Post by John Duncan on Nov 5, 2021 20:14:07 GMT -5
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The Sling on the Rifle
Raymond Gallagher 12/11
The Warren Report says that the rifle in the backyard photographs "seem to be equipped with a homemade rope sling." In one of the photos (133-A) they decided that the portion of the sling that is visible is too small to establish whether it is rope or leather, "but it has the appearance of rope, and its configuration is consistent with the rope sling pictured in 133-B.
"The rifle found in the TSBD consisted of two leather straps-not a standard rifle sling but one utilizing what appeared to be a musical instrument strap or a sling from a carrying case or camera bag." (WR 553-554)
The FBI expert Frazier testified that attempts to identify the sling had met with no success and it probably would not be helpful to a marksman using the rifle, since it was "too short", actually, to do more than put your arm through it.... It is rather awkward to wrap the forward hand in the sling in the normal fashion. Later, he said, "the sling would tend to steady the aim even in this crude form."
FBI SA Shaneyfelt described the sling in the photograph: "It has the appearance of being a piece of rope tied at both ends, rather than a leather sling, and it is my opinion that it is a different sling than is presently on the rifle."
Also from the Shaneyfelt testimony: VOLUME 4, pp. 289-290.
Mr. Eisenberg. Looking at 133-B, are the observable characteristics of the weapon pictured in the picture-shown in the picture- similar to the observable characteristics of Exhibit 139, the weapon in the assassination.
Mr. Shaneyfelt. Yes, they are less apparent in the photograph because it is a photograph of the BOTTOM, or the BASE of the rifle along the trigger-guard area, but it does show the BOTTOM of the rifle in the photograph.
Mr. McCloy. A bowknot-133-B seems to have a knot at the SWIVELS.
Mr. Shaneyfelt. Yes.
Mr. McCloy. Which doesn't appear on the rifle now.
Clearly, the men were discussing the rope sling and its attachments to the sling swivels on the BOTTOM of the weapon in the backyard photos. Yet when the alleged murder weapon was found in the TSBD, it had a new leather sling that was attached to the left-side of the rifle and not on the bottom. The sling swivels so clearly visible in the backyard photographs do not exist on the rifle discovered in the TSBD.
The M 38 Carcano was made in at least four different models. It was made in both 7.35 mm and 6.5 mm. The weapons were identical in appearance except for the sling mountings. Some had mounts only on the bottom of the weapon, others had mounts only on the side, while others had a combination of both bottom and side mounts.
Marina Oswald did not recognize the sling on the alleged murder weapon (CE 1403) and Ruth Paine did not recall seeing a strap of that nature in her home or anywhere else.
So, at sometime between April and November, Oswald had changed from a rope sling to a "homemade" leather sling. And from September 25 to November 22, 1963, the rifle was not in Lee's possession. At no time was he seen by anyone carrying the rifle which clearly seemed designed for carrying rather than as an aid in firing.
We know nothing about where Lee obtained the rifle sling, or the rifle ammunition, or where he practiced shooting the weapon. Nor do we know why Klein's Sporting Goods delivered a 40- inch rifle to the Texas customer who ordered a 36- inch rifle that they advertised in the February issue of the American Rifleman.
Well, it turns out that the "homemade" leather sling on the TSBD 40-inch Mannlicher - Carcano was a sling from a United States Air Forceholster kit. (see U.S. Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes by Edward Scott Meadows, 1987, p. 376)
"Regrettably, the Warren Commission did not consider it necessary or worthwhile to seek more precise information about the rifle sling. It should not have been brushed aside as inconsequential, for it was a clue that might have opened a trail to a person or persons who had conspired with Oswald, OR AGAINST HIM, in the assassination." ---- SYLVIA MEAGHER p. 112.
1.bp.blogspot.com/-6u_ApuDZ3Do/VQJTpRPnrnI/AAAAAAAAMbM/BwO8Wm3eqc0/s1600/Fender%2Bfun%2Bfacts%2Brifle%2Bstrap.jpg
The Sling on the Rifle
Raymond Gallagher 12/11
The Warren Report says that the rifle in the backyard photographs "seem to be equipped with a homemade rope sling." In one of the photos (133-A) they decided that the portion of the sling that is visible is too small to establish whether it is rope or leather, "but it has the appearance of rope, and its configuration is consistent with the rope sling pictured in 133-B.
"The rifle found in the TSBD consisted of two leather straps-not a standard rifle sling but one utilizing what appeared to be a musical instrument strap or a sling from a carrying case or camera bag." (WR 553-554)
The FBI expert Frazier testified that attempts to identify the sling had met with no success and it probably would not be helpful to a marksman using the rifle, since it was "too short", actually, to do more than put your arm through it.... It is rather awkward to wrap the forward hand in the sling in the normal fashion. Later, he said, "the sling would tend to steady the aim even in this crude form."
FBI SA Shaneyfelt described the sling in the photograph: "It has the appearance of being a piece of rope tied at both ends, rather than a leather sling, and it is my opinion that it is a different sling than is presently on the rifle."
Also from the Shaneyfelt testimony: VOLUME 4, pp. 289-290.
Mr. Eisenberg. Looking at 133-B, are the observable characteristics of the weapon pictured in the picture-shown in the picture- similar to the observable characteristics of Exhibit 139, the weapon in the assassination.
Mr. Shaneyfelt. Yes, they are less apparent in the photograph because it is a photograph of the BOTTOM, or the BASE of the rifle along the trigger-guard area, but it does show the BOTTOM of the rifle in the photograph.
Mr. McCloy. A bowknot-133-B seems to have a knot at the SWIVELS.
Mr. Shaneyfelt. Yes.
Mr. McCloy. Which doesn't appear on the rifle now.
Clearly, the men were discussing the rope sling and its attachments to the sling swivels on the BOTTOM of the weapon in the backyard photos. Yet when the alleged murder weapon was found in the TSBD, it had a new leather sling that was attached to the left-side of the rifle and not on the bottom. The sling swivels so clearly visible in the backyard photographs do not exist on the rifle discovered in the TSBD.
The M 38 Carcano was made in at least four different models. It was made in both 7.35 mm and 6.5 mm. The weapons were identical in appearance except for the sling mountings. Some had mounts only on the bottom of the weapon, others had mounts only on the side, while others had a combination of both bottom and side mounts.
Marina Oswald did not recognize the sling on the alleged murder weapon (CE 1403) and Ruth Paine did not recall seeing a strap of that nature in her home or anywhere else.
So, at sometime between April and November, Oswald had changed from a rope sling to a "homemade" leather sling. And from September 25 to November 22, 1963, the rifle was not in Lee's possession. At no time was he seen by anyone carrying the rifle which clearly seemed designed for carrying rather than as an aid in firing.
We know nothing about where Lee obtained the rifle sling, or the rifle ammunition, or where he practiced shooting the weapon. Nor do we know why Klein's Sporting Goods delivered a 40- inch rifle to the Texas customer who ordered a 36- inch rifle that they advertised in the February issue of the American Rifleman.
Well, it turns out that the "homemade" leather sling on the TSBD 40-inch Mannlicher - Carcano was a sling from a United States Air Forceholster kit. (see U.S. Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes by Edward Scott Meadows, 1987, p. 376)
"Regrettably, the Warren Commission did not consider it necessary or worthwhile to seek more precise information about the rifle sling. It should not have been brushed aside as inconsequential, for it was a clue that might have opened a trail to a person or persons who had conspired with Oswald, OR AGAINST HIM, in the assassination." ---- SYLVIA MEAGHER p. 112.