I've always assumed that the lanyard was worn around the neck and clipped to the lanyard loop on the beloved M1917 and of course others including the 1911. I have recently seen a leather military swivel holster, designed for cavalry use with a curious brass eyelet. At the time the 1917 was issued there were no airborne troops, the cavalry would be the group most liable to loose a pistol in combat and therefore makes sense to use a lanyard. It also makes sense to me that the proper use of the lanyard would be to push the doubled end through the lanyard loop, push the snap end through then snug up the lanyard, after which snap the end with the fixture onto the eyelet on the holster. That makes a hell of a lot more sense than looping it over your neck which to me creates as much trouble as wearing long hair and earrings in a bar room brawl. Any enlightenment would be appreciated.

That makes good sense to me, although I'll have to take your expertise as word on the long hair and earrings in the bar fight......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I have never seen a photograph that did not use the snap to attach a revolver. I would think that it would be quite easy to remove a gun from the lanyard using the clip, but time consuming removing the lanyard using your method. I did quite a bit of research when I acquired a US Army Model 1899. What I found was a all reenactors, using the clip.

If you wear one around your neck, the lanyard is at maximum distance it can go at a full arms length one handed revolver hold, so any looping will not allow you to properly aim the gun. There is also a brass cinch about half way down the lanyard that would not easily allow you to loop it.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

They were not usually worn around the neck by US troops. They are usually worn on one shoulder under the epaulette-







It can also be worn around the neck and one arm-





Even when worn around the neck, like Mounties in their red dress, they have it under both epaulettes.


Even if worn around my neck, and you are using both hands to choke me, I'll be using MY hands to do mean things to you, like shoot you, stick you, claw both your eyes out, box both your ears, knee you in the groin, etc, etc.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

When I was in Kosovo, I saw police officers from other countries who had a lanyard that looked like a coiled telephone cord. The snap went to the pistol and the other end was attached to the Sam Browne belt.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Using the 'snap" on the ring caused wear that is not normally seen!

In a recent thread about proper accessories for the Webley/Enfield pistols, no snap at all just loop it through on the gun, then on the web gear.

I use a lanyard on my 1917 Brazilian, It is homemade and over one shoulder and looped through the ring, no snap to cause wear or make extra noise. On my Contenders and scoped 29 Classic, I use 1" web and rifle sling stud and ring. Don't want to drop anything from a tree stand.

Ivan

BTW, a lanyard is also known as a "Dummy Cord", but when I'm in the woods I even lanyard my compass to me! I came upon an encampment of Boy Scouts, When spotted by the older assistant scout master he started scolding the young scoutmaster with; "See I told you so!"

Ivan

The snaps were made of brass which would wear and leave no damage to steel lanyard rings. It is correct that the British used lanyards without snaps, but as far as I know the US always used brass snaps.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

The snaps can cause wear to the bottom of the wood grips.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Agreed, but probably not a concern for their original users.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Good discussion on lanyards and loops. Just as a side, any pics of the factory lanyard for the S&W mod. 39/59? Just wondering.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Here is the odd thing, I was online searching for any historical WWII or prior images of a soldier, UK or US, wearing a lanyard and could not find one picture that showed the cord!!! I could find lots of soldiers wearing a holstered revolver or pistol, but none with a lanyard attached???

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Lanyards do not appear to be absolutely mandated back in WWI or 2. But often they would be attached to the shoulder strap of web gear. Not around the neck. When I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan they mandated that all pistols be secured with a lanyard. I used the telephone cord version ( still have mine kicking around somewhere) and it was threaded through the beretta lanyard loop ( mine has gutted parachute cord) and a belt loop with a snap was then attached to the belt. The stretchy character of the telephone cord made it relatively snag free, compared to the long issue GI lanyard

Wearing a lanyard around the neck attached to a gun is bad tactics, if one has the choice.

There's a section on lanyards on the USMilitaria forum.

I'm never sure which sections seem to need membership and which ones don't.

Thread is "WWII pistol lanyards"

Photo described as either USN or USMC flyers WW2 by poster 'Dustin'.

Inhave seen pictures of more British and Commonwealth troops wearing them than anyone else.
M

I've seen a photograph of Lejeune's pistol rig set-up and he had a lanyard not just for the pistol but also the magazines. Remember, the early magazines did have lanyard loops as well!

Best,
RM Vivas

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

I was taught to avoid having ropes and cords around my neck. Over my neck and under a shoulder would be OK, but attached to belt would be better.

I have seen photos of men shooting using the neck/shoulder method and with lanyard taunt.

Lee, you crack me up!!!

