Who Approved the Web Gun Sling M1?

[Adam Helmer]

I am an old military arms collector and collect many slings. We all know the M1907 leather sling and used it during rifle competition. During WWII, along came the "improved Web Gun Sling M1" with the thumb tab. I can forgive this item as a gross military intelligence oversight. Who ever came up with the Tab gizmo and Why?

My "duty" Garand wears a British Enfield web sling. It is a great sling the US should have adopted instead of the tab and metal sling hook junk that was worthless in my opinion on the M1 web sling. At a local police station, I observed their several M16 Swat rifles had the M1 web sling and the noisy sling hooks attached to the butt swivel were wrapped in black electrician's tape. The Swap supervisor said. "We wrap the sling hooks to quiet them down." I asked why he did not just remove the hooks and have a quiet sling? He had no reply.

Again, we have Military Intelligence displayed.....

Adam

[Gil Martin]

I doubt anyone here can answer your question. Probably the web sling can about as an economy measure during the war effort. Anyway, what does it matter now? No one seems to be adversely impacted by the use of the web slings. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

Point well-taken about web slings. I like web slings and employ the British SMLE web sling on my duty Garands and .30/40 Krags. My point was a recurrent problem several old WWII veterans expressed about that flimsy thumb tab on the Web M1 sling. I trust their battle experience exceeds yours, but I digress.

Since you are the only responder to my initial post, I suspect many folks do not have a knowledge of the Web M1 sling. Whatever.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

One does not need "battle experience" to like or dislike the thumb tab on a web sling. Just curious what the referenced veterans did with the thumb tab and web sling while in combat. If the web sling is a problem, simply remove it. Problem solved. Looks like this subject does not interest many folks. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

The Combat Veterans, yourself excluded, discarded the web M1 sling and adopted the M1907 sling as soon as possible. When an M1907 was not available, the nearby Brits provided their better SMLE web sling.

My point was thus well taken by veterans. Your opinion may vary....

Adam

[Gil Martin]

I did not see any veterans respond to you post. Please provide your first-hand documented data regarding G.I.s discarding their issue web slings and getting others from the Brits. Sounds like a war story. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

My QUESTION was: "Who approved the M1 sling?" As for my friends and WWII veterans with an opinion regarding same, that is their business,. I regret you have few friends and fewer WWII veteran friends. Are you a member of a local Legion Post? I am an active member or Post 235 and the guys would like to educate you about lots of things. When can you come visit? Bring a partner and stay for the square dance. If it is a she, I want her on my corner for the square dance.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Maybe we should wait for others to chime in. I suspect they are afraid that they will be disparaged, mocked or insulted for their comments. Not a good way to hold a discussion. That seems to be the norm with your responses.

Just curious, what does the number of my friends have to do with your question? i suggest that you stick to the facts and the issue at hand. Personal attacks will get you nowhere. All the best...
Gil

[Jack]

I assume the web sling was a wartime expedient. The web sling would save a lot of leather when you have to equip several million rifles..
I suspect, too, that the sling in combat served almost exclusively as a carry device. Except for snipers, I doubt the average GI wrapped up in a target sling during combat.
To answer the original question, I have no idea why that thumb tab on the web sling is there. Not the best design, IMO.

[Adam Helmer]

Jack,

Thanks for your reply regarding my question about a questionable thumb tab on the web sling. I trust Gil someday gets over his "wild hair." He likes to pontificate rather than chat. Perhaps he should scroll past my posts and lose his "wild hair." LOL!

Gil. I apologize if you felt insulted or mocked by my question. All I can say is:"Boo Hoo," and get a box of tissues. All the best....

Adam