FRENCH MAT 49 LEATHER SLING USED

Original-issue French Army MAT 49 leather carry sling, pulled from military stores and offered here as genuine surplus. The MAT 49 submachine gun was the standard-issue French service arm from the late 1940s through the Indochina and Algerian conflicts and well into the Cold War era, and this leather sling is the correct field accessory that soldiers, paratroopers, and gendarmes carried it on. For collectors, reenactors, and vintage arms enthusiasts, it's the real piece of French military history — not a modern copy.

Constructed from a single strap of sturdy vegetable-tanned leather with steel hardware, the sling uses a sliding buckle for length adjustment and terminates in a snap hook at each end for quick attachment to sling swivels. A small leather retainer with a metal rivet keeps the tail of the strap tidy once the length is set. The narrow-profile design sits comfortably over the shoulder or across the chest and works just as well on other period rifles, carbines, and shoulder-slung equipment cases.

Who It's For

• Militaria collectors completing a French Cold War, Indochina, or Algerian War loadout
• Reenactors and living-history groups needing an authentic accessory to match an original or demilled MAT 49
• Vintage firearm owners looking for a correct-period leather sling
• Surplus retailers serving customers who prize genuine provenance over reproductions

Key Features

• Genuine French Army surplus — original issue, not a remake
• Solid leather construction with riveted keeper
• Steel sliding buckle for length adjustment
• Steel snap hooks on both ends for fast attachment and removal
• Correct sling for the MAT 49 SMG; also fits many other period slung arms and cases

Condition

Used surplus. Expect honest field-service character — colour variation from light tan to deep brown, scuffs, surface marks, edge wear, patina on the steel hardware, and small blemishes consistent with age and issue. Each sling is individually selected from stores, so appearance will vary from the image shown. This wear is a hallmark of authenticity, not a defect.