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General >> Sling Academy - Tutorials, Instructions, and How-To Videos >> Apache sling
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Message started by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:43am

Title: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:43am
I made an Apache sling yesterday and took some pictures along the way.

I wanted a sling as long as my arm when loaded, so I took a roll of jute twine and cut three pieces, each piece was six times longer than my arm plus a bit more just to be sure. I found the centre of each length and laid them out.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:44am
I brought the three strands together at the centres and tied a knot.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:45am
Then I started braiding the fingerloop
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:47am
Once I had enough braid to make the loop I untied the knot and brought the ends together, pairing each cord with its opposite partner.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:49am
Next I braided the paired cords. I use a wrapping motion for this, so that the upper side of a pair of cords ends up facing down as it crosses the centre pair.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:51am
After a good bit of braiding I had enough for my release cord, measured against my arm minus a little bit for the pouch.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:52am
Then I redistributed the strands so I had two three's
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:54am
Then I braided the sides of the pouch. The right length for a pouch is when it wraps around the ammo you want to use.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 5:56am
Now bring the two pouch sides together and pair up their strands. These have to be exactly the same length and exactly the same tension.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:00am
Now start braiding to join the two pouch sides together. Check the tension of each side, undo and try again if one is tighter than the other. I had to do this twice to get it right.
You can just braid out to the end of the release cord with three pairs, but I like to do something a little fancy. I choose two strands and cut them short.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:02am
Then I did something I should have done earlier, I attached the fingerloop to a coathook and was able to pull tight as I braided.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:03am
This makes braiding much easier and I should have dome this as soon as I had a fingerloop
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:06am
Now I was able to change braids to a four strand round braid, sometimes called a square braid. I kept the two short strands in the centre, not including them in the braid. They ended up buried in the centre of the braid so you dont see the ends and they cannot start coming loose.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:08am
Once the short cords are hidden it is just a square braid all the way to the finish. I like the square braid because it is very flexible and it allows me to drop strands to make a lighter release cord without any exposed ends.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:09am
Measuring the release cord to make sure it is braided to exactly the right length

Click here for page 2 ---> https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1735641784/15
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:12am
I finished it with a four strand Matthew Walker knot. This is a complicated one and I can never remember how to do it so I look it up on YouTube and practice it with paracord first. I then made two short tails of reverse twist and finished those with double overhand knots.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:14am
Next was the marking out of the leather pouch. You want to use soft leather for this with a bit of stretch to it. I used scrap sofa leather and this was a bit on the hard side.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:16am
Medical shears are hands-down the best way to cut leather, and they are not expensive.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:17am
I didnt use the awl much in the end, I got a thimble and used that with the needle instead.
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:18am
I tacked both ends of the pouch in place first to stop it from flapping about
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:20am
A fit check with the ends tacked in place. It was a little tight when I bent it, this is where soft flexible leather is superior to the stiffer leather I was using.
PXL_20241230_154450389.jpg (112 KB | 10 )

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:21am
Sewing the pouch side into place. Note how I am following the pattern of the braid with the thread.
PXL_20241230_160234741.jpg (87 KB | 12 )

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:23am
It was getting too tight by the time I got close to the end so I remove the tacking stitches from that end and finished sewing the side.
PXL_20241230_161523289.jpg (74 KB | 10 )

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:24am
With the other side sewn in place, this was the result
PXL_20241230_170235082.jpg (138 KB | 10 )

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:25am
The Apache pouch is one of my favorites, a lot of work but definitely worth it
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Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 31st, 2024 at 6:28am
This is the article that describes the original Apache sling https://www.slinging.org/22.html

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by TOMBELAINE on Jan 2nd, 2025 at 7:45am
There are two differences between your sling and old Indian. The length and the end of the release cord.
That said, your tutorial is excellent and probably gives a very good sling.
And you ask an interesting question. Is an "Apache" sling the one of our Old Indian or a more general concept ?

Title: Re: Apache sling
Post by David Morningstar on Jan 3rd, 2025 at 4:04am
I classify any braided sling with a leather pouch sewn on so that it is no longer a split pouch, as Apache style.

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