Post by alibi on Dec 17, 2012 17:58:39 GMT -8
A virtually unreported strap sling that has been given slight notice by historians and collectors was a woven strap-gun sling that Mills developed and manufactured circa 1900. The reports of the trial by the U.S. Army were unfavorable and the strap-sling was rejected for adoption, so the trial has passed unnoticed, however, it may be of interest to the members of Mills material culture collectors and historians. Most of the trial strap-slings were apparently made unserviceable during trials, however examples are known to exist and most of the information available is related to the use as a rifle sling.
The trial strap-sling was obviously a forerunner of the very successful rifle sling adopted by the United Kingdom, issued for many years from 1907, and probably still in use in many places. Unlike the British adopted sling the trial strap-sling required special open hooks to be assembled to the canteen, haversack, and rifle.
The following was primarily taken from documents located in The Chief of Ordnance correspondence files (Record Group 156 Entry 28) located at the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) Washington, D.C.
Extract from memorandum, Extract from the Proceeding of Board of Ordnance and Fortification, Washington, D.C., May 8, 1901, (RG156 E28 O.O.36496):
The Board resumed consideration of a letter, dated February 20, 1901, from Thomas C. Orndorff, submitting samples of a woven gun sling, canteen and haversack straps, and requesting that a number be purchased for test.
Gen. Anson Mills, representing Mr. Orndorff, appeared before the Board and explained the advantages claimed for the form of strap, calling attention to the necessity of so modifying the present wire loops on canteens and haversacks and swivels on rifles as to facilitate the attachment of the woven straps.
It is recommended that there be allotted from the appropriation, Board of Ordnance and Fortification the sum of $1,200, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the purchase of a sufficient number of these straps to completely equip one of the infantry regiments serving in the field. The expenditure under this allotment to be made by the Chief of Ordnance.
A report as to the merits of these woven straps should be forwarded to this office as soon as practicable.
The Ordnance Department on June 11, 1901 ordered from The Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. 3,900 woven web adjustable and interchangeable canteen or haversack straps or gun slings. Sample strap/slings were sent to R.I.A. July 6, 1901, with instructions for preparing the loops on trial canteens and haversacks. Extract from letter, Mr. John A. Hopper, General Manager, The Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. to Brig. Gen. Adelbert R. Buffington, The Chief of Ordnance, July 18, 1901 (RG156 E28 O.O.36116-Enc.11):
We have forwarded, today, as per your instructions, 1300 woven gun slings to the Commanding Officer Springfield Armory, 1300 woven haversack slings and 1300 canteen slings to the Commanding Officer at Rock Island Arsenal.
If consistent we desire to ask you to favor us by forwarding the printed copies of this letter, a number of which have been enclosed herewith, to all the officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, of the Regiment to which these gun slings, haversack and canteen slings, are referred for experimental use and trial.
Our reasons for asking this favor are that it is especially difficult to get intelligent understanding of the claims that are made for novelties, and also for intelligent suggestions from those who use them, for changes, in the way of improvements, that may be found necessary by the users. We believe, and trust, that you will be of the opinion, that the users of these slings are better capable of judging whether the articles are improvements over those of the regular type that have been used so long.
In the first place, we think that this webbing is superior to leather for the purposes intended, especially in the tropical climate, where changes from excessive moisture to excessive dryness and heat, are so sudden and often, that they cause the dispersion of the oil in the leather, when it becomes harsh, dry, and inflexible, cracking, and abraiding the hands when they come in contact with it.
In the second place, all three of these articles are identical in every respect, a quality which users will duly appreciate, as it often happens in Company equipments that one of these articles are short in supply, when another may be in excess.
It may be the case that the fabric is not just what it ought to be in rigidity or flexibility; that is, it may not be woven sufficiently stiff, or it may be too stiff. We believe this can best be determined by experimental trial, and, if ant deficiency is discovered we will willingly correct it for further experiments.
