diff --git a/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.cpp b/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.cpp
index a7e8d5ed..9b009b23 100644
--- a/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.cpp
+++ b/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.cpp
@@ -1180,14 +1180,12 @@ LOT InventoryComponent::GetConsumable() const {
 void InventoryComponent::AddItemSkills(const LOT lot) {
 	const auto info = Inventory::FindItemComponent(lot);
 
-	const auto slot = FindBehaviorSlot(static_cast<eItemType>(info.itemType));
+	const auto slot = FindBehaviorSlot(info.equipLocation);
 
 	if (slot == BehaviorSlot::Invalid) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	const auto index = m_Skills.find(slot);
-
 	const auto skill = FindSkill(lot);
 
 	SetSkill(slot, skill);
@@ -1215,7 +1213,7 @@ void InventoryComponent::FixInvisibleItems() {
 void InventoryComponent::RemoveItemSkills(const LOT lot) {
 	const auto info = Inventory::FindItemComponent(lot);
 
-	const auto slot = FindBehaviorSlot(static_cast<eItemType>(info.itemType));
+	const auto slot = FindBehaviorSlot(info.equipLocation);
 
 	if (slot == BehaviorSlot::Invalid) {
 		return;
@@ -1327,23 +1325,17 @@ void InventoryComponent::RemoveDatabasePet(LWOOBJID id) {
 	m_Pets.erase(id);
 }
 
-BehaviorSlot InventoryComponent::FindBehaviorSlot(const eItemType type) {
-	switch (type) {
-	case eItemType::HAT:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Head;
-	case eItemType::NECK:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Neck;
-	case eItemType::LEFT_HAND:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Offhand;
-	case eItemType::RIGHT_HAND:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Primary;
-	case eItemType::CONSUMABLE:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Consumable;
-	default:
-		return BehaviorSlot::Invalid;
-	}
+BehaviorSlot InventoryComponent::FindBehaviorSlot(const std::string& equipLocation) {
+	// Skill slot is determined by equipLocation, not itemType.
+	// Mapping confirmed against live captures and client data (issue #1339).
+	if (equipLocation == "special_r") return BehaviorSlot::Primary;
+	if (equipLocation == "hair")      return BehaviorSlot::Head;
+	if (equipLocation == "special_l") return BehaviorSlot::Offhand;
+	if (equipLocation == "clavicle")  return BehaviorSlot::Neck;
+	return BehaviorSlot::Invalid;
 }
 
+
 bool InventoryComponent::IsTransferInventory(eInventoryType type, bool includeVault) {
 	return type == VENDOR_BUYBACK || (includeVault && (type == VAULT_ITEMS || type == VAULT_MODELS)) || type == TEMP_ITEMS || type == TEMP_MODELS || type == MODELS_IN_BBB;
 }
diff --git a/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.h b/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.h
index beaf0efb..49ba7cdb 100644
--- a/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.h
+++ b/dGame/dComponents/InventoryComponent.h
@@ -367,11 +367,10 @@ public:
 	void RemoveDatabasePet(LWOOBJID id);
 
 	/**
-	 * Returns the current behavior slot active for the passed item type
-	 * @param type the item type to find the behavior slot for
-	 * @return the current behavior slot active for the passed item type
+	 * Returns the behavior slot for the given equipLocation string.
+	 * This is the authoritative mapping used for skill slot assignment.
 	 */
-	static BehaviorSlot FindBehaviorSlot(eItemType type);
+	static BehaviorSlot FindBehaviorSlot(const std::string& equipLocation);
 
 	/**
 	 * Checks if the inventory type is a temp inventory