23 replies to this topic

[Motorcar]

Anybody else see the Northridge ad that just came out in Shotgun News? They advertise original GI Kerr slings for the Thompson SMG, not repros, for $49. They claim rare until now but have limited quantities. Have any of you out there purchased one from them and is the condition unissued as also claimed? Seems like a deal if it lives up to the ad, right?

[Sgt]

I did a search on their site for the Kerr sling. Nothing came up. If you find a link to the sling, please list here. Thanks

[Motorcar]

The ad is on page 151 of the September 20 issue of Shotgun News, the same issue with Frank's article on the M3 Grease gun. Nobody else saw it? It is a good price for an original GI sling isn't it?

[gunbuysell]

FYI, if you don't need/want an original Kerr No-Buckl sling, then check out the exact reproduction slings for $25 at www.bayonetinc.com.

[brian]

not only is it true, but one is on it's way to my house.

Edited by brian, 23 September 2004 - 05:54 PM.

[john]

Northridge is not only great to deal with, but most stuff is better condition than advertised, less expensive than most others, AND if you go by their place in California and let them know you want to stop by, they'll let you in and you can select your stuff. Lots of neat stuff on display.....I'd guarantee you won't leave empty handed!!!

john

[brian]

QUOTE (john @ Sep 23 2004, 06:00 PM)

Northridge is not only great to deal with, but most stuff is better condition than advertised, less expensive than most others, AND if you go by their place in California and let them know you want to stop by, they'll let you in and you can select your stuff. Lots of neat stuff on display.....I'd guarantee you won't leave empty handed!!! john

i've delt with them several times, EVERY time i've been pleased, the only draw back is their shipping times. on average from the time i order till recieved, 4weeks .

[Gunner]

Can anybody tell if these are the earlier, "No Bukl," version? I like the older style better because they metal is brass, which should scratch less, and they're more adjustable. (Once you figure out how to install em!)

[brian]

i received mine the other day, it looks real good to me, but i don't know what i'm looking at either

the one thing i did notice, rather quickly is that it's missing the **smell** .

[leid]

Hi Brian,
If it is an original 1917 Kerr sling, all of the hardware, even the rivets, should be brass. Use a magnet to test them. All of the endpiece hardware, except the reverser sleeve on the longer sling piece, should be marked "NOBUCKL", will be marked "PAT'D 7-21-14" in large &/or small print, and will also be marked "REG U S PAT. OFF". Color of the web material is khaki-brown. Look at p193 in "American Thunder".
Carey

[brian]

it's neither brass nor marked , but it does look good on the gun

[leid]

Brian,
If hardware is not brass and is not marked, you probably have an M3 sling. The color should be mustard-yellow if it was made during WW2 or OD green if post-war. Hardware will probably be blued steel and it is slightly shorter than the 1917 Kerr "NOBUCKL" sling.
Carey

[Mike Hammer]

I talked to the salesman and I specifically asked him if these were Kerr NoBuckl slings, (those being the metal parts stamped by the Kerr mfg. Co) and he said yes. I ordered a few. Now it appears they are NOT the Kerr slings after what you have just said. They better not be passing off those newly made reproductions as original M3 slings either, someone mentioned lack of musty smell which sounds very suspicious...Has anyone else received some of these slings?

MIke Hammer

[Motorcar]

Mine showed up the other day. It is mustard yellow with blued steel fittings. By Frank's book it appears to be the WWII revised sling M3 for the Thompson. Mine has an old smell but is beautiful, definetly not a new reproduction item. Very happy

[45fan]

I got one of these after seeing this thread. As some of the others have said, it is an M3 not a Kerr sling. I'm kinda disappointed. It has no markings on it whatsoever but appears to be in new condition. I can't tell whether it's a repro or the real thing.

Sam

[gijive]

Sam,

The M3 slings didn't have any markings on them. I'm sure it is a real sling in new condition. They are still around, just because it is in new condition doesn't mean it is a reproduction. That would be the correct sling for a WWII submachine gun, what's to be disappointed about?

[Hawkeye_Joe]

There was a site that showed you how to attach the Kerr type sling... I had it on my old computer but I can't transfer it to this one.

[TSMG28]

You can go to this site for info on Thompson slings and their attachment.

rifleslings.com

If you need more instructions on the slings general installation and use, Email me and I can send a file.

[Hawkeye_Joe]

Thanks I'll e-mail you about it.. thanks for the link..

[gijive]

QUOTE (PhilOhio @ Oct 13 2004, 10:41 AM)

I have an unused M3 sling, bought from Numrich in 1969, when nobody even thought about making repros of Thompson stuff because there was no demand, and the world was still awash in it.  It has no marks, so I thought it must still be a repro.  Guess not.

PhilOhio,

I have a couple of NOS M3 type slings that were repacked by the U.S. Navy in cardboard boxes with cosmoline paper on the outside. They are dated as being repacked in the early 1950's. They are mustard yellow, blued metal fittings with absolutely no markings and no musty smell. These were made in abundance during WWII and new examples are still around, although hard to find. The ones I have and some others I sold over the last few years came from a military shop in Belguim of all places. A pilot friend of mine found them over there and brought a few back several years ago. I don't believe any reproductions of these slings were made at any time in the past and I have only recently heard of reproductions being made by one the Japanese paint ball type gun manufacturers and that is only fairly recently.

Too many gun show rumors abound about reproduction items lately. Genuine WWII slings are fairly easy to spot, in my opinion, if you have seen enough of them. Northridge usually advertises their items as new production or reproductions. I'm fairly certain these are original.