Then again, the hook fastener may be a little too tight, or perhaps not tight enough; that is to say, after considerable use the hook fastener may slide on the webbing, or it may be found a little too difficult to fasten or unfasten. The same may be said of the slides that are attached to those slings, and, if so, and you will advise us of these defects, we will be pleased to correct them, as with the webbing.
We believe this woven fabric will found very much superior to the leather slings that have been in use heretofore.
(Ibid):
36116-Enc.11,
1st Endorsement.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
Washington, August 2, 1901.
Respectfully referred to the Commanding Officer, Rock Island Arsenal, in connection with instructions of this date on Enc.4 of this letter number, and with instructions to send a supply of these printed instructions to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Division of the Philippines, with the 1300 woven gun slings, haversack slings and canteen slings, to issue to that officer.
Extract from ledger, Memoranda concerning experimental stores, (RG156 E203 p.25):
Straps - Canteen-haversack 1300 invoiced to Manila Aug. 13, 1901 (with split loops) V-285 Rock Island Arsenal 26116-4, C. of O. End. Aug. 2, 1901
Maj. Stanhope E. Blunt, Ord., CO, Rock Island Arsenal on August 12, 1901 reported to Brig. Gen. Adelbert R. Buffington, The Chief of Ordnance, that 1300 special canteens, 1300 special haversacks and 2600 woven canteen and haversack straps were shipped to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Division of the Philippines, Manila Ordnance Depot.
Comments: The straps were identical and interchangeable as canteen straps, haversack straps, or rifle slings.
Mills production for commercial sales is likely and it is unknown if existing examples are from the Army trials. Straps with double brass hooks assembled to adapt them to the regulation canteen and haversack loops may be condemned Army contract or commercial sale items. It is reported that the straps with double wire brass hooks were sold by Bannerman, New York. An unidentified circa 1900s military goods catalog, has an illustration of web canteen and haversack straps that are consistent in width. Extract description from this catalog, “Woven web shoulder slings for carrying canteen and haversack. Slings and belts are made of heavy drab-colored woven web by the Mills Cartridge Belt Co. under contract to the U.S. Govt.”
The split loop rifle sling swivels are not covered by this study. The web sling is illustrated in The Krag Rifle Story, p. 142. The text states that, “The design of the close-fitting brass keepers would make it difficult to mount this sling on any rifle having solid sling swivels.”
The reports from officers of the First U.S. Infantry Regiment were all unfavorable. Report of Capt. Francis E. Lacey Jr., Inf., CO, Company A, First U.S. Infantry Regiment, Catubig, Samar, Philippine Islands, August 13, 1902, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.1):
I have the honor to submit the following report upon woven gun slings, haversack straps and canteen straps as required by endorsement from your office dated November 7th 1901.
These articles were issued in Company “A” for use April 15th 1902. They have not been tested in active operations as they were received here when such operations had ceased.
The only good feature of these articles so far as has appeared is that they are interchangeable.
The objections are as follows:
1. Difficult to keep clean and to cleanse when soiled
2. Tendence[sic] to swell and get stiff when wet.
3. Canteen and haversack straps are too narrow across the shoulder being thus inferior to new Haversack-straps and canteen straps [Canteen-haversack strap] issued by Ordnance Department.
4. Gunsling is difficult to adjust.
In my Company the leather straps and slings are prefered[sic].
Report of unidentified 1st Lieut., CO, Company B, First U.S. Infantry Regiment, Laguan, Samar, Philippine Islands, September 15, 1902, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.2):
I have the honor to submit the following report on the web slings and split hooks issued to Co. “B”, 1st Infantry for trial. My experience with these articles has proven to me conclusively their unfitness for use in the field.
The slings become dirty very soon, then tend to fold and become stringy and then cuts into a mans shoulder. The slings on the guns are hard to adjust and all of the slings become rotten very soon, when exposed to bad weather. They also wear out quickly. Even in Garrison they appear to me to be no improvement on the leather sling.
