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November 5, 2014
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Hi btbell-
I cannot help with the sling identification, since it does not look like any pre-war Winchester sling I’ve seen. Hopefully JWA can figure it out… 
I do believe that the SG swivels on the eBay sling are of post-war manufacture, if that helps. The difference (as I understand it) is illustrated in the photo below. Pre-war left, post-war right (pic courtesy of Tedk). The pre-war swivels have a concave surface in the casting where the swivel block meets the loop, while it’s flat on the post-war swivel.
Glancing at your Rimfire Central post… What an attractive M52B Sporter!!! I strongly suspect that the scope/mount was installed by M.L. Stith themselves at the time the gun was new. So while (maybe) not as “nice” as one that hasn’t been modified, the rifle is FAR more desirable than one scoped by a random gunsmith using a top mount.
I have a similar M.L. Stith scope mount that was (once) installed on a M75 Sporter. Again, probably by Stith… The scope is the original Stith “Bear Cub” made by Kollmorgen Optical Co. and adjustable for elevation only. The mount uses the receiver sight holes to secure a windage adjustable rear scope mount. But note the “saddle” that attaches the front sleeve to the barrel via two D&T holes about 1/2″ apart.
I wish I had the 75 Sporter this mount was put on. Unfortunately, I’ve only got the scope/mount. Hard to believe that somebody would remove it to sell the rifle with two extra holes in the barrel and some wood relieved from the stock to clear the rear mount…
But I sure like the way the Stith mount was done on your M52 Sporter.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Hi Btbell,
We had a discussion on an identical sling a few weeks back and could not come to a consensus. I have not seen that exact sling listed in any Winchester catalogs but it is similar to the #3260. Some people think it may be a sling supplied by Remington.
Here is the previous topic – https://winchestercollector.org/forum/whats-new/old-leather-sling-with-swivel-hooks/
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Gee Brad, at three times the estimate, you still got a terrific deal! Exceptional wood, too. Not hugely enamored of Stith mounts, I must say, streamlined or otherwise; I’d have drilled the extra hole the factory was too pig-headed to put where it needed to be. Sling sure looks original to swivels. Hard to believe factory ignored promotional value of marking them, when even a simple “WRA” would have sufficed.
The sling swivel on the right looks just like the one that is on my Lee Navy. The other end has a snap. I really don’t know what mine is though? It does not look like the one shown in Eugene’s book. He does not say who supplied the slings. Winchester did supply swivels. But, Remington did supply accessories to the Military too?
And yes, it’s possible that Winchester’s supplier also sold to Remington. btbell said
Big Larry recently acquired a Model 52 with a M1907-type sling that looked exactly like those sold by WRA (many photos of them in JWA’s Model 69 book), but marked with the name of one of the major leather-goods makers, Boyt, I think. (That right, Larry?) Makes good sense that both WRA & Rem would have contracted with such a major producer of slings.
clarence said
Big Larry recently acquired a Model 52 with a M1907-type sling that looked exactly like those sold by WRA (many photos of them in JWA’s Model 69 book), but marked with the name of one of the major leather-goods makers, Boyt, I think. (That right, Larry?) Makes good sense that both WRA & Rem would have contracted with such a major producer of slings.
I have seen no records of Winchester contracting with Boyt but they did contract with Graton & Knight for some leather cases and slings and there is documentation to support that. G&K supplied 1907 slings and leather goods to the U.S. military in both WWI and WWII and the #3256 sling depicted in the Winchester catalogs of the period VERY closely resembles the 1907 style sling.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
I have seen no records of Winchester contracting with Boyt but they did contract with Graton & Knight for some leather cases and slings and there is documentation to support that. G&K supplied 1907 slings and leather goods to the U.S. military in both WWI and WWII and the #3256 sling depicted in the Winchester catalogs of the period VERY closely resembles the 1907 style sling.
Jeff, I’ve probably forgotten the name of the maker Larry told me was marked on this sling (less than 2 wks ago!), but it wasn’t G&K, it was one of the well-known major companies, maybe Heiser, if not Boyd, so check with Larry about this. From the GB photos, both he & I took it to be factory, but the marking queered that assumption. Worst of all, Larry’s going to replace it with one of those ugly Kerrs!
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