In the late 80's the Ohio National Guard had 4 lanyards on the TO&E for each company (didn't matter what kind of company). The units were losing a lot of small equipment during annual training. There was a Big pow-wow of ALL AGR supply personnel. The 2 Star was honest input on why that were loosing equipment. An E-2 from a small town unit spoke up and said. "There are only 4 lanyards per company, they are not listed as expendable, and if I don't account for them, I get written up." Shortly thereafter, cases of lanyards were taken from some "Secret Stash of Strategic Stuff", and two cases of 100 were issued to each company. They were reclassified as expendable, and the State was out $.79 for each man. My best friend was a supply sergeant in artillery, and my F-I-L was the CSM for the 11th Engineers and they were talking at one of my cookouts, about ridiculous non-expendables, including ball point pens! To which my F-I-L replied, until we change that use a lanyard!

The lanyards the ONG had at first used white metal (aluminum?) like German surplus. But the blackened brass showed up about 9 months later. At that time the white metal lanyards turned up a flea markets in the thousands!

Ivan

Thanks fellers...Got more interest that I was expecting. I did a little study and found that early on for the most part although the lanyard loop was installed on pistols, revolvers and yes even some magazines the lanyard was not an issue item in most cases. I could see a definite need for mounted troops in much the same way as loops were installed on early rifles like the Springfield and Sharps carbines. I'm sure many troops would toss them away unless under threat of direct discipline, officers would probably have looked the other way regardless. Mainly out of curiosity that I checked in with the bunch of you and found some very interesting comments, thanks for enlightening me. From a personal point of view, I've never worn a lanyard nor have I ever had an interest in doing so. I can however see a definite advantage to using one particularly mounted, airborne, sea service personnel, etc. where dropping a handgun is tantamount to the disaster of being unarmed. I may do a bit of further experimenting to see what shakes up, part of the reason so many original lanyards are available is probably due to the fact they were manufactured in quantity but never issued as intended for all of the many various reasons we have discussed.
On a side note I spend most of my time shooting muzzle loading firearms. I have a good buddy I shoot with usually three days a week. He has always worn his shooting bag and all of its many accoutrements. He walks by and has more stuff dangling off him and on occasion snags something or the other ripping it off, leaving it behind. At least once a year he fails to plug his powder horn or the plug falls out and leaves a pile of powder where he sat. We threaten to toss matches at him the next time it happens. One of his items is a vent pick (used to poke the touchhole on a flintlock) he fashioned using a turkey foot as a handle. One day I found the turkey foot on the floor of the range and stuck it in my pocket, later I asked him if he was missing anything, he looked down and swung himself to bring all of his gear around to see, I handed him his turkey foot and said "Your molting." Thats was buddies are for...

I use a lanyard on my pistol when snowshoeing/cross country skiing or on the water.
I used a lanyard on my compass when in the reserves in the field

If the eyelet is the one at the bottom of the holster it’s for a leg tie down. Snapping the lanyard to it would keep the gun connected to you but it would drag on the ground if dropped when on foot or horseback and slow to retrieve! Not to mention entangling on everything when the gun is holstered!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Tuco says over the head.

That way, it works in the tub as well.

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The snap is part brass but the spring part is spring steel on mine. But regardless, when connected to the lanyard swivel on the gun, in normal use it reeks havoc on the finish and the stocks as posted above.

But looping the lanyard thru the swivel, and making a loop as Kinman suggests, then make a head and shoulder loop with the snap tying a knot to limit the snap travel works very well. Easier to get on and off over the head and arm as well.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I think some are placing way too much emphasis on how a lanyard clip affects the condition of the revolver. First, weapons used in the armed forces are not owned by the soldier. While they maintained the mechanics of the guns issued because their function could mean the difference between life and death, they cared little about scratching or affecting the finish. Most soldiers were given rifles and handguns that had already seen a fair amount of use and abuse by prior soldiers. They did not own the guns, they could turn them in for a replacements as needed, and had to turn them in when their tour were over. Heck, I carried a M1911 for awhile that dated to WWII and shooting it at targets often showed holes that looked like wadcutters, but I knew it was just the bullet tumbling and hitting the target backwards. That was unusual because most of the time it was key-holing. Finish was half gone, stocks were beat up, rifling was obviously barely there, but I kept it functioning flawlessly.

It seems that few early 1900s soldiers used lanyards anyway since only a few images showing lanyards can be found. My Army days were quite some time ago in an era of some country conflict that started with a V and times may have changed, but imagine soldiers still pay meticulous attention to the mechanics of their weapons, but cared little about their aesthetics.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

The Brits used them on whistles too. In A Bridge Too Far the German officer refers to their use of a horn prior to a charge on the bridge as ‘fools courage.’ I would think the same would apply to a whistle.

