New find, w/old mystery sling

[JBMauser]

Gentleman, I picked up a bubba at the Roanoke Gun show. Hack saw applied, I have a snub nose 1896. What is left of the bore is very good. I may work on the crown and shoot it. Action has no holes drilled in it so home it came. It has an interesting sling. But It does not make sense. It is 52 in. long, 1 1/4in. wide with claws that are 3/16 wide and the spread from side to side across both tangs is ¾ in. There is no slit and grommet. It has little slack adjustment, I took the front swivel off to remove it from the rifle as I wanted to handle it lightly to inspect the condition. It is very dirty but sound. It has lots of holes for the tangs but they do not make sense. There are 16 rows of holes on the tang side extending 21 ½ in. and from the opposite end 10 rows of holes over 12 ¼ in. of the sling. The stub end is a proper looking curve, evenly cut. Do any of you think this was cut down or a two piece rig of some sort. No stampings on the leather or brass as I can find with light cleaning. Thanks JB

[Dick Hosmer]

Have NOT checked my own slings, but it SOUNDS like you may have just the "upper half" of a 1907 sling. I'm not sure of the "official" date designation, but I mean the one from the 1903-1917-M1 period.

[Liam]

HTH

[JBMauser]

That could be it without the short strap and ring. I will have to did into my library and see if I can find dimensions for the main strap. My 1903 reference material may have the dimensions. Thanks