Is this correct?
 

Auction today has this 1917 artillery listed but i had never seen one with a sling attachment on the barrel. Is this a fake?

I have never seen one like it. The front sight looks suspect too.

Obviously this gun was previously owned by someone who shot it and probably used it for hunting small game. The sling swivel is a gunsmith modification and the front sight may have been modified also to improve accuracy. It is a gun that has been used for the purpose it was designed...a handy portable device capable of launching a projectile accurately.

They also have a 1914 dwm and a 1916 DWM listed. I might just have to see how the bidding goes. Doubt there will be many collectors at this estate auction. Especially in my rural part of the country. Also an AC41 for sale.

Should be able to get something cheap.

The swivel is European. It could have been added in Germany. I kind of like it. Too bad the butt stock isn't with it.

Couple of things.
I'll be surprised if there are any bargains at auction. My experience is that this stuff goes stupid-high at auction.
Also, remember that these were the SMG of the day, particularly in the trenches. Could that swivel have been part of making it into more of a carbine, when combined with a stock and snail-drum magazine? I can envision taking a spare along on "trench runs".
dju

Odds are this is a practical modification by a hunter as Ron Wood observed.

If you're jumping in and out of trenches, the last thing you want is something that can get tangled or caught on something. A "trench run" is about the most dead serious thing I can imagine.

I went thru a recon school in VN that actually made us remove any slings we were using.
The rational was that you might actually relax and sling your piece when you might suddenly need it.

I was thinking of a back up gun. For when your first one craps out. I agree that anything strapped to you could be a problem, but having a fast 32 rounds at your disposal could me worth the risk.
All acadamic however, as I too suspect that this was a peacetime mod.
dju