The original sling for the K98k has become a much sought after item, and the not-so-original slings flourish today! The sling was adopted at the same time as the Karabin 98K, and consisted of the actual sling, with a sewn on buckle and three teardrop shaped holes at the end. In addition a sling loop and a rear sling keeper was needed to complete the sling assembly!

The sling had a ricasso pattern flanked by two lines impressed on the outside, while the inside was left in the "rough". Although sharp and clear on some slings, wear and tear will sometimes leave the ricasso pattern impossible to see on others. The buckles were standardized, and made by sub-contractors. The four most common variants are L&F, D&C, SC and the ones devoid of markings.

These factory markings only denotes the buckle-maker, not the sling maker! Sometimes these buckles can be found on post-war made slings, re-used or from un-used stocks! The back of the buckle had a leather protector that was supposed to protect the rifle finish! This one was often torn off or worn down due to use. I have observed them on 1943 made slings, but they might have stayed in production until the end!

The actual sling is often oil-soaked and without markings. The K98k sling was marked in different ways, depending on the manufacturer. Most commonly the markings will be found on the inside, close to the top. The markings will consist of a maker, city and year on the early ones, while the mid-production ones have a WaA and three letter code and year. The late war ones omitted the WaA. The markings consisted of either just an ink stamp, an ink stamp with light impressions or just impressions.

Needless to say, the ink stamps seldom survived field use, while the two other methods sometimes survive!

In addition the wording "Kar." can also be found on some specimens, but only as an ink-stamp.

A two digit number sometimes appears on the tip of the sling. The code and year has also been observed on the bottom part of the sling.

But the most rare variant is the slings that has the stampings to the outside! I have only found two specimens in the 350 slings I have studied!

The rear sling keeper is more frequently marked! It has a metal button, either made of brass or steel. The brass button appears on the early manufactured slings, mostly pre-1936 made! It can be marked in one of three places. To the rear, which is most common, between the button and the sling tab holder, or on the front tip! The markings will be in the same style as on the sling. But again only the impressed markings survives!

The most commonly found markings to the rear of the stopper are maker-city-year combinations (most often inside an oval circle) on the early ones, three letter code with or without year during 1941-1943 and just a single WaA.

Again, a variation has both WaA and maker mark, but it is a lonely bird!

The WaA can vary from a very small "stick-eagle" to larger ones with large swastikas! The front markings are normally found on the early ones with brass buttons. The company S&D.H. marked their slings keepers on the extreme front tip ! I have never seen any other manufacturers do the same.

The more common place for the markings was the small area between the button and the leather loop. This marking could be a code, like the slings marked with S/42 for Mauser Werke, Oberndorf.

But also full name and year was positioned here.

On the later ones with a steel button, the only markings found is a WaA!

Special markings applied after the weapons and slings left the factory can also be found. Some of the early brass button keepers has impressed what I believe is a unit number.

The soldiers in the field has always liked to keep track of their equipment. This has been done by carving their name into their slings, or as pictured here, by adding a small metal plate with his name and his units number, the eight company!

My favorite Mauser sling has it all: The makers code with year on both sling and keeper, "Kar." on the middle, and the number "40" on the tip!

It took me 350 slings to find it!