Tie on Sling

[woody]

Put a simple tie-on sling together to use on my fowler or Northwest trade gun as well as hammer stalls for all my flinters. The sling is 1 1/2" wide cotton strap w/ leather end tabs and buckskin ties.

[Watauga]

Looks good woody
After lugging my Pennsylvania around Shoot's and Reenacting events I am thinking of mounting sling Swivels and putting a sling on "Heartless".
It sure would make getting from the tin mule to the camp sight a lot easier.
But the purists say they did not put slings on "those kind of Rifles" 
I would think they had some system for doing it.

[woody]

Looks good woody
After lugging my Pennsylvania around Shoot's and Reenacting events I am thinking of mounting sling Swivels and putting a sling on "Heartless".
It sure would make getting from the tin mule to the camp sight a lot easier.
But the purists say they did not put slings on "those kind of Rifles" 
I would think they had some system for doing it.

Thanky Sir..."But the purists say they did not put slings on "those kind of Rifles" That's why I went with a tie-on style, I only intend on having it available in case I ever get a deer and need to sling it while I drag a deer out and I don't have to worry about sling buttons or swivels.

[Red Badger]

Bulldog lady and I had this discussion last night strangley enough, as she was finnishing another inkle strap... She asked if it could be used as a sling fro rifles.  I replied yes but... and here is my reasoning...

Slings were in use at the period I represnt (1800-1840) for military weapons, but were not common on longrifles like my early lancaster "Patience" for the following reasons:

1.  It is so tall that slung it would catch branches and other obsticals as I wander through the woods.
2.  Being a flinlock and my being in an area where others might object to my presence I would want to be ready to bring her into action very quickly I would not want to disturb the prime by having the rifle vertical.
3.  Carrying her with my handover the lock is a safety factor ( my hand is covering the triger and my palm protects the lock itself) and because she balances nicley there it is a comfortable way to hold her.

Again this is only my thoughts on what a frontiersman might think...

[pilgrim]

     That is a good idea, when in need of dragging out a deer.   

      In the picture of the rifle with the sling,  the cock is at full cock,  if left that way, the spring could loose its springiness.  may want to relax the tension.   just my opinion.

[woody]

    That is a good idea, when in need of dragging out a deer.  

     In the picture of the rifle with the sling,  the cock is at full cock,  if left that way, the spring could loose its springiness.  may want to relax the tension.   just my opinion.

Yes Sir, set it up that way in order to show it with the hammer stall as it will be carried while hunting. I normally store them like the one below it.
Thanks for pointing it out though, I have been known to forget this detail every once in a while.............now what were we talking about?

[Hanshi]

I absolutely refuse to attach a permanent sling on a longrifle.  The idea of a "when needed" sling, though, makes a lot of sense.  That's the only way I'll ever sling a longrifle; smoothbores are a different story.

[Watauga]

Woody Badger and Hanshi you have convinced me so I am going to try and make a "Ti-on Sling" any construction advice would be helpful!
(What works best for the ties etc..)

[woody]

Woody Badger and Hanshi you have convinced me so I am going to try and make a "Ti-on Sling" any construction advice would be helpful!
(What works best for the ties etc..)

I used this setup to make this sling as well to make a one inch wide horn strap. In both I used cotton webbing. (hope this is not to confusing)

1. Cut two pieces of 2-3 oz. leather strips the same width as your strap material and twice as long as you want it to come back on the strap end.  

2. Fold the leather in half to establish a center line. (this is where you will punch the two holes for the tie thongs)

3. Thread the tie thongs through the holes to equal lengths.

4. At this point I apply leather glue to the back of the leather and both sides of the strap ends, once the glue becomes tacky I center everything and fold the leather over the strap end sandwiching the strap between the leather.
  next clamp or hold the tip between two flat surfaces until it set enough to fold everything together.

5. Once the glue set you can lay out your stitches, punch your holes and stitch it as pictured. ( I use waxed cotton thread with a traditional saddle stitch.)

( you can cut the leather to any shape you want, as show in drawing or leave it square)

[Watauga]

As I was working up a sling for Heartless and I came up with this rig.
I bought this 46 inch long 2 inch wide Brown Cotton Strap/Belt at goodwill for $1.50.
I Stitched a small loop on one end for the for-stock and a larger one for the wrist area. 
The sling slips on and off easy and it self tightens on the Rifle.
The Ramrod pipes keep the front loop on the rifle and allow adjustment too!
The Rear sling loop goes around the trigger guard to keep the sling in place.
(Like they were made for just that purpose??)
It attaches like a loop tow strap if that makes any sense to you.!?
IT Works and don't look to bad?
Plus its Cheap!
See the Pictures to explain better than I can.

[Watauga]

This is the sling off the rifle.
(Actually some of the weavers and sash makers etc.. could make up some awesome looking slip on slings using this design?)

[Hank12]

Watuaga, I use that same type sling, I use 2, one for the rifle and one on the deer horns with my hand thru the loops to drag it.  I don't ever use a sling on any type of firearm except to free my hands for other uses. The ones I use were made with the loops for some military use, they're olive colored.
Once i was climbing on a rockface and reachd a place I could go no higher The ground was about 100 ft. almost  straight down, I was able to turn around and strap the rifle on my chest, slide (fall)down about 50 ft. on my back, hit a ledge and jump into a tree.  That strap saved my rifle cause I sure needed both hands but they're just in the way otherwise.IMHO.
Nice looking slings Woody.  H12