My pal Tedthorn sent me this to field test.

Great idea Ted! It works really well. It not only keeps the sling from shifting off the shoulder strap, it also keeps it from rotating forward or back.

I'll be ordering more for my other hunting packs.

Thanks buddy!

Pat, Ted did a great job with the sling keeper (aka Frankenstud Slingamarig).

I mounted mine on a Nexus Patch, rather than through the shoulder strap:



Worked great this past fall... you can see it on the RH shoulder strap:



You can read a bit more about it here:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...0893091/2/Pack_Rifle_Sling_Keeper..._Upd

Looks pretty cool ... functional and aids in comfort

I'd buy one if he ever started selling them.

Looks pretty slick. I recall some prior posts on prototypes.

Put me down for one or two.

Where's this been all my life?

I like it.

donsm70

Brad, where can I get a nexus patch?

Smoke, here you go:

http://www.seattlefabrics.com/sewable_hardware.html

http://raggedmountain.com/fabric-repair/strap-accessories

Thanks Brad. Ted was nice enough to send me one a while back, I need to get off the dime and install it!! Hearing both you and Pat endorse it is all I need to know.

Smoke, mine is somewhere around the 1st Gen Ted made. I believe he's done several upgrades since that have made it better, primarily making it wider. It's a winner.

Brad,

The one you have now is a Gen3

Your new one (Gen5) will hit before elk season

Smoke...... yours is a Gen5

Pat's is a Gen4

This is the Gen5 on a Bison Gear and KUIU pack

This picture was taken a couple years ago during testing.

The Franlenstud wouldn't allow the rifle to fall !!!

The stud pictured is a flat sided stainless steel Gen2. It worked great but needed to get bigger and loose some weight.

The Gen4 is low profile SS steel

The Gen5 is a larger size but made from aluminum



The Gen2 and the Gen4

Gen4 in use on my wifes muzzle loader hunt..... Im the labor/pack mule

Thinking I could use 3.

Guys.....

Here is the problem.....cost $$$$

These are hand made.....one at a time

What is a good price point?

About $10 or $11 in materials and shipping plus just over one hour of machine/polish/blast time in my evening after a lpng work day.

Would you pay $40 to $50 each ???

Looks good. Great idea.
Hope you have patent pending on this since you posted on line.
I wouldn't pay more than 20$ shipped.
I already have the safari sling. But sometimes I like it on shoulder like your pics.
Combine the two.

$20 shipped ????

This is why they are not for sale.

It's a gadget I don't need and have survived with out this long.
It is clever and useful, but to me not 50 must have.
For a 20 I don't mind getting something and use it once a year or not.
Make it out of quality and heavy duty plastic on 3D printer For fraction of the cost for jews like me. and 40-50 aluminum version.
Just being honest.

and a cheap bastid, to boot...

I build molds in an injection mold shop....29 years

64 molding presses from 75 all the way up to 750 tons

I also have extensive experience in SLA , SLS and 3D printers...no thanks

But as all of the above posters that own one of these already know.

They have never been sold.....only given away to friends and family

Huntsman...... I would drop you one off the next time out but I know that you use a Kifaru gun bearer

I appreciate you thinking of me, but you are correct. I prolly wouldn't have much use for one while wearing a pack. And If I had a use for one, I damned sure wouldn't quibble you on price or your choice of materials. Good Lawd knows, I don't want to be lumped in the chintzy cacksuckler class with dre....

I think it's a dam clever idea.

If you don't want/need one just say no thanks and shut your f*ckin pie hole.

Who do you think you are....Mohick?

I'd give you $50 for one and I'd use it quite a bit...

Shark tank, campfire style? I think it's worth more than $20. I'd pay more than that for sure. How much more, I'll know after I use it.

Ted,

Did you ever think about farming the stud making out to a CNC shop?

Calm the f down, as well as huntsman. Guy asked I gave him 'my' opinion.
The whole reason we invent stuff is to make $.
I'm glad you guys are willing to pay and I'm sure there are plenty of other guys who would to, but some aren't.
OP, good luck on your venture.

We have all the disciplines of CNC equipment in the shop I work in covered.


Dre...... it's not a "venture" nor did I invent this to make money

Ok.
My bad?
At least now we know there are guys here that are willing to pay more than 20. 👍

From the way those who have them talk them up, I'd get quite a bit more use out of one of these, than some other items I've bought for $50.

As would I. Heck I'd buy more and give them to my hunting pards as gifts...

I'd pay $50.

+1, If you ever get around to making some and thats a good price point for you I'd be in for several for sure.

If you do think you might want to sell them, you should get a patent. If not, there will be Chinese knock offs

Same here.

Flankenstor?

This is a great idea. I'd pay $50 for one.

In fact may try making one to mount on shoulder of turkey vests or non-down coats. Been frustrated with sling slippage since I was a boy.