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Gary, that’s all true of course. Function is the bottom line for any gun especially in armed conflict. You only have to see one gun that was used with the GI lanyard to see the superficial damage. Not unlike the proverbial ‘butterfly’ pattern on Winchester lever action rifles from the saddle ring.

Which means a lanyard for a collection gun would be strictly for display.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Had a Wnchester Wrangler that had what they called a "Saddle Ring" pretty neat and my guess was an option to insure the rifle didn't bounce out of the saddle holster.

Was an ocean lifeguard in my youth and always kept my whistle and car keys on a bright lanyard because if you dropped them in the soft sand they were otherwise gone where the lanyard was a good visual of where they were.

Years later on the FD dive team I rigged my dive gear with plastic quick release buckles and lanyards on my essentials like wire cutters, flashlight etc as sometime you'd need both hands in a hurry and simply dropping the tool meant it could quickly be recovered.

"I could see a definite need for mounted troops in much the same way as loops were installed on early rifles like the Springfield and Sharps carbines."

In theory, one tied a leather thong to the Winchester's saddle ring and then hung it over the saddle horn. My guess is that most mounted men used a scabbard or simply carried the carbine in ones' hand, with the forend resting over the saddle.

Cavalrymen wore a wide leather sling over one shoulder and this sling had a large snap that went through the saddle ring. The muzzle of the carbine went into a leather socket attached to the rigging of the saddle.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I was looking at the Sarco ad in Firearms News and they have several reproduction lanyards for sale.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I was always under the impression the lanyard loop goes under the epaulette. I have a 1942 P-38 and bought an Austrian field shirt with the button-down epaulettes. Makes much more sense to me than doing it the Tuco way.

For a good portion of the time I spent USAREUR, lanyards were required by unit policy. I attached mine to my M7 shoulder holster. As a tank commander you learned early on to never move through woods at night without the .50 cal at max elevation. With lanyards on the CEOI, compass, and a pair of binoculars you might easily find yourself with a hanging to attend. This became doubly important if moving over any ground that may have had TOW missiles fired across it.

I was just watching a TV interview with a MO Highway Patrol Sergeant regarding the recent tornado damage there and he was sporting both a leather braided lanyard and another 1" wide leather strap under his left epaulette. Looked good.

Here is a photo of the dress lanyard used with 1911s in the Coast Guard in 1972. (Note that the second PO from the left has failed to snap his lanyard to the 1911 and has it returning the the lanyard looped over his right shoulder. That is the way we wore the lanyard when in full dress with our "security police accesories" but not armed.)

i do not recall ever using a lanyard when we were working. Heck, most of the time we didn't even bother to carry the 1911, just our sticks. (see second photo.)

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I had a S&W Model 10 several years back that was engraved on the side San Quenten. It had a screw eye threaded into one of the stocks and had obviously been hung on the back of a door. When the door was opened the revolver swung back and forth causing the stock next to the door to be worn almost smooth.
So wear from use of a lanyard loop can be a problem.

Original source:
Mayor speaking at reviewing stand (In distance). In foreground (backs to camera) enlisted army members stand at ease. Police and army contingent in stand. - WOD: Mayor William O'Dwyer

Identifier:
wod_266
Title:
Mayor speaking at reviewing stand (In distance). In foreground (backs to camera) enlisted army members stand at ease. Police and army contingent in stand.
Credit:
Archer, Alexander
Subject:
Special Events
Subject:
O'Dwyer, William, 1890-1964
Date:
September 16, 1949
Type:
Gelatin-Silver Print
Format:
8 x 10 inches
Place:
City Hall Steps
Notes:
49 European journalists tour US.
Prints:
1



This 1949 photo of enlisted military police at a ceremony at City Hall shows lanyards on one shoulder under epaulets.

Best,
RM Vivas

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

During War Two my FIL was in Casablanca and needed to return to Marrakesh.
He got a hop with a Brit in a Mosquito.
The RAF Pilot was carrying a Webley with a lanyard around his neck.
He took the Webley out of his holster and laid it on the side console.
My FIL was carrying his issued 1917.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Considering how the Corps was always short of gear, he probably couldn't have found any replacement mags if he lost the ones issued to him!

Years ago, I read about one of the early battles on Guadalcanal, where after the fighting was over, a senior sergeant, who had served in the Marines since the lean years between the World Wars, asked the BAR gunner what happened to his empty magazines. When told that they were left on the battlefield, the sergeant made the young jarhead go back out and retrieve them.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!