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bamaranger wrote OK, interesting, I know about slings for cav carbines. But since the M94 really didn't see cavalry service (issue anyhow) wouldn't the average horseman loop in on a horn or in the scabbard? If they used the ring at all?
How did the early southwest lawmen typically stow their carbines when on horse. Did they use the ring?
I know absolutely nothing about horses.
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Most people used scabbards, though some in earlier times used what was called a California loop, which was an oval of leather, with two slots cut in it, the rifle was wrapped, sort of taco style, in the fold of the loop, the slots hung over the horn. The rifle laid sideways across the riders lap. It was fairly secure, and pretty quick to use. Frederic Remington did several paintings with California loops being used. One was called "Beyond all Surgery" or "Aiding a Comrade". Both the riders on the right and left are using them. Another painting is "Prospecting cattle range". The rider on the left is using a scabbard, the rider on the right is using a California Loop.
There wouldnt be much purpose or practical value to tying a carbine in a scabbard with the ring, the ring would be pretty well buried in the scabbard.
For all the stories of "thats how it was done" about the ring and hanging a carbine off a saddle horn, there doesnt seem to be any actual evidence of them being used that way. If some individual may have upon occasion, it certainly wasn't common. It isn't very secure in any event.
Winchester always hoped to interest the military in their guns. That they put sling rings on them isn't that surprising, even after the days of cavalry being done. They had a screw in magazine end cap in the early 1873 models (cap threaded into the tube). The later 73's and all subsequent models had a cross screw through the tube and cap, but still had a screwdriver slot in the end cap. This served absolutely no purpose other than to confuse would-be gun mechanics into trying to remove it with a screwdriver, and buggering up the slot. It's pretty obvious that it was a different screw threaded through the cap and tube crossways, but somebody always has to see if they can horse them out. This type cap decoration continued into the late 20's or 30's, 50-60 years after the slot had any purpose. So no, it doesnt surprise me in the least that Winchester kept putting sling rings on carbines long after it was apparent that the military wasnt buying their guns.