British Lee Enfield 1913 Rifle Sling (Reproduction) GREEN

You are probably familiar with the story of (US) Col. Mills and the invention of web gear. After the US accepted it, the British decided to give it a trial, I think this was in late 1903 or early 1904. This was shortly after the introduction of the new short rifle - the famous SMLE (Short, Magazine Lee Enfield) so-called because it was 5" shorter than the previous Magazine Lee Enfield. The Brits decided to develop a web sling for the new rifle as a test of the new material. The test was extraordinarily successful, and in Britain as in every where else web gear suddenly took over from leather. The first pattern British soldier's gear to use web was the Pattern '08, introduced in 1908. The 08 pattern slings are somewhat different from the early trial pattern ones. Slightly longer and the rivets are the type with a hole all the way through them after they are installed. 08 slings were so successful that the pattern was never changed and the sling was used until the last Enfield was discontinued.

• Length: 111 cm
• Width: 3.3 cm
• Antiqued brass fittings
• Marked M.E. Co 1913