Sling for 1st Model Brown Bess

[AK in PA]

Anyone know where I can find a quality sling for a long land pattern bess? The sling swivels are 33" apart, so many slings are too short, and I haven't found one I like online.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I had to make mine. The sling for a long land pattern is made with a single strap. The buckle is a double D pattern with no tongue. Friction holds the buckle in place.

I know this needs a picture.

 

[wayne terry]

Try C&D Jaragan Co. out of Corinth, Mississippi

 

[satwel]

I have no experience with this company, but might be worth checking out.
http://www.najecki.com/repro/Musket.html

 

[Artificer]

I had to make mine. The sling for a long land pattern is made with a single strap. The buckle is a double D pattern with no tongue. Friction holds the buckle in place.

I know this needs a picture.

I have made all my own musket slings over the last 40 plus years and slings for other people and special accessories we have found useful.

Musket Slings were not provided by the Board of Ordnance (at least from what I have been able to learn) so the style was up to each Regimental Commander on what he provided his troops.

The first such sling I made was in the style of the third example below. In the 70's, this was supposedly the only authentic sling, which proved incorrect with later research. To really adjust the tight sling, you have to loosen the tie on the end, take it off, adjust sling, re-tie the tie. If the sling is loose, then you can adjust it without having to untie the tie - but then it gets in the way with gripping the musket when firing.

No Buckle at all. Recommended by Cuthbertson (pg.100, XXVI), "Slings without buckles are lightest, and most convenient to the Men at exercise..." However, they don't remain tight on the musket and that can get in the way when firing. http://www.najecki.com/repro/musket/SlingD.html

Early, sliding buckle with NO tongue to hold it in place as Grenadier1758 mentioned. PITA and almost useless in my opinion. http://www.najecki.com/repro/musket/SlingA.html

Now with iron tongue on buckle so it will hold sling in place and not slip. This is the kind I used for years and it was not easy to adjust to use. IOW, it is mostly window dressing than useful. http://www.najecki.com/repro/musket/SlingB2.html

IMO a MUCH Better Sling made from Two Straps and the one I prefer and many people use. You can adjust them and use them as a sling when needed and put it back "tight" much easier. http://www.gggodwin.com/prod-86.htm
or http://www.gggodwin.com/prod-87.htm

There has been much discussion that British soldiers rarely used the sling to sling the musket and that probably is true. The time they most likely would have done it was climbing up or down steep slopes or boarding or leaving ships. Having used the different types of slings for climbing up and down hills and especially when you have to use your hands, my absolute favorite is the two strap sling.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

In the Major's Coy, 42nd RHR, The Black Watch, we used black slings and belts as that was the colour that was historically correct for that unit. Other Black Watch units used that colour as well from their own research.

One thing I picked up from another Black Watch Unit was making a second sling loop that would go over three thicknesses of leather. This allowed one to use the longest possible double straps and tighten up the sling for gripping when firing.

Gus

P.S. HOWEVER, if you are part of a re-enactment Unit, then you should see what they use and make or get one like it.

 

[Grenadier1758]

My sling is a modified version of the sling Gus referred to. I based my sling on the Morier paintings and there are variations shown there as well.

Use a decent belting weight strap sized to fit the sling swivels. Mine is just a bit thick, but it works.

 

[Artificer]

That's a great original engraving I've seen before, but just realized they ALL have loose slings1! Shame on them!! :haha: Probably just the way the artist decided to draw/paint them.

Gus

 

[Grenadier1758]

I took a good look at the Morier paintings in "A Soldier Like Way". In almost all of the depictions of grenadiers, the sling is loose. The sling looks to be attached like mine. Some appear to have buckles with tongues. Of course grenadiers are expected to sling their muskets when they throw grenades.

 

[Alden]

Godwins.

This is the one that's undoubtedly 1st Model Bess (F&I).
http://www.gggodwin.com/prod-89.htm

 

[spudnut]

Mine only stays on my shoulder if I carry it butt up or horizontal , muzzle up it slides right off my shoulder

 

[Artificer]

My sling is a modified version of the sling Gus referred to. I based my sling on the Morier paintings and there are variations shown there as well.