A giant button was the military answer for sling slip over 150 years ago

There was also a sewn on shoulder pad (not a shoulder tab or épaulette) but an actual round sewn on pad, at the top Of sleeve seam. About 3" long and 3/4" to 1" in diameter on some uniforms even up until The Great War.

I wanted to add....

As I have stated that I typically only give these away to friends and family.....

There is at least one jackass around here who will never get one by my hand for any price

He knows who he is

Those look great. Looks like a great design. If you decide to sell I would put one to use. Been looking for a solution.

Pretty damn slick!

Ok

If there is enough interest I might make a run of these

I'm a lucky owner and field tester of one of these little fellas and I tell you right now I'll wouldn't sell mine for $500..

One of the most useful pieces of equipment I've incorporated into my gear, ever...

Todd

If you decide to do a run count me in for a couple. It looks handy as H#@L

David

I think, based on the information you provided regarding production time and material costs, $50 would not be out of line. If it were worth it to you, you could manufacture a few at a time and list them. If they sell, it's worth your while, if not, you haven't wasted a lot of time. You'll just have to endure the normal morons who claim manufacturers are greedy and price gouging, etc. whenever something sells for more than they are willing to pay. A basic high school course providing a rudimentary understanding of economics should be mandatory.

I would order two if the become available.

Aw, c'mon Ted, I said please and everything.

Looks interesting. Nice design, but I think i could lathe cut one from aluminium round bar, drill and tap the center to 1/4x20, and use a flathead elevator bolt for a couple of bucks in material, and a half hour in time.
I'm not saying that it isn't worth $50.00 as a finished shipped product. I'm saying I could fabricate something very close, rather easily. (With access to a lathe)
Good luck with this project sir. I hope you do well with it.

Oh good, for a second there I though he was talking about me. LOL

I'd pay $50 if a run is made.

Funny...... It's definitely not you

Looking at it that way, if it took a half hour of my time just to make one, $50/per seems about right, once you factor in everything else that goes into it. Setting up your shop, ordering materials, communicating with customers, taking orders, shipping, and other stuff I left out.

Cool idea... an answer in search of a problem for me though. I PREFER to keep my hand ON my sling so I can control the firearm OR I can spin it off of my shoulder.

Assuming I had the rod stick in hand, and no restrictions on the use of the lathe, most of that time is set up. I could drill the rod, then swap to the tap, then use the cutter and form the bobbin, all on the lathe. The second piece would already be drilled and tapped, so cutting is just minutes. Would have to swap drill and tap about every 2-3 pieces, depending on the length of the tap.
I'm not running down the product, just suggesting an alternative method, that might be cost effective.

I am a Journyman Injection Mold Maker of just over 29 years with a 2 year Tech degree in Machine Tool Technology in front of that so I know a little bit about fast and efficient machining using almost all forms of machining equipment.

I appreciate the steps of procedure you have laid out in the above but you leave off several to reach the final finished products that are pictured in this thread.

With that being said.....

By all means I urge anyone willing to diy to please do so.

This really is an easy project if you have the bar stock, lathe, tooling and some machining skills.

Walk around for a week with a rifle slung around your shoulder and tell me how that works out for you. I would gladly pay 50 for something that makes life a little less miserable

I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night but for the real cheapskates you could just take a carriage bolt, 2-3 washers and 3 nuts and be done.


Of course it wouldn't look nearly as nice but it would function the same.

Not to mention spare parts for your truck or UTV.......laffin

If you ever decide to do a run of them I'd buy three or four.

Sometimes referred to,as bachelor buttons.

https://www.loggingsupply.com/shop/bucksaw-logger-buttons/

To small...... We've tested those

There are several reasons we are at the current design......Gen5

This is the Generation #1

It was a terrible failure right out of the gate during indoor testing.....

Yeah, I can see that. Without the base plate, it would just roll over, and likely tear the tapered head screw through the strap. Needs both the baseplate, and the backer to stay stable and not tear what it is mounted to.

Got my order in and they look great! Very well made product... I'm anxious to try them out when I get off this hitch...

Cinch,
Forward me the buying info if you can. One of these would be handy as heck while humping it out to those long coyote stands way off the road.

Great idea Ted, nice to see that you're willing to share your ideas with us. Keep up the good work and [bleep] them naysayers man. You didn't ask them their opinions or push the product on anyone. Guys that actually get out there and hunt can see the usefulness of this idea.

Directly from tedthorn. I'm working up the gumption to stick a hot nail through my shoulder strap to mount it.

Sent you a PM Gonzo...

Photobucket has this thread in a mess

I'd sure like a couple, look really handy. Somebody tell me where to send my money...

Just send Ted a message and he will take care of you in short order...

Count me in for [email protected] just let me know when n where to pay....ScottyO.

