Slings?

New member with LOTS of questions so bear with me. How common would slings of any sort have been in the 18th century? Especially among fowlers.

There are some indication that slings may have been tied to the barrel and wrist as a temporary attachment. There is little to indicate wide use of slings or of attached sling swivels built on the firearm other than a military issued musket.

Grenadier1758 said:

There are some indication that slings may have been tied to the barrel and wrist as a temporary attachment. There is little to indicate wide use of slings or of attached sling swivels built on the firearm other than a military issued musket.

Click to expand...

Grenadier, that is what I figured. Thanks for the info. Ive heard of temporarily using a bit of rope as well.

Magungo1066 said:

Grenadier, that is what I figured. Thanks for the info. Ive heard of temporarily using a bit of rope as well.

Click to expand...

They would have used their sash as well, in time of need. I’m with Grenadier. It was rare on American Longrifles. It was seen occasionally in some areas of the Colonies and on German guns, etc. The NAs were know to sling some so it may be more HC to have a rope, handmade leather, or sash sling on trade guns....

German and some French and Netherlandish fowling pieces utilized slings.

I've shown these pictures before that were painted by Carl Bodmer while he was preparing to be the documentary artist for Prince Maxmillian's Grand Trip on the American Plains. The paintings were done in New Harmony, Ohio about 1826.

Note the hunter does not have a sling. He is presumably much younger than the naturalist who is collecting specimens. Also note that Lesueur the naturalist, who has the sling, is standing with the butt of the fowling piece on the ground.

A Fringer woven sash works well for temporary use...

Slings might not have been commonplace in the 18th century but I installed one on mine. It sure is a handy addition and has no downside.


This rifle is, unfortunately, not mine. A friend built it for himself and it is gorgeous. He likes slings enough to put them on some rifles he builds.

I took my sash and sewed some leather ends on it. I used a sling button on the stock, and a sling hanger(?) through the front barrel lug. Don't know how HC it is, but it sure makes carrying my smoothie a hell of a lot easer.

Most German rifles and fowlers and some French fusils (a French rifle is rare) had slings. The French Trade guns and fusils (non-military) supplied to New France generally did not have slings. I am told that the surfaces of the Alps are more vertical than the Rockys, so a sling would be useful. Few American fowlers seemed to have had slings. See Grinslade's book. Then it is can be difficult to tell on guns that show evidence of slings, when was the sling added. Also can be difficult to see in a pic if a fowler/fusil had a sling, if the sling attachments have been removed. Att. are a couple pics of French fusils with slings.

this is my southern mountain rifle I got the other day. I have already shown photos but without a sling. I made the sling a couple of days ago out of vintage horse reins. I have several vintage rifles with these reins as dose my jaeger and shooting bag and horns. I like them,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Grenadier1758 said:

I've shown these pictures before that were painted by Carl Bodmer while he was preparing to be the documentary artist for Prince Maxmillian's Grand Trip on the American Plains. The paintings were done in New Harmony, Ohio about 1826.

Note the hunter does not have a sling. He is presumably much younger than the naturalist who is collecting specimens. Also note that Lesueur the naturalist, who has the sling, is standing with the butt of the fowling piece on the ground.

View attachment 30242View attachment 30243

Click to expand...

These types of period paintings are very interesting and important, Is that a belt pouch in the first painting?

Grenadier1758 said:

There are some indication that slings may have been tied to the barrel and wrist as a temporary attachment.

Click to expand...

What would those indications be??

Miller did paint a sling on a rifle that looks a permanent attachment. Though with Miller it’s hard to tell.
I think it was Kurtz that shows a rifle on a sling across the back of a trapper/ Métis or Indian ( maybe all three) but it’s impossible to tell if it’s on the gun or a snow cover.
This is westren fur trade period sixty years plus after colonial- longhunter period.

Smokey Plainsman said:

These types of period paintings are very interesting and important, Is that a belt pouch in the first painting?

Click to expand...

I don't think so. There is a line in the painting that seems to come from the pouch and runs up the hunter's back.

Grenadier1758 said:

I don't think so. There is a line in the painting that seems to come from the pouch and runs up the hunter's back.

Click to expand...

Very cool. I like his hat.

I think slings mayn’t have been so popular as now because it may’ve been enthoughten that the rifle is best in the hands at all times, so it may be ready to shoulder in case a wild bear or native be encountered, or of course, game. And, then much like today, most huntists wouldn’t be walking too terribly far unlike a soldier on the march. I have also personally found a very long barreled gun quite a hindrance to carry in the brush by way of shoulder sling. In the hands, it’s is much easier to maneuver through thickets and things as one can see the barrel and guide it around bushs and other obstacles. Slung, it quickly catches on limbs and vines, this would be especially true for a longrifle or fowling piece of common length.

This is only conjecture, though.

Conjecture, perhaps, or experiential archeology which is not proof by any means, but can give insight to what was happening at the time. One thing to consider is that at the time, most of the forests were virgin timber and thickets and brush were few and far between. Other than the extensive cane brakes of Kentucky and brush around swamps and edges of forest, the timbered areas were pretty clear of underbrush.

I am also intrigued by the size of the hunter's pouch. It seems to be quite small ( 7" ?) although the horn is quite large (12" to 14"?). In contrast the naturalist has a very large pouch suited to use by a fowler to hold the necessary equipment for shooting a lot birds for study.

The indications of a tied on sling are unfortunately conjecture and not readily documentable. I can't find records of sales of slings at the trading posts in Illinois and eastward. There are sales of tape and straps.

And what did they tie with them straps and tape?
We today are a do it your self sport. And we all have our likes and dislikes. I don’t mind sewing , but I have no interest in black or white smithing. So I buy iron work and tin ware.
I can’t this a pot.
Some are happy to smith or pot, and we trade at events. And for those who want something there are some good sized companies ready to sell.
But, as a sort we like to do it ourselves.
Howsomever, back then people bought what they could and only made when they had to.
Clothing, shoes and boots, powder horns and commercial bags all went to the trading post.
I would hazard a guess that while any man could make a sling out of tape if there was a market for slings such would show up in ledgers.
I think.

olskool said:

this is my southern mountain rifle I got the other day. I have already shown photos but without a sling. I made the sling a couple of days ago out of vintage horse reins. I have several vintage rifles with these reins as dose my jaeger and shooting bag and horns. I like them,,,,,,,,,,,,,
View attachment 31189View attachment 31190View attachment 31191

Click to expand...

Olskool is that front swivel just drilled through the wood? I’d like to put one on my trade musket. Is it reenforced in any way? Thanks!