Proper sling for SP1?

[boykin]

What type sling is proper for a 4 digit SP1?

[LeagleEagle]

M1 sling

[RCS]

The factory Colt sling was like the web M1 rifle sling only it was a dark navy blue color

[Litt'le Lee]

My early SP1 had a very heavy black nylon sling that I believe was original-I bought it from a US Air Force member

[paul v]

I thought that the early ones had the "seatbelt" nylon (M14 type) web slings, and the black silent slings came later. (1970 ish). Paul

[RCS]

Here is a photo of a four digit SP1 and the Colt dark navy blue sling that came with this rifle.

This rifle has original green plastic for a daylight photo to show the original color but this rifle had black plastic when purchased, the charging handle and waffle mag were also added.

This color sling was also on a three digit SP1 rifle tooAttachment 15813

[Roscoe Snyder]

Notice that the hook on the sling in the photograph is a permanent part of it, not removable as on a true M1 sling. After a few years they started to come with a proper M1-type sling that was black and by 1972 they came with a green cotton-web M1 sling of lighter material than a genuine M1 and differently finished hardware, more like the seatbelt sling. If you look on Gunbroker for "SP1" right now you should find a couple of rifles billed as being from 1973 that have this sling. The black silent sling seems to have started in 1974.

I own one of those first issue slings; sadly, without the rifle. It looks like it is made of the same material black Army web belts were made of.

[boykin]

Would you be interested in parting with it? I am looking for an early one for my SP1

[Roscoe Snyder]

I just might.

[LeagleEagle]

Notice that the hook on the sling in the photograph is a permanent part of it, not removable as on a true M1 sling. After a few years they started to come with a proper M1-type sling that was black and by 1972 they came with a green cotton-web M1 sling of lighter material than a genuine M1 and differently finished hardware, more like the seatbelt sling. If you look on Gunbroker for "SP1" right now you should find a couple of rifles billed as being from 1973 that have this sling. The black silent sling seems to have started in 1974.

I own one of those first issue slings; sadly, without the rifle. It looks like it is made of the same material black Army web belts were made of.

I bought my first SP1 in 1974. It came with an olive drab M1 type sling (or close to it).