This leather U.S. rifle sling is in good, solid condition with the brass hook and fixed standing loop firmly in place, and the sliding, tightening loop present. The finish is a mix of deep brown and black, showing some wrinkling, rubs, and crazing to the surface, but little finish loss. Bends and creases show it was on a rifle for some time, and there are two or three extra fastening holes added to the others, likely by a soldier to cinch it up tighter, but there are no tears or weak spots. There is a crisp “WATERVLIET ARSENAL” stamp in two lines near the standing loop end. The hook is brass wire, secured by two rivets in the folded end of the belt, with the hook protruding through a hole near the end that is then folded back on itself and stitched down.  The standing loop on the other end is sewn in place. The leather is 66” long and the hook adds another inch, making it 67” overall. The U.S. 1850 pattern sling was 46” and these longer slings are sometimes taken to be for use on the imported Enfields, but seem rather to be from later experimentation with sling length and fastening hooks to accommodate greater spacing between sling swivels and use of the sling to steady one’s aim in the 1870s-1880s. (See McChristian, U.S. Army in the West; and, U.S. Army on the Western Frontier 1880-1892, Vol. 2, for some discussion.) The sling is in very good condition regardless and is a nicely marked example produced at a U.S. arsenal.  [sr] [ph:L]

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