*US, WWII - Dated 1944, M1 Garand Rifle Sling, PKW Maker, Olive Drab Web Equipment*
Original World War II U.S. Army M1 Garand rifle sling in olive drab web construction, ink stamped P.K.W. 1944, complete with correct wartime sheet-steel adjustment hardware. The sling is made from heavy woven cotton webbing with parkerised steel fittings including the adjustment buckle, hook, and keeper, all consistent with mid-war production. The ink stamp remains clearly visible on the webbing, confirming manufacture in 1944 during the height of U.S. wartime equipment production.
Approx. Measurements – Length: approx. 108 cm overall.
History Note:
The web sling was introduced during the Second World War as a replacement for the earlier leather M1907 sling, which required more material and labour to produce. The web version was faster to manufacture, more resistant to weather, and suitable for mass issue to the rapidly expanding U.S. Army.
These slings were primarily issued with the M1 Garand rifle, but were also used on the M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, and occasionally other U.S. service weapons. Wartime slings were produced by a number of contractors, each marking their products with initials and date. The P.K.W. marking is a less commonly encountered contractor code, believed to represent a wartime subcontractor producing web equipment in 1944, making examples with this stamp slightly scarcer than the more frequently seen makers.
Such slings saw widespread service in all theatres of WWII including Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa.
*Condition*
Good original condition with honest service wear. The webbing shows age, light staining, and minor fraying consistent with use. The ink stamp P.K.W. 1944 remains legible. Metal fittings show surface wear and light corrosion but are complete and functional. No modern repairs noted. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMBEXEE_1225232931
