Can anyone identify this vintage sling?

[Dark Skies]

This sling came with my No4 mk2 Lee Enfield. It's a Fulton's regulated rifle that came with a PH5C rear sight fitted - so it's possible back in the day it was a popular sling to fit for competition work.

I removed it and fitted the standard military canvas sling with brass fittings - this sling was then rolled up and popped in drawer for the next twenty years.

Anyhow ... I was wondering if anyone recognized what type it was and the rifle it may have been fitted to originally. It's green khaki tape with brass fittings and riveted leather. On the back it's printed with the letters WO. I'm guessing that may be 'War Office' but I can't see a Broad Arrow stamp anywhere. There is a faint hand printed name on it that I guess was put there by the previous owner / user.

BTW - pictures added via the browse -> add file -> save method which worked just fine.

[GeeRam]

Interesting.

Not seen one of those before. Could be designed for a purpose other than a rifle sling though, but just been used in that way since?

Could be in-theatre commonwealth made, hence the WO but not the broad arrow marking. Indian or South African made maybe?

[bnz41]

I have one very similar only mine is sand coloured has the same shaped leather ends with brass fittings. No stamps/markings on it.

Mine was attached to a Lee Enfield No4 MkII dated 1956 that was shipped back to the UK from Australia about 20 years ago. I bought the rifle soon after it came back part of a large number 30+ of rifles. The rifle had been used by the RAAF as a .303 target rifle it was fitted with a 5c Parker Hale sight and a PH22 tube foresight on an modified No4 sight block, came with original Singer sight tied to the trigger guard, but was missing it's original mag.

So maybe your sling/rifle could be from the same batch, there were other rifles fitted with slings in the crate.

[hitchphil]

I believe made by Parker Hale for fullbore target rifle - acts as a double sling between the mount near the magazine to the front sling mount. A very few use them today they were also used on BSA target rifles

[Dark Skies]

Thanks. All sounds plausible. I said green but looking at it in decent light it probably was sand - it's quite grubby!
My rifle also has the canted swivel sling mount in front of the magazine.
And mine also came with a singer rear sight in a placcy bag taped to the stock - along with an assortment of rear sight apertures for the 5C