'Fred G.' - I do not have a Rod-Bayonet 1903 Springfield rifle or a 48" sling like 'scosmi51'.

I did measure sling-swivel distances on several of my rifles:

          Krag rifle - 24 inches from barrel-band swivel to butt-swivel. (24x2 =48")

          1903 Springfield - 25 inches from band-swivel to butt-swivel. (25x2=50")

          1873 Springfield - 28 1/2 inches front-swivel to guard-swivel.

FWIW:

Mallory in "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, page 165, described a Model 1903 Sling that was 48 inches long and intended for use on Krag and early 1903 Springfield rifles.

William Brophy in "The Springfield 1903 Rifle", page 434, differed from Mallory. Brophy described two versions of a model 1904 sling:

One that was 50 inches long for the 1903 rifle. It had two pairs of holes at the 'buttoned end' for the frog to hook into.

Another sling was 48 inches long for the Krag rifle. It had three pairs of holes at the 'buttoned end' for the frog to hook into for tensioning.

Both m-1904 slings had 20 pairs of holes over a 22.625" area of sling body to allow adjustment as a carry strap.

Since these (m-1903 or m-1904) slings fold back on themselves at the front 'button-end' and several inches of leather (with holes) is available for the 'frog' to hook onto, I don't think they are too long for 1903 rifles.

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