Rifle Slings

I bought some Legend rifles but slings are not included. Were rifles used without slings in combat, say, for short-range missions where rifles were supposed to be in your hands all the time, such as bayonet charges?

Not usually. Slings are easy to make out of lead foil though. Slice it into a thin trips, cut a bit longer than the length of the rifle, paint, then glue them in place.

I use this method all the time. The below slings were done using this method.

There are also PE and 3D printed rifle sling sets available.

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Slings generally would be used all the time. WW2 rifles average 8-10 pounds, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but wears on you after marching all day. In addition slings can act as a way to steady the rifle for firing. As mentioned lead foil works well, especially for leather slings. I like tamiya tape for the fabric slings seen on things like the Lee enfield

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Gino; how do you get your hands on lead foil? Can’t find any in my locality.

Try a wine bottle foil

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^^Exactly^^

I like wine…a lot. So I have lots of lead foil on hand.

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You both must have a hell of a nice vintage wine collection.

From the article:

Lead was present in wine capsules into the early 1990s, when a lawsuit required wineries to issue warnings about lead content in their foil toppers. In 1996, the FDA issued an amendment to its regulations that prohibited “tin-coated lead foil” because they may, “as a result of their intended use, become a component of the wine.”

And:

Lead capsules are no longer used, but “there are some bottles out there that might be from [1991 or earlier] that still have lead on them,” says Waterhouse. If you have a collection that dates back this far, keep an eye out for white residue on the bottle’s neck.

I myself have literally pounds of lead foil if anyone needs any.

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If you are a X-Country skier, use Swix wax. The wax comes in a lead foil tear-able tube. The lead is thin enough for rifle slings, flags, etc.
:smiley: :canada:

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There are some non-lead foil options such as yogurt lid seals available out there. I keep an assortment of garbage around. :wastebasket:

Personally, I like Tamiya Masking Tape.
• Mash it on the workbench to thin it down.
• Lift up a couple of times to slightly de-tack.
• Lightly sand the top with fine grit to take the shine off.
• Slice the end at a 30° angle for easier threading through tiny PE buckles.
• Paint as needed.

!

Same method for tie-downs.

HTH
—mike :hammer_and_wrench:

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At least in the US, wine bottles use an aluminum foil to seal the corks to avoid lead exposure. Works the same as the lead, folds, glues, paints the same and is non toxic. One bottle will do 10 plus slings if removed carefully, and throw away the top circle of foil which is usuallly embossed.

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So, stupid question time: what do folks use to cut lead foil? I’ve got a sheet I bought years ago but never sliced into. I would think that small scissors or an XActo blade would be dulled most ricky tick, so…

Just use a sharp No. 11 blade. Bear in mind it may leave a slightly raised edge along the cut, similar to when you cut thin styrene. You can burnish it back down easily enough though.

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this will work for me since yogurt is part of my daily diet. :+1:

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I just use pinstripe tape, the ones found for automotive detailing. They come in assorted widths that Amazon isn’t displaying here. Your local auto repair supply shop sells them.

I superglue the tape onto the rifle or carbine and then paint both sides black because the black tape has a glossy sheen. The stickiness of the tape helps to secure it when you glue it on.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pinstripe+tape&crid=2GFHQV3IWM57V&sprefix=pinstripe+tape%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

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Tealights have a thin aluminium foil which could be used as well.

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I usually use Tamiya tape on ordinary aluminum foil and cut it into the right width and length.

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