Romanian M44 - SKS Sling

Pictures and information courtesy of John Hardin

Sold to me from TAPCO as Mosin Nagant slings. I would like to know if this is in fact a Mosin sling and what country of origin. What kind of Mosin it was issued with or what other rifle it may have been issued with. Length is 29 to 37 inches from buckle to buckle depending on how they are adjusted. Diameter is 1 3/16 inch on three of them and 1 3/8 inch on the fourth one. Marking between the four slings "best as I can make them out" are AMEALATOR ART. TEHNICE 11, 20 NOE 1972, 17 IUN 1974, PRODUS U.S. FLASARA ROSIE, CTC 23-1972. Note that I have tried this on a M44 Mosin Carbine and they fit it perfect. 

Update May 30, 2001

The first couple of responses on Tuco's think it is a Romainian SKS sling. I typed in some of the words from the markings on MSN search and they do often
bring up Romanian websites that have these words in them.  Produs seems to be Product, and Tehnice seems to be Technical. What interests me is the "PRODUS U.S. FLASARA ROSIE" on a couple of them. Almost looks like Product U.S. and a company name stamped in Romanian/Russian. It would be interesting to find out this is something like "Product of USA", much like we see "Made in China" on everything. Of course the U.S. on them may have nothing to do with United States. Really need someone to translate the markings.  Mosin Nagant dot Net has an article on Romainian M44s. These slings may be the ones mentioned near the end of  his article. Looks like Romainia used the M44s in later years than other countries and it is suggested that Romainian SKS slings may actually be original for both Romanian SKS and late issue for Romanian M44s. http://www.mosin-nagant.net/Romo-Mosin-Nagants.html

Just for further info, the earliest sling I have of these is dated 1969, Latest 1972.  I bought these just to figure out what they are. I love mystery guns and
accessories. The more the challenge, the more the fun.

 John

                                                                                                            Update June 1, 2001

I also got a response on an SKS forum that his Romanian SKS came with one of these slings on it. Putting my slings on a M44 and looking at how the wear
and bends of the used sling is, I am pretty sure that at least a couple of these had been mounted on a Mosin.  I think it is pretty safe to say that We
believe this is a Romanian Sling issued for sure from dates on known slings, 1969 to 1974.  And used on SKS rifles and probably on M44 Mosin Nagants
still in use in Romania during that time.

John

Update July 26, 2001

Information from Marcus A. von Weigert

The Romanian sling shown is indeed a Romanian SKS sling.  Many of these have been sold as Romanian M44 slings, and were no doubt used on M44s the way the Bulgarian AK  sling was used on AK and SKS rifles with a D-ring and clip on the front, and used on Mosin Nagants and Steyr M95s without the ring and clip. The correct Romanian M44 sling is quiet similar, but uses dog collars at each end (SEE PICTURE BELOW). By the way, the correct writing on the sling is   PRODUS I.I.S. "FLACARA ROSIE",   which appears on many  Romanian leather slings and pouches I have from the early 1950's to the very late 1970's. 

Picture coutesy of John Hardin and info courtesy of Marcus A. von Weigert

Above is an example of a Romanian M-44 sling.  Notice the "dog collars" in lieu of the the straight straps of the SKS sling at the top of the page.  

NOTE:  It also has the PRODUS I.I.S. FLACARA ROSIE marking.

To share any info with John, send e-mail to CrufflerJohn@texastradingpost.com

To visit John's M1888 Commission Rifle website, click HERE

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