derrbrad Posted March 31, 2016 Share #1 Posted March 31, 2016 Is there a way to date a sling based on the inspectors initials? I've never tried to do this and am curious. Its a RIA leather sling with initials WTG under the RIA mark and EFS (I think) by the button end. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evets Posted April 6, 2016 Share #2 Posted April 6, 2016 Great question! BTW, is it a Model 1887, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1906, or 1907 sling? I'd start with that and then figure out the markings by narrowing it down to a specific time period/era. J. C. Harrison's book on the M-1903 rifle doesn't list a "EFS," but lists a "JES" for RIA from 1918 and a "WJS" for RIA from 1908. But, those are for rifle acceptance marks so I dunno if they would have also been used for sling acceptance marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrbrad Posted April 9, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted April 9, 2016 It's an 1887. I looked at multiple places and found the same name and initials as Harrison. But the few people who would even venture a guess said they felt that the leather goods inspectors were probably not the same as the weapon inspectors. I hope somewhere out there is a list, but has not or might not ever come to light. Maybe a case of not enough people wanting to know. Or maybe just the names have been lost to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illinigander Posted December 23, 2017 Share #4 Posted December 23, 2017 I am looking at this very much later but, Several years ago I received a leather inspector list from the recently retired RIA Museum director. It is typed and about 15 pages. It is titled: Rock Island Arsenal Manufactured Leather Goods In the Collection of the RIA Museum. In this inventory not all the leather inspectors are identified. Illinigander, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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