Help with slings

[Perry Kitson]

I have three of these slings, about 32" long, C broad arrow marked. Not sure if they are for Sten, seem too short.

[rob love]

Those were the first pattern sten sling, which were indeed quite short and not adjustable.

[Ed Storey]

I believe that they WERE Sten slings, but at some point have been shortened. One give-away is the lack of any manufacture's stamp or date which was on the piece which has been chopped off. I am hopeful that I will stumble upon an Ordnance Instruction to shorten Sten slings for some other purpose.

Of course the Vocabulary of Ordnance Stores could also reveal if there was more than one Mark or Pattern of Sten Sling.

ED

Sten Sling.jpg

[rob love]

You may be right Ed. I note that I have only ever seen these short(ened) slings Canadian marked. I have maybe 20 or so downstairs. I'll have a look and see if there are makers marks on any of them, but they do seem to be consistent with the C/l\ in that visible location. I'll also check my Cdn sten parts manual and see if it covers any sling variations.

[Ed Storey]

There is also a good chance that these slings were manufactured to be attached as a carrying handle to some other piece of webbing and were therefore not marked with a manufacturer/date stamp.

[Colin Alford]

An interesting discussion!

The August 1942, Carbines, Machine, Sten, 9mm, Mks I, II & III, Illustrated Identification List can be found here: https://stephentaylorhistorian.files...t_1942_150.pdf

Info regarding slings can be found on pages 22 and 23. The standard rifle sling was used for Mk I Sten, whereas Mks II and III used “BE 8574, Slings, Carbine, Machine, Sten, 9mm.” The illustration notes that the overall length of this sling is
36” and it appears to be non-adjustable (note, I can’t seem to take a screenshot of the PDF, but I have attached the illustration that I found at a different source).

The 1944, Parts list for Carbine, Machine, Sten, 9mm, Mk V, can be found here:

http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/19...n_MkV_1944.pdf

Info regarding the sling can be found on pages 18 and 19. This seemingly longer and adjustable sling is known as “BE 8504, Sling, Carbine, Machine, Sten, 9mm, Mk II”

My interpretation is that there were two Sten slings.

Perry, when you measured the 32” was this the overall length including the metal fittings, or just the webbing? Are these Canadian slings actually shorter than the 36” total length noted in the 1942 British ID List?

For someone with access to an adjustable sling: What is the total extended length?

The second image I have attached of the adjustable sling with stores tag was found at the LWD Parts website: https://www.lwdparts.com/product/ste...nos-war-dated/


Regards,
Colin

[Michael R.]

thank you Stefan

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

I believe that they WERE Sten slings, but at some point have been shortened. One give-away is the lack of any manufacture's stamp or date which was on the piece which has been chopped off. I am hopeful that I will stumble upon an Ordnance Instruction to shorten Sten slings for some other purpose.

Of course the Vocabulary of Ordnance Stores could also reveal if there was more than one Mark or Pattern of Sten Sling.

ED

Attachment 120928

One has to wonder why they would alter the end that was already riveted. Why not just cut off the adjustable end and rivet it there? It doesn't make sense at this point.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by rob love

One has to wonder why they would alter the end that was already riveted. Why not just cut off the adjustable end and rivet it there? It doesn't make sense at this point.

I know, it is very strange. This thread has mapped out to some degree the various slings associated with the Sten Machine Carbine using primary source documents. We all know what a Rifle Sling is and we have seen a couple of photographs of the Mk II, or 2 depending on when it was catalogued; but who has ever seen a Mk III sling? And what about the BE 8574 sling, is this the item we have all been discussing?

I have one of these weird slings in my collection that I have held onto just in case I see of photo of one in use or find a document identifying it.

[rob love]

I have seen sterling slings in the 37 pattern colour with the dog clips on one end. I wonder if they are related? https://www.ima-usa.com/products/ori...nt=25651437317


And while I am trolling for other sten sling photos on the internet I found this photo ID'd as a stenmk2 mk1 sling. It is of fixed length. : https://dbgmilitaria.co.uk/shop/inde...oducts_id=5921

[Michael R.]

There are notes in Laider indicating B3/BE8504 adjustable STEN slings measuring 26”-51” long.

You asked about the slings for the MK-III... B3/CR 12A: although no barrel nut with their assorted hole patterns as found on Mk-II guns, the standard ring style hook can pass through the vent holes in the bottom of the MK-III casing on the earlier, unmodified receiver. The modification to the MK-III allows the hook to pass through holes placed in the top rib.

Looking at period images during 1944-1945 of Canadian troops armed with STEN M/C ‘s in NWE, I am surprised at the number of MK-III models observed. I am intentionally excluding any comment on the MK5 model.