Extract from memorandum, Extract from the Proceeding of Board of Ordnance and Fortification, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1903, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.7):
The Board then considered an endorsement, dated June 3, 1903, from the Chief of Ordnance transmitting reports from the Philippines on the test of the Orndorff woven gun sling, canteen and haversack straps, procured for test under allotment of the Board.
After carefully considering all the reports, the Board is of opinion that the woven slings and straps in their present form are not well adapted for use in the service, and their adoption is not recommended.
Extract from letter, Capt. Tracy C. Dickson, Ord., Ordnance Office to Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co., March 23, 1904, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116-Enc.20):
Gentleman:
1. Referring to your letter of March 21, 1904 (O.O. file 36116-19), in which you submit a sample of a woven web gun sling, I am instructed by the Chief of Ordnance to inform you that it has been decided by the General Staff to no longer issue [web] gun slings.
2. Should, however, at a later date it be decided to continue the issue of this article of equipment, it will be made of leather, as in the past, since experience has demonstrated the superiority of leather over webbing for that purpose.
DESCRIPTION: The Mills canteen and haversack strap was 1.26 inches drab woven web material 61 inches long. Brass hooks were assembled to the ends with brass billets and two brass grommets. The web strap was doubled through two sliding loops made of sheet brass. The canteen triangular wire loops were replaced with open or split hooks similar to rifle stacking swivels.
MARKINGS: The billets for the adjusting hooks were embossed “PAT. MILLS & ORNDORFF” \ “DEC. 28, ‘80 \ MAR. 19, ‘89 \ OCT. 31, ‘93 \ SEP. 11, ‘94.”
PRODUCTION:
c - Records of the Office of C.O.O. correspondence 1787 - 1915, Office of the Chief of Ordnance Correspondence File, New Series 1895 - 1913. (RG156 E28)
Straps:
Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co.: (1901) c3900 @0.24
Patents:
Anson Mills, 236,058, December 28, 1880, loom.
Anson Mills, 399,916, March 19, 1889, woven belt?
Thomas C. Orndorff, 507,836, October 31, 1893, weaving process.
Anson Mills, 525,790, September 11, 1894, metal sliding keeper
The trial strap-sling was obviously a forerunner of the very successful rifle sling adopted by the United Kingdom, issued for many years from 1907, and probably still in use in many places. Unlike the British adopted sling the trial strap-sling required special open hooks to be assembled to the canteen, haversack, and rifle.
The following was primarily taken from documents located in The Chief of Ordnance correspondence files (Record Group 156 Entry 28) located at the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) Washington, D.C.
Extract from memorandum, Extract from the Proceeding of Board of Ordnance and Fortification, Washington, D.C., May 8, 1901, (RG156 E28 O.O.36496):
The Board resumed consideration of a letter, dated February 20, 1901, from Thomas C. Orndorff, submitting samples of a woven gun sling, canteen and haversack straps, and requesting that a number be purchased for test.
Gen. Anson Mills, representing Mr. Orndorff, appeared before the Board and explained the advantages claimed for the form of strap, calling attention to the necessity of so modifying the present wire loops on canteens and haversacks and swivels on rifles as to facilitate the attachment of the woven straps.
It is recommended that there be allotted from the appropriation, Board of Ordnance and Fortification the sum of $1,200, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the purchase of a sufficient number of these straps to completely equip one of the infantry regiments serving in the field. The expenditure under this allotment to be made by the Chief of Ordnance.
A report as to the merits of these woven straps should be forwarded to this office as soon as practicable.
