Original leather sling "Arsenal do Exército" for the Mauser Vergueiro

Detail on the back section
- with one leather loop holder and brass buckle.
Note the "A.E." engraving on the leather

Back in September, 2011, with the help of Brian from Bryburn Trading Co Pty Ltd, an Australian (St. Peters, New South Wales) vintage "militaria collectable" dealer,  I managed to get hold of one original Portuguese Mauser Vergueiro leather sling (originated from the units that Portugal sold to Brazil) - complete with all the original brass elements (buckle and button/stud) and the leather loop holder.

Now, from the same dealer, I managed to get an even more accurate original - also complete with leather loop and the brass elements but with a special "extra": the "A.E". engraving on the back leather section. The acronymous stands for "Arsenal do Exército [Português]", that translates to "[Portuguese] Army Arsenal". Considering it is an original vintage piece, it is in great condition and in perfect working order condition.

The sling at the maximum extension - approx. 1 meter (3,2 feet)

I used it on the October 2011 Portuguese Shooting Federation Vintage Military Weapons Match - and reached the second place on the rifle match, with 179 / 200 points (an average of 9 / 10 score for each of the 20 match shoots). The use of a sling on this match, shooting prone at a 100 meter distant target, "locks" the rifle around the supporting left arm -  critical to ensure accuracy .

Overall view - Mauser Vergueiro (8x57 IS), m/1904/39, with leather sling

Sling dimensions:

• Overall maximum usable lenght: approx. 98 centimetres
• Thickness: 3 millimetres
• Width: 2,5 centimetres
• Round front brass stud diameter: 9,3 millimetres
• Back brass buckle long: 2,5 centimetres
• Leather loop width: 1,25 centimetres

Detail on the external side of the back section brass buckle
and leather loop holder

Detail on the front section with the brass stud