Attaching a sling to a firearm without the means??

[DGeraths]

I recently purchased a fowler and I would like to attach to it a nice sling of some sort. The gun does not have any attachment points at which to fix a strap. I really do not what to just wrap leather over the barrel and butt.
What would be the most accurate mechanical means to attach a strap to such a weapon around 1760-1780 or so? If such hardware is available, where would someone purchase it?


Dana

 

[Black Hand]

I make a sling using thin brain-tan ties on each end and tied one end to the trigger guard and the other end around the barrel at the level of the ram-rod thimble. The brain-tan is thin and strong enough that it doesn't interfere with sighting. The other option is to get a forward sling swivel and a stud attached to the gun to which the sling attaches. However this puts additional holes in your gun.
Black Hand

 

[hobbles]

http://www.possibleshop.com/sling.htm

 

[CrackStock]

Most people use a sling swivel at the top which is drilled through a tenon and attached by th thin bolt supplied. The bottom is generally secured by a button which fits into a slot in the end of the sling. Most vendors sell these devices inexpensively.

T/C sells a strap on similar to the October Country version shown above and it works reasonably well. The adjustable sling on their site looks better.

CS

 

[DGeraths]

Most people use a sling swivel at the top which is drilled through a tenon and attached by th thin bolt supplied. The bottom is generally secured by a button which fits into a slot in the end of the sling. Most vendors sell these devices inexpensively.

CS

I have had some experience with using the button bolt before, in fact, I build a trade gun some time ago and used a pretty fancy button that I picked up at DGW. But how accurate would that be on a gun that is supposed to be from around 1760? Is there documentation showing this type of arrangement?

I am a bit of a stitch-nazi and I want to make sure that I am as accurate as possible.

Dana

 

[Okwaho]

I have both types on my guns. On my Edward Marshall rifle I use a button screwed in to the rear of the butt behind the guard and a swivel several inches before the muzzle.I didn't care for the one I used {an old Charleville make do leather sling}and it's been off for a while since I don't do White man anymore. For my Indian guns I do as Black Hand suggests except that I use a finger woven sash and tie the ends as he suggested.The use of slings utilizing a button and swivel as we have mentioned is extremely rare on American built rifles and the ones so equipped are very Germanic.A third option and one that is fairly common is a hole in the foward end of the guard bow and a swivel as noted foward on the forestock.Many long rifles and fowlers had slings attached in this fashion for militia or line use,the latter usage being generally restricted to fowlers.
Tom Patton

 

[reddogge]

I used a doubled up long length of rawhide and used half hitches on the ends. I then just put one end around the wist area and one end around the barrel and cinch them tight. It works well and doesn't interfere with shooting and I only use it for hunting.

 

[CrackStock]

You do not mention the type of fowler. I have a French fusil de chasse. The swivel could be reshaped, but it works well enough.

CS

 

[Stophel]

While it is common to see 18th century German guns with a sling button on the bottom of the stock, it is equally, if not more so, common to see an ordinary sling swivel stud. On the few early American guns with sling swivels, they almost invariably have a sling swivel stud on the bottom of the stock, or a sling swivel attached to the "boss" at the front of the triggerguard. There are perhaps one or two PRESUMED early American guns with a button for the rear sling attachment. The one I can think of is the "RCA #17" with the walnut pieces added to the bottom of the stock and the cheek edge. My suspicion is that this gun is German and not American, but it could be.

 

[DGeraths]

The Fowler is a custom one. I have attached a photo...

As you can see, it is not really set up to attach a strap to the trigger guard and although a button could work nice on this firearm, I am hesitant to do so if it is not period correct...

What to do... what to do... :hmm:

Dana

 

[Stophel]

A cheap way to "cheat" is to take an Uncle Mike's wood thread sling swivel stud, file it out to make it look not-so-machine-made, and voila' you have your swivel stud. Unless you take it out to show the threads, no one will ever know. I, of course, have never done such a thing.... ::

 

[Owenbrau]

I used a doubled up long length of rawhide and used half hitches on the ends. I then just put one end around the wist area and one end around the barrel and cinch them tight. It works well and doesn't interfere with shooting and I only use it for hunting.

Any chance of a pic of this or anyone else's suggestions? I'm in the same boat, and don't want to install swivels.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use a self-made version of this one from the Possibles Shop. I carry it in my haversack and put it on only to drag out a deer. Bottom loops around barrel above the entry pipe (rammer outside the loop to keep it in place) and the top slips over the butt with a small "shunt" strap across the slit to keep it from riding to the wrist. I carry mine muzzle slightly down but mostly horizontal. No other choice with a 44" barrel in the woods.

No one on the frontier (say, western New York) or in hostile territory would ever sling a firelock unless you were in a large group. ::

 

[big bore 75]

I'm not sure but did not the french army (1750+)use a large ring type of lock plate screw and a forward sling type of swivel just in front of last ram rode pipe? that could help, or instead of that the spanish used a long hook, similar to a pistol hook, just a couple of other ideas, I also recall like some 0ne else suggested that a rifle in the muzzleblast veiwed a rifle with a nice stud , not a button was used along with a missing front slingswivel just a hole in the for stock, but I my self use a hand woven sling with leather thongs that are remove able. bb75

 

[Stophel]

I have managed to wean myself from the use of a sling...it was hard to do. I don't really miss them now.