Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Original Model 99 sling: one piece or two?

I’ve lost track of which sling belongs with which rifle. The swivels are identical on both my Model 99 and my Winchester Model 71, and made to fit wider than normal current versions…

Can somebody set me straight?

-Chris

Swivels shouldn't be identical from the ones I've seen. Dimensions are identical, but the WInchesters have a rougher finish and sharper edges as compared to Savage's smooth with rounded edges.

But I've not had examples of Savage swivels to study from all of the 30's.

Savage on the left, Winchester on the right.

Hmmm...

Both of mine look like the two on the right in your pic. The more angular connector part, where the axle (?) passes through, is distinctive.

This is pertaining to #5037xx from 1948 that I've mentioned in the other "ID" thread...

Of the Savage slings you've seen, are they one-piece or two?

-Chris

Do any of the slings above have diamond shaped metal staples holding the keepers together. If so it might be a Winchester leather sling.

Mine looks like the ones on the right and has the sewn keeper. It is 2 piece (going on more). I would recommend replacing the leather if you plan to use it hard.

I’ve never seen a Savage swivel after 1941, so not sure my picture applies.

Good point. Mine was on a pre-WWII RS.

Both of mine do have the diamond-shaped staples on the keepers.

I can imagine a scenario where three slings -- one each from a pre-'64 Model 70 (post '55) Featherweight, a 1937 Winchester Model 71, and a 1948 Savage 99 -- got a little confused... and maybe I ended up with the two Winchester slings. One one-piece, and one two-piece.

Sure enough, it is the case that the one I was using this last week on the M71 is starting to split at a swivel... so I'll have to go shopping for Plan B.

-Chris

Without pics it’s just speculation.

Pictures would help clarify whether the originals had two strips of leather or only one?

-Chris

No, one or two strips of leather is probably pretty obvious, but would help to determine if it’s an original Winchester sling that belongs on your M71.

Ah. Didn't occur to me these might not be original. Family circumstances suggest they are.





-Chris

I'm wondering if there even was "one" sling and swivels they used.

I'm thinking it was like some of the sights of the same period, they use whats available. Kind of like a Lyman #6 and a Marbles #95, we've seen both on the 99K's and to many of the 95's to say someone switched it out. When the box runs dry they order whatever is available or a better price.

The 71 was made from 1935 to 1958. Seems very feasable that the leather might have changed in that time.

The Winchester guys say the keepers should have the diamond staple.

That's a thought. Especially if Winchester didn't actually make their own swivels. Swivels on both of mine look like the Winchester swivels in Calhoun's pic. The Savage studs are basically screw-in models, like modern "Uncle Mike's" (or etc.)... could have been made by anybody... but larger diameter... so the swivel jaws have to be proportionally wider too... and all of mine are that same wider width.

The Winchester "studs" aren't. The forend hanger is part of the magazine holder, not a screw-in at all. And the rear is a longer piece, inletted into the stock, and attached with two separate screws so there's no chance of rotating as with a more modern single-screw version. I might more logically guess those are Winchester-made parts...




I'd agree with that, but Jack also said Winchester never cataloged one-piece slings and never used rawhide keepers.

Not easy to see in my pics, but the keepers on mine do have the diamond shape staples.

-Chris