I?ve read multiple posts or entries in books about WWII carbine slings and how to determine whether they are authentic or not.
Some have referenced a looser weave in repros. I?ve not read much that I can recall about hardware other than the observation that the very early authentic ones had a narrow buckle. I had one of those once, now long gone.

I?ve attached some pictures of four that I have and would appreciate any thoughts from this experienced group about which, if any, are real. The arrangement in all the pictures is the same. They all have the ?C? or ?horseshoe? type ends. The all have roughly the same buckle. The top two are olive with no date stamp. The hardware on both is about the same - blackened brass post with a snap that may be blackened brass with a copper colored spring. On one the ?dot? is indented and the other is raised. The raised dot appears worn revealing what may be pot metal.

The third is more khaki in color and is the only one with a different weave pattern. It seems to have 8 ?rows? of weaving where all the others have 9. The post is again blackened brass. The snap appears to be blackened brass and the dot is raised with slight wear. The spring in that one is also copper in color.

The fourth is the only dated sling with a mark that appears to be ? S M Co? above what appears to be ?1944? but could be ?1943?. Here again the weave is like the first two. The hardware is now all pot metal with now brass showing and a copper colored spring.

They vary in length as you can see from the second picture. The dated one is the longest.

Any thoughts appreciated.

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