numbers added to each pair of slotted holes to make it easier to repeat fastening positions for different events, etc.
Normal colour options are tan, dark brown or black & they are stamped "MATCH"
The Match sling can be supplied with various embossing by request.
Prices from £75, shipped
Image from the WW2 Field Manual FM23-10, showing M1907 sling layout & part names
...in the pic above the sling would attach to the rifle with the muzzle pointing to the right
(the short strap is ALWAYS the lower strap & is the one looped through the butt swivel)
RIA
1942
JM
Stamped up as a Rock Island Arsenal sling for WW2 users/projects;
this also gives a good view of the steel sling hooks/frogs from both sides.
ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL
1918
Detail of "castle" sewing detail on the shorter strap near the "D" ring
The "Keepers"
The hooks (frogs?)
A finished M1907 sling in it's new home in the Free World
SOME SAD NEWS
The sling making scene has lost a good friend in the USA;
John H Weller was a fine M1907 sling maker & helped me a lot in my early efforts at M1907 sling making.
Even though we never met we chatted on the phone a few times over the years
& I was able to help him out in a few small ways when he needed supplies from England.
He will be missed!
R.I.P.
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