Perhaps just close your eyes and imagine "What would a man in the mountains do if he needed a rifle sling." He has leather in the form of animal skin, he could cure it with intent, strip it, braid it, whatever. He might not have flax or hemp in a form that would work for a sling without going to one $#*! of a lot of trouble, then again he may (who knows). What were the trade goods in that era? What was commonly available at rendezvous for trade or purchase that might serve as a sling? Were slings all that common as to be offered? What combination of resource might a man making his living in the mountains conjur to fabricate into rifle sling? Then again, if a man received his new rifle with sling attachments might he have specified a sling when it was ordered? What was the common sling of that era supplied in such a case?
dp
I am thinking that you might get back to leather on this. But what do I know.
