Rifle sling markers?

[Burgher]

Hi

I recently bought the pair of metal tags off the internet:




They originate from the Eastern Cape - Grahamstown if I remember correctly.

Any ideas?

[ED, in Los Angeles]

Those are awesome! But I have never heard of a rifle sling marker. I am thinking they might go on a harness for an animal. One has rivit? holes and the other is just a slider.
These are such surprise items and they need to be identified. Note the numbers preceeded by an "M". Notice, also, the mystery items are from different reigns.

I can't tell the material...brass, copper, steel?

[Burgher]

Saddle or harness markers does make a lot more sense...

I think they might have been buried for some time so they are either copper or brass, probably the latter, otherwise they would probably not have survived.

[Burgher]

Here is another:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/86296899 ... _AREA.html

[Frogsmile]

If I might offer a brief comment, the thing that strikes me about these items is the stamping upon them of serial numbers to facilitate accounting. It has long been British Army practice to give serial numbers to expensive items (usually above a certain value (cost) laid down by the command secretariat under direction from HM Treasury). This facilitated accounting for the items concerned, both in terms of stock checks and condemnation (known as 'casting') when no longer fit for purpose (Beyond Economic (or sometimes 'Local') Repair). Most items so categorised would have the serial number stamped upon their body, or sometimes a rivetted plate. The design of the items you have posted seems to indicate that they were affixed to leather harness of some kind. Whatever the item was it was, it was relatively expensive. These items were known collectively as War Office/Department Controlled Stores (WOCS).