Original Item: The original German Gewehr 98 rifle, the standard German rifle during the First World War, featured an unusual sling arrangement. To carry the rifle, the sling was attached to the butt stock, but for parade use the sling was attached to the front of the trigger guard and to a hook on the upper barrel band. A special sling swivel link made this change fast and convenient.
Many other Mauser rifles were designed to use this system in the years after the introduction of the Gew. 98.