I did a quick search on the message boards at
https://www.trapdoorcollector.com/ found this:
The '66 could easily accommodate the Model 1850 buff sling or the Model 1861 sling while the Model 1868's sling swivel arrangements made those slings too short. Thus, the. "gun, lengthened for musket, pattern 1870", (Ord Memo No. 19, p. 38), came about. As Dick points out, old items continued to be used, especially under Congress' insistence. New made 1870 slings of one piece did come about in the 1880's as the supply of CW slings ran out for conversion. Shortly thereafter, the Model 1887 sling came about.
Found this posted on The Horse Soldier about "1870" slings:
This is a nice condition 1870 pattern U.S. rifle sling for the army's trapdoor rifles of the Indian Wars. This is one-piece construction with a standing loop on one end and a brass wire hook on the other that is secured by the leather being folded back and stitched. This is the same construction as the Civil War pattern, but measures about 67 inches instead of 46. The 1868 and 1870 Springfields introduced shorter barrels fastened by just two bands. Since the sling swivels were mounted to the triggerbow and the upper band, however, the slings (formerly attached to a swivel on a lower middle band) had to be longer. A Civil War sling might look good on parade, but could not be adjusted for field use and once these arms were put in production in 1869 and issued in quantity starting in 1870, the army suddenly realized there was a problem. The initial solution was to stitch two Civil War slings together, which also helped reduce surplus stocks, but by the 1880s it was necessary to make new ones and these one-piece slings made it to the field.
Hope it helps!
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