• Quick Detachable Sling Swivel

The sling swivels on the M16/AR15 rifle are found in the same location as those of the Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield, and every U.S. infantry rifle in between. Always placed thus on the underside of these rifles, there can be no doubt that this tradition comes out of the early U.S. Army emphasis on "dismounted drill" from the parade ground. In the field, rifles were usually slung over the soldier’s back or off the shoulder and carried in that manner with no particular thought to rapid tactical deployment of the weapon. With the appearance of the CAR-15 and its collapsible stock, the rear sling-mounting point was improved somewhat by placing it on the top of the stock.

All of this has changed dramatically in recent years as special operations personnel and law enforcement SWAT teams have emphasized the importance of transitioning to the service sidearm without discarding the shoulder-mounted weapon and the need to have both hands free to operate ancillary equipment or control adversaries and still maintain instant accessibility to the urban rifle. It was for this reason that tactical slings, such as the superb Giles Sling, were developed. However, the problem of how to attach these slings still remained. It’s now generally accepted that tactical slings should be mounted on the side of the weapon.