I just noticed in this picture that you place the ends of the tie strap differently than what I am used to, I.E. the ends go through the loop when it is tightened. Have to admit I never thought about doing it that way. I can see how that makes it easier to adjust the sling. Does it stay secure when the musket is slung across the body? I always used a square knot to tie up the ends of the tie strap - just to make sure the sling did not loosen there when used.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

The way the sling is slung across the body, as shown in your avatar, turns out is the most practical way to sling the musket when climbing as well.

As a side note, were Grenadiers still using hand grenades during the F&I War? (I don't know as I've never done a Grenadier Impression.) I seem to recall Cuthbertson saying the match safes and other specialized Grenadier equipment could/should be dispensed with as they had not been used by the British Army in quite some time? (Without looking, I thought Cuthbertson said it had been 50 or even 100 years since they were last used when his booklet was published in 1768?)

Gus

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes, the musket is secure. I've never had problem with the sling slipping.

 

[Artificer]

Godwins.

This is the one that's undoubtedly 1st Model Bess (F&I).
http://www.gggodwin.com/prod-89.htm[/quote]

Please understand I am not trying to be critical, but I don't understand the difference between the one you linked and the one Godwin calls for Rev War shown below? Both slings use the same buckle, so the width of the sling must be the same. Perhaps the length of the straps are different with the ones for F&I longer for the LLP Muskets, if the distance between the trigger guard and forward sling swivel is larger than for the SLP muskets? http://www.gggodwin.com/prod-87.htm

Gus

 

[Artificer]

Yes, the musket is secure. I've never had problem with the sling slipping.

Thank you. Well, that is interesting! May have to try that. I can see how it would sure make it easier to adjust the sling!

Gus

 

[Grenadier1758]

As for the match cases and the throwing of grenades during the F&I War. Grenades were replaced by mortars. The side carry box got an insert for cartridges. Grenadiers kept the match case, miter hat and hangar to identify themselves as grenadiers. So our unit has the match case and match cord fastened to our cartridge box. I believe that even today units that are identified as grenadiers will have a match case emblem sewn on their uniform.

 

[Alden]

Except by the second half of the 18th C. for sure, grenadiers who actually "threw" grenades were using (slung) shoulder-fired flintlock grenade launchers to do so and carrying short halberds which they also used as rests. Small Coehorn (or stone) Mortars were also used to throw grenades but these were phasing out in Britain by the time of the Rev. War.

Grenadiers with muskets were members of one of the two flank companies of a regiment. Their match case was simply an ornament of their esprit de corps.

 

[Alden]

I don't know that the buckles are the same. And at least in the pictures the holes in the sling are lower down on the sling.

All my real slings (not Dixie) basically come from Godwin's and although I think they are a little thinner than a decade or two ago they are nevertheless still hearty.

 

[Artificer]

I don't know that the buckles are the same. And at least in the pictures the holes in the sling are lower down on the sling.

All my real slings (not Dixie) basically come from Godwin's and although I think they are a little thinner than a decade or two ago they are nevertheless still hearty.

You have good eyes! I missed the differences in the location of the holes between the slings. Thank you. That would give more adjustment room for a longer distance between the sling swivels on a LLP.

I have purchased a LOT of stuff from Godwin over the years, but never purchased any of his leather items except for a leather flap covered, wooden belly box. (It just wasn't worth my time to make one compared to what Godwin sells them for.) So I did not know his slings may be thinner in more recent times.

Just happened to find this quote from Of Sorts for Provincials. "Unlike the more expensive and substantial white buff leather slings and belts purchased by the regular regiments, the accoutrements from the Tower were scanty blackened "tanned" leather, and therefore less costly."

This most likely explains why the 42nd RHR and some other Scottish Regiments had black leather accoutrements rather than buff. They just used what was issued from the Tower.

Gus