Rubberized Sling?

[Bigdibbs88]

Has anybody ever seen or heard of one of these? Has some convincing attributes, but maybe just a top secret German/Japanese hybrid joint venture

http://www.pre98.com/shop/our-newes...8k-rifle-sling-made-plasticized-fabric-minty/

MODEDIT: Pics added.

 

[KKW22cal]

Looks like there was thought in its construction but shouldn't there be more wear on an item this old? Something is making my warning lights go off. That being said, I am no sling expert.

 

[oldcorps]

It's new to me but I guess we never really see it all. Wonder what type of rubber was used and with what fabric to look good after 72+ years? My Jap laminated slings had their rubber (natural) turn to powder a good twenty years ago. Even then, restoring one to even decent display condition was a pain.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

It's new to me but I guess we never really see it all. Wonder what type of rubber was used and with what fabric to look good after 72+ years? My Jap laminated slings had their rubber (natural) turn to powder a good twenty years ago. Even then, restoring one to even decent display condition was a pain.

My experience as well. The Japanese rubberized stuff is hard as a rock then disintegrate, which I would expect with this as well. Then again some of the German gas mask straps with rubber tips are still pliable as well as some of the "experimental" rubberized frogs, so it seems at least plausible? Not sure

 

[pwcosol]

I am going to talk with a friend of mine about this. Somewhere in the dim recesses of my memory think I may have seen a black rubberized thong 30 odd years ago. I have observed instances of a web German gas mask strap with pointed, rubberized tip used as an ersatz replacement rifle sling. This may have been factual in some instances or a collector enhancement (probably most) in others. What I wonder is why the thong would be black and the sling finished in brown? I believe the only black leather K98k slings/thongs came from Austria and were post-WW2. If this sling is really from the WW2 period, I would have expected some others would have survived. Most likely they would be in very poor condition because of eventual hardening of the rubberized material used at the time. Consider too the painted, composite body A. Fischer Berlin police frogs. Either they are petrified in unissued condition or exhibit cracks and heavy damage. If anything (other than an outright fake) this type of sling might be of post-WW2 manufacture and if so, I would expect it to be from E. Germany or possibly Czechoslovakia. It was the E. Germans that came up with the cloth fiber, impregnated composite RG34 cans as well. I would like to hear what Bruce K. has to say about this sling...

 

[bruce98k]

sling

You would figure that one of these would have shown up before this one given the time frame.
I have never even heard of this variation being reported in all my collecting years.

Generally I look at this with some skepticism since no previous examples have been reported.

The comparisons to the Japanese impregnated slings are valid as most of them have hardened with many mounted slings
that will never come off a rifle.

Look forward to additional comments by our members.

 

[mauser99]

Like I told someone else probably one of Scotty's old belts from the 70's .... A little small now.

 

[Hambone]

The material is unlike anything I can attribute to German WW2 manufacture. Would it be difficult to find a 1950s/60s shoulder strap piece and hand stitch an original adjuster buckle, hole punch three holes, and add a frosch? For $150, much less $795? I'm calling fabricated bullshite.

 

[Amberg]

Not saying that sling is real or not, but the Germans (compared to the Japs and Finns) knew how to rubberize fabric.
Think of the rubberized motorcyclist coats.
Attached photo shows a 1915 German made ammo pouch from rubberized fabric.

 

[oldcorps]

That's a rare one, Amberg and I see that the closure straps are leather. Thanks for the picture!

 

[KKW22cal]

Compare he pristine condition of the sling and the condition of the pouches. The pouches have a look of age to them while the sling does not. That coupled with the fact I have not seen a sling like that before would make me more hesitant. I don't think there is a sling I would pay over $700.00 for anyway. I might miss out on an item or two but I would rather avoid buying non period items.

 

[oldcorps]

Even at a realistic price, without supporting documentation and chemical analysis, the purchase would be a dead-end.

 

[Amberg]

Compare he pristine condition of the sling and the condition of the pouches. The pouches have a look of age to them while the sling does not. That coupled with the fact I have not seen a sling like that before would make me more hesitant. I don't think there is a sling I would pay over $700.00 for anyway. I might miss out on an item or two but I would rather avoid buying non period items.

Just for fun .......
The pouch is 25 years older, unit stamped and saw service in WWI. I have some stuff from WWI in the collection that is as brand new as the questionable K98k sling. The sling might!!?? be an experimental piece. What if one of the workers at the factory took it home? Or it was kept as a sample at the factory? What I really like, is the fact that there is NO maker stamp on it.
Some years ago I sold (well, in fact Mike and Bruce did it) some brand new, prestine slings for the DSM34 with the original sales box at the SOS. Condition was even better compared to that rubberized sling.
To be honest, I might jump on that sling if I had the chance to touch and smell it first.
Thanks

 

[KKW22cal]

That is why I said that I might miss out on some pieces. Even if the item is only 80 years old and has not been used there generally should be some aging to it. Every person needs to collect within their own comfort level, this sling is beyond mine.

 

[Amberg]

....... there generally should be some aging to it. .......

From my experience, ....... not necessarily.

 

[Amberg]

That's a rare one, Amberg and I see that the closure straps are leather. Thanks for the picture!

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?8108-WWI-canvas-ammo-pouch

 

[Hambone]

Not saying that sling is real or not, but the Germans (compared to the Japs and Finns) knew how to rubberize fabric.
Think of the rubberized motorcyclist coats.
Attached photo shows a 1915 German made ammo pouch from rubberized fabric.

Absolutely agree, and they did the same with G/K.43 pouches and various other pouches, such as for dust goggles, etc. However, I'm just not feeling the sling. It looks more to me like the modification of something else. It would be but a very simple matter to hand stitch, with even period linen cord, an original buckle, and add an original loop and frosch. As an aside, other countries used canvas slings in WW2, the Japanese rubberized canvas a good bit, the English Commonwealth had a fabric impregnated Enfield substitute standard sling. I have an interest in all of these accessories and slings.

That said, in my years of collecting and hunting slings and accessories, I've never seen nor heard of one of these, never seen reference to one. Rubberized frogs are (the Riese 1941) are not easy to find, but well known:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?15700-K98k-bayonet-quot-radiator-quot-frog

I'm not a fan of the construction, appearance, and that we've never seen another, while not dispositive, is certainly not helpful to the argument that this is original German WW2 construction.

 

[Amberg]

I'm not a fan of the construction, appearance, and that we've never seen another, while not dispositive, is certainly not helpful to the argument that this is original German WW2 construction.

 

[Amberg]

BTW:
Would you expect the sling on the right (with a wooden .... whatever it is called .... keeper/stopper ?) to be for an experimental Mauser semi auto rifle?

 

[Slash]

Here is a rubberized fabric bayonet frog for the WWII SG84/98. The material is a textured hard rubber and has stiffened and perhaps even shrunk bit with age. The cloth material is most visible in the area of the frog hook hole and in the edge views. The frog is fabricated exactly in the manner of the standard leather example with four rivets and white cotton stitching. Dissimilar to the C. Riese 1941 marked frogs made of a softer rubber and without rivets; only stitching. The top rivets are nonmagnetic electroplated and finished with black paint showing wear. The bottom rivets are the magnetic type with washer and flattened stem that are the standard attachment type beginning in late 1941 for leather frogs. There is wear and clear signs of use from the bayonet rubbing against the material, etc. The frog is unmarked. I have owned this frog for approximately 25 years.