The Ordnance Department on June 11, 1901 ordered from The Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. 3,900 woven web adjustable and interchangeable canteen or haversack straps or gun slings. Sample strap/slings were sent to R.I.A. July 6, 1901, with instructions for preparing the loops on trial canteens and haversacks. Extract from letter, Mr. John A. Hopper, General Manager, The Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. to Brig. Gen. Adelbert R. Buffington, The Chief of Ordnance, July 18, 1901 (RG156 E28 O.O.36116-Enc.11):
We have forwarded, today, as per your instructions, 1300 woven gun slings to the Commanding Officer Springfield Armory, 1300 woven haversack slings and 1300 canteen slings to the Commanding Officer at Rock Island Arsenal.
If consistent we desire to ask you to favor us by forwarding the printed copies of this letter, a number of which have been enclosed herewith, to all the officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, of the Regiment to which these gun slings, haversack and canteen slings, are referred for experimental use and trial.
Our reasons for asking this favor are that it is especially difficult to get intelligent understanding of the claims that are made for novelties, and also for intelligent suggestions from those who use them, for changes, in the way of improvements, that may be found necessary by the users. We believe, and trust, that you will be of the opinion, that the users of these slings are better capable of judging whether the articles are improvements over those of the regular type that have been used so long.
In the first place, we think that this webbing is superior to leather for the purposes intended, especially in the tropical climate, where changes from excessive moisture to excessive dryness and heat, are so sudden and often, that they cause the dispersion of the oil in the leather, when it becomes harsh, dry, and inflexible, cracking, and abraiding the hands when they come in contact with it.
In the second place, all three of these articles are identical in every respect, a quality which users will duly appreciate, as it often happens in Company equipments that one of these articles are short in supply, when another may be in excess.
It may be the case that the fabric is not just what it ought to be in rigidity or flexibility; that is, it may not be woven sufficiently stiff, or it may be too stiff. We believe this can best be determined by experimental trial, and, if ant deficiency is discovered we will willingly correct it for further experiments.
Then again, the hook fastener may be a little too tight, or perhaps not tight enough; that is to say, after considerable use the hook fastener may slide on the webbing, or it may be found a little too difficult to fasten or unfasten. The same may be said of the slides that are attached to those slings, and, if so, and you will advise us of these defects, we will be pleased to correct them, as with the webbing.
We believe this woven fabric will found very much superior to the leather slings that have been in use heretofore.
(Ibid):
36116-Enc.11,
1st Endorsement.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
Washington, August 2, 1901.
Respectfully referred to the Commanding Officer, Rock Island Arsenal, in connection with instructions of this date on Enc.4 of this letter number, and with instructions to send a supply of these printed instructions to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Division of the Philippines, with the 1300 woven gun slings, haversack slings and canteen slings, to issue to that officer.
Extract from ledger, Memoranda concerning experimental stores, (RG156 E203 p.25):
Straps - Canteen-haversack 1300 invoiced to Manila Aug. 13, 1901 (with split loops) V-285 Rock Island Arsenal 26116-4, C. of O. End. Aug. 2, 1901
Maj. Stanhope E. Blunt, Ord., CO, Rock Island Arsenal on August 12, 1901 reported to Brig. Gen. Adelbert R. Buffington, The Chief of Ordnance, that 1300 special canteens, 1300 special haversacks and 2600 woven canteen and haversack straps were shipped to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Division of the Philippines, Manila Ordnance Depot.
Comments: The straps were identical and interchangeable as canteen straps, haversack straps, or rifle slings.
Mills production for commercial sales is likely and it is unknown if existing examples are from the Army trials. Straps with double brass hooks assembled to adapt them to the regulation canteen and haversack loops may be condemned Army contract or commercial sale items. It is reported that the straps with double wire brass hooks were sold by Bannerman, New York. An unidentified circa 1900s military goods catalog, has an illustration of web canteen and haversack straps that are consistent in width. Extract description from this catalog, “Woven web shoulder slings for carrying canteen and haversack. Slings and belts are made of heavy drab-colored woven web by the Mills Cartridge Belt Co. under contract to the U.S. Govt.”
The split loop rifle sling swivels are not covered by this study. The web sling is illustrated in The Krag Rifle Story, p. 142. The text states that, “The design of the close-fitting brass keepers would make it difficult to mount this sling on any rifle having solid sling swivels.”