ScottyO

Good news........

They are less expensive these days

I am currently making these on a CNC lathe and was able to decrease my cost by 20%

The bead blasted bare aluminum studs are now $40 shipped to any USA state.

Powder coated ones are $45 each and will be offered in tan and olive as there is not enough interest in black

I also accept PayPal plus the fee.......$1.50

Very cool. It's nice to see a campfire venture succeed.

It's cool to see them take off

Finally installed mine, last weekend, and this weekend took it off to do the locktite. I did some hiking around with it and I am sold on this! With some adjustments to my sling and how my rifle rests on my pack, with the slingamarig added it pretty much locks my rifle into place. very easy to traverse over rough terrain and do it all hands free without worrying about my rifle. If anyone is on the fence, order it, you won't be disappointed. I'll be ordering some more soon for family and my other pack.

Thanks for the review Brent

Yes.....it is a simple, lightweight devise......but this is by design

After 2 years of making tweeks I think we hit it just about right.

The button is just big enough to to do it's job but small enough to stay out of the way.

The undercut allows more than enough bite to work with even thick, wide slings.

A misconception is that the washer will hurt you during use.

To clear this up....the rear washer sinks into the padding of the pack straps so deeply it is never noticed even with a heavy load.

Exactly.

So, where is the EXACT spot for mounting if you're gonna poke a hole in your $200 + backpack?

P-bucket is a zero looking for a minus.

The collarbone area

Ted-, it's an imaginative idea and I always admire skills such as yours. It fits a definite need.

Years ago, Browning made a high end coat that had a "pebbled-textured" rubber patch on the shoulder top to provide texture and friction to hold the sling in place. I don't know if they still do.

It worked better than the slick, synthetic material for holding your sling in place which it didn't and you didn't have to be wearing a pack -- there's another idea. 😉

I have two of them. One of them is the original Duck Commander apparel from Browning which was a long time before they became widely known.

I just finished the second run of studs.

I now have a stock of the "gray" bead blasted aluminum studs

Studs for powdercoat have been delivered to the coating house and should be done soon.

Ted

Powdercoated Sling Studs are now available for shipment

I like the idea. Haven't found time to even mountbthe scopes on my last two customs or I would find a coat to put one on.

To respond to Dre, I invent things a lot of times because they are needed or need to be invented. Haven't gotten "paid" persae for any designs. Have gained respect of Collegues, made lives and jobs easier, and been blessed with more opportunities than I deserve. If it was only money a lot of things wouldn't exist. In fact, I am pretty certain the majority of Start-Ups aren't close to profitable for the first 4-5 years. I get the impression Ted does these because he saw a need, likes the intellectual stimulation, and likes seeing his design being used by his Friends. Pretty sure 20 or 50 dollars he isn't retiring. I get the impression he isn't the retiring type anyway.

Thanks for the kind words gremcat.

Havn't tried a Feankenstud Slingamarig Sling on a coat but It probably would work as long as the zipper was pulled up high enough.



Tan Olive and bead blasted aluminum

More zero cost low end modeling

Like the Frankenstud on Facebook

Take a look at your gear

How much of it is made in the USA?

How much of it is made of all metal and not plastic?

The Frankenstud Sling Keeper

It forever ends the problem of a slung rifle slipping or falling off your shoulder

Made in the USA of solid 6061 Aircraft Aluminum it tips the scale at less then one ounce and is held in place with a single stainless steel screw and carries a lifetime no BS replacement guarantee

If you ever break your Frankenstud Sling Keeper I will replace it free of charge no questions asked

$45 shipped to anywhere in the USA and we also ship international for a small additional fee

PayPal, Checks or Money Orders accepted

Olive, Tan, Gray or Pink or webbing applied for $1 more

Blaze Orange coming back this fall but taking orders

www.paypal.me/frankenstud

The Frankenstud Sling Keeper is a lifetime purchase.

Ted Thornburgh Sr
Thin Air Creations
2901 W Old Oaks Rd
Poplar Bluff MO 63901

Love mine. Wish someone had developed this years ago.

I'm surprised you don't have black as a color option as of yet.

The latest version looks great. I think I'm going to need one for this fall...

Well.......

I have yet to get a request for a black stud......

I don't think my request would include the words:

"I'll like to buy a black stud off of you."

This link does not work for me. It brings up a blank page?

www.paypal.me/frankenstud

I clicked it and my PayPal page came up

Try this one

https://www.paypal.me/frankenstud

Nope.... The "https://www.paypal.me/frankenstud" shows as the address, but the page is blank for both links.

Must be my machine?

It must be on your end.

It seems to working fine for others

Got my Frankenstud(s) this week...Stuck one on my main pack to try it out. It’s awesome! Not having to constantly readjust my rifle back on my shoulder will be nice. Thanks, Ted and K. 😎