BRUCE CANFIELD COLLECTION WITH SIGNED LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY! US Army troopers out on the Plains in the Indian Wars faced many dangers during their arduous campaigns. Those intrepid soldiers in “dirty shirt blue” protected settlers, miners, and railroad crews from “hostiles”, forced renegade bands back onto the reservation, and stopped the illicit gun trade funneling weapons into the hands of native warriors. They carried the classic M-1873 “Trapdoor” Springfield rifle on a specially designed “single claw” leather sling. This US Army Indian Wars TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD “SINGLE CLAW” LEATHER RIFLE SLING is in good condition, with some overall drying, crazing, stiffening, wrinkling, and age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the sling is in fine shape, with no other damage to the tough dark brown leather construction, which still remains somewhat pliant. Most interestingly, it boasts the classic darkened brass “single claw” at one end, sports the traditional sizing holes, leather adjustment slide, and sewn loop end, and measures about 70 long. It’s unmarked as to its maker, dates to the 1870s, and is an exclusive item directly from the collection of Bruce Canfield, the noted authority on US military small arms of the post-Civil War era. The sling comes with a signed letter of authenticity guaranteeing its originality, and the fact that it’s resided in Mr. Canfield’s personal collection for the last 30 years. A fine example of a very rare, original US Army Indian Wars TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD “SINGLE CLAW” LEATHER RIFLE SLING. The item “US Army Indian Wars TRAPDOOR SPRINGFIELD SINGLE CLAW LEATHER RIFLE SLING RARE” is in sale since Thursday, July 22, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Indian Wars (1866-97)\Original Period Items”. The seller is “abramsantiques” and is located in Claremont, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.