The reports from officers of the First U.S. Infantry Regiment were all unfavorable. Report of Capt. Francis E. Lacey Jr., Inf., CO, Company A, First U.S. Infantry Regiment, Catubig, Samar, Philippine Islands, August 13, 1902, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.1):
I have the honor to submit the following report upon woven gun slings, haversack straps and canteen straps as required by endorsement from your office dated November 7th 1901.
These articles were issued in Company “A” for use April 15th 1902. They have not been tested in active operations as they were received here when such operations had ceased.
The only good feature of these articles so far as has appeared is that they are interchangeable.
The objections are as follows:
1. Difficult to keep clean and to cleanse when soiled
2. Tendence[sic] to swell and get stiff when wet.
3. Canteen and haversack straps are too narrow across the shoulder being thus inferior to new Haversack-straps and canteen straps [Canteen-haversack strap] issued by Ordnance Department.
4. Gunsling is difficult to adjust.
In my Company the leather straps and slings are prefered[sic].
Report of unidentified 1st Lieut., CO, Company B, First U.S. Infantry Regiment, Laguan, Samar, Philippine Islands, September 15, 1902, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.2):
I have the honor to submit the following report on the web slings and split hooks issued to Co. “B”, 1st Infantry for trial. My experience with these articles has proven to me conclusively their unfitness for use in the field.
The slings become dirty very soon, then tend to fold and become stringy and then cuts into a mans shoulder. The slings on the guns are hard to adjust and all of the slings become rotten very soon, when exposed to bad weather. They also wear out quickly. Even in Garrison they appear to me to be no improvement on the leather sling.
Extract from memorandum, Extract from the Proceeding of Board of Ordnance and Fortification, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1903, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116/16-Enc.7):
The Board then considered an endorsement, dated June 3, 1903, from the Chief of Ordnance transmitting reports from the Philippines on the test of the Orndorff woven gun sling, canteen and haversack straps, procured for test under allotment of the Board.
After carefully considering all the reports, the Board is of opinion that the woven slings and straps in their present form are not well adapted for use in the service, and their adoption is not recommended.
Extract from letter, Capt. Tracy C. Dickson, Ord., Ordnance Office to Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co., March 23, 1904, (RG156 E28 O.O.36116-Enc.20):
Gentleman:
1. Referring to your letter of March 21, 1904 (O.O. file 36116-19), in which you submit a sample of a woven web gun sling, I am instructed by the Chief of Ordnance to inform you that it has been decided by the General Staff to no longer issue [web] gun slings.
2. Should, however, at a later date it be decided to continue the issue of this article of equipment, it will be made of leather, as in the past, since experience has demonstrated the superiority of leather over webbing for that purpose.
DESCRIPTION: The Mills canteen and haversack strap was 1.26 inches drab woven web material 61 inches long. Brass hooks were assembled to the ends with brass billets and two brass grommets. The web strap was doubled through two sliding loops made of sheet brass. The canteen triangular wire loops were replaced with open or split hooks similar to rifle stacking swivels.
MARKINGS: The billets for the adjusting hooks were embossed “PAT. MILLS & ORNDORFF” \ “DEC. 28, ‘80 \ MAR. 19, ‘89 \ OCT. 31, ‘93 \ SEP. 11, ‘94.”
PRODUCTION:
c - Records of the Office of C.O.O. correspondence 1787 - 1915, Office of the Chief of Ordnance Correspondence File, New Series 1895 - 1913. (RG156 E28)
Straps:
Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co.: (1901) c3900 @0.24
Patents:
Anson Mills, 236,058, December 28, 1880, loom.
Anson Mills, 399,916, March 19, 1889, woven belt?
Thomas C. Orndorff, 507,836, October 31, 1893, weaving process.
Anson Mills, 525,790, September 11, 1894, metal sliding keeper