Help with slings

[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.