WTB Original pre-64 (New or Mint) Winchester Slings for NIB 1951 Model 70 and New 1955 Model 64|Winchester Swap Meet|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hi Para-

As Bob said, the Standard Grade Model 70 was not sold with a sling as standard equipment.  However the Super Grade was, so it gives something to go on.

First, if you haven’t already found it, I suggest you look at this thread. While the initial query related to the Target rifles (which were also supplied with slings), JWA gives some excellent information about Winchester factory slings (with pictures!!!).

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/correct-sling-for-pre-war-m70-target-rifle/

As for what sling came with the Super Grade, it changed over time.  The pre-war catalogs describe the sling as the “NRA Improved Shooting Gun Sling” (No. 3269).  This was basically a one-piece Whelen type sling with a single frog.  In the 1939 catalog where you could buy the sling separately, No. 3269 was described as “especially adapted to the Model 70 rifle”.  Just below they state that the “No. 3268 NRA Improved Gun Sling is of the same style as the No. 3269 excepting it is approximately 8″ shorter than the No. 3269. The No. 3268 sling is standard equipment on the Winchester Model 64 Deer Rifle…”

So that would answer your question for a pre-war M70 or M64 Deer Rifle.  But your guns are from the 1950s…  For the Super Grade Model 70 (at least), it changed.  Between 1946 and 1955 the Super Grade was described (and pictured) with a “1” Army Type leather Sling Strap”.  This was the M1907 pattern sling, two-piece, two frogs.  Between 1956 and 1959 (last year for Super Grades except Africans), the catalogs only say “1” leather strap” without specifying the type.  In the last catalogs (1958-59) the Super Grades are pictured with the sliding buckle leather “carry strap” type sling that had been introduced with the African in 1956. 

So my GUESS for what would be appropriate as far as Winchester-recommended sling for a M70 would be: (Pre-War) 1″ NRA Improved Sling No. 3269; (1946-1955) Army Type (M1907 style) Sling; (1956-1959) African style “carry strap”.  I do not know about the post-war M64 Deer Rifles…  My GUESS would be that a 1955 M64 Deer Rifle would have come with the same M1907 pattern sling being supplied with M70 Super Grades at the time.

As far as other suppliers active at the time, the closest I’ve seen to the Winchester slings (which were NEVER marked as to maker) is the Brauer Bros M1907 style sling.  Very similar, but marked by the maker…

Hope some of this helps,

Lou

Hi Para-

If I have the time later I’ll take some proper pictures of a 3269 sling.  In the meantime, I think these pictures are Jeff’s.  These are of the M1907 style 1 1/4″ Target Rifle sling, BUT the details are common to all of the Winchester Army Type and NRA Improved slings.

The key features are: 1) Single embossed edge on the leather strap; 2) Two rivet frogs with rivets EXACTLY as shown; 3) Two blue “diamond” shaped staples in each leather keeper (no regular staples or stitching); and, 4) NO maker’s mark.  Winchester used several leather goods suppliers over the years, but prior to 1964 they didn’t even put “Winchester” on their slings.  Any sling, whatever it looks like, that has a brand stamped on it was not a Winchester sling.

As for finding some…  The challenge is that they are NOT marked.  So mostly you have to know what you’re looking for, since the Seller usually will not.  Of course this does make them no more expensive than a comparable brand name sling.  Most of the (probably Winchester) ones I’ve found came from eBay.  Of course I don’t think I even have a “new” or “mint” one on any of my M70s, let alone any “spares”… 

Best,

Lou

Is it possible that this is a Winchester sling? No makers mark. My father in law had it for years.

Hi Al-

I do not believe that’s a Winchester sling.  Wrong brass frogs…  Should look like Jeff’s pictures I put above. 

There were several name-brand manufacturers of leather slings back then, Brauer, Red Head, Boyt, etc.  Some used the same staples, some the same frogs, some the same embossing, but none that I’m aware of used thhe exact same combination of features as Winchester.

Of course, I don’t consider Winchester’s slings to be of particularly high quality…  I particularly don’t like that they used two-rivet frogs on 1 1/4″ M1907 style Target rifle slings.  For actual use I prefer the three rivet milsurp slings (and commercial copies)…  The Winchester slings are only interesting because they’re WINCHESTER!!! 

Lou

Hi Dan-

Yes… The outside edge of the leather strap has a single embossed line border.  Of course after 80-odd years and varying amounts of use it’s often very weak.  You can usually make it out on at least part of the strap, however.

Lou

P.S. Those pictures are from JWA…