What in the heck is a lanyard for?

[jsalcedo]

I've noticed some of my pistols have a loop near the magazine well
for attachment of a lanyard (sp)?


What are they for and does anyone have a pic of one being used?

Someone told me it is for putting around your neck to steady the gun
but I really can't picture it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

What in the heck is a lanyard for?

A patch of grass in front of a house in the land of Lands.

Or, a retention device to help keep you from completely losing your weapon whilst doin non shooting things. Like rappelling, falling, running, riding unrully horse, cycle etc etc.

Good idea to have a break-away fitting on the lanyard to keep a tangled weapon from pulling you down with the sinking aircraft. (Has happened).

Sam

 

[repsychler]

I've always assumed for the same reason you'd put a lanyard on anything. If you drop it, it's still attached to you. I've seen old training videos (probably on the history channel) that showed WW2 era soldiers using the lanyard. As I recall it was attached to the hip, not your neck.

 

[colima]

When I last visited Paris, the Gendarmes all had revolvers connected to their belts by lanyards. I presume the idea is that bad guys can't grab your weapon and run away with it.

 

[jsalcedo]

retention device to help keep you from completely losing your weapon whilst doin non shooting things

I thought thats what military flap holsters were for.

So the pistol is in the holster and the lanyard is hanging out attached to the belt.

Interesting. You learn something new everyday.

 

[mete]

The 1911 was invented when there was a thing called cavalry. Those early 1911s had a lanyard loop on the pistol and on the magazine so you wouldn't loose either as your horse galloped along. Today it's still on some guns so you won't loose it.

 

[Mike Irwin]

J,

"I thought thats what military flap holsters were for."

Yes, the flap holster does that, and also protects the gun from the elements.

The lanyards is particularly useful if you're running around, jumping in holes, dodging, diving, etc.. You don't want to lose your gun if you've got it in your hand but have to take a dive.

US Park Police mounted officers have lanyards on their P7M13s.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Since the outside of a submarine is round and slippery, the lanyard prevents the divers from having to retrieve the topside watch's handgun from the bottom of the harbor every morning. Although, it is still necessary to retrieve the slide, barrel, bushing, spring and magazine on occassion.

 

[jercamp45]

It can he a very handy device!!

As mentioned it was probably more for the calvary...but with bike partol, running, jumping, falling, and the crazy hecticness of close in combat it is handy to keep your handgun nearby if it falls out of your hand.
I spent 4 years in Alaska and I found it had other uses on my 1911 Colt! One was for skiing....(cross country), if you slipped while trying to shoot(a snowshow hare and Ptarmigan come immediately into mind), ye old handgun will not disppear into a snow drift. Another cold weather use was to tie a loose knot in the lanyard, and place your hand on the inside of the knot when you are crashing in a sleeping bag or other hostile sleeping arrangement. You hand is not on the gun, but not far from it either! I learned that trick from a Korean War Vet who had ChiComs running around bayoneting sleeping bagged Americans one night. The .45 caliber hole or holes) exiting the sleeping bag makes future nights uncomfortable, but it is better than a 7.62 or bayonet coming in and at least you have other nights to sleep through.
In the Marine's, the lanyard was thought to be silly, until you got out into the field or started doing amphib operations. Ever tried to wade ashore, after jumping off a ramp into a tumultuous ocean with a pistol in your hand? At Mountain Warfare School, the lead climber often only had a pistol(maybe a Mighty Mattel strapped to his back, but it was most certainly hard to access quickly there), and the lanyard meant he still had it with him on arrival at the top.
I have seen training photos of SEALs with coiled lanyard attached to their SIG's. I imagine they use it for the same reason, to keep in attached to their body whilst assaulting oil rigs, comng up through the surf, etc. Your weapon does you little good in 20 fathoms of water.
When it is not attached to the pistol, you can call it a key ring, to dangle your keys over your neck if you do not want anyone knowing what it is really for(courtesy of an experience with a curious NYPD Officer who would not have been thrilled if I told him it was for my Colt LW Commander I had stashed in my bag).
Not a bad idea at all, still have one in my shooting bag, just in case!
DVC,
Jercamp45

 

[BerettaNut92]

Losing your gun while you climb up walls, flip out and kill things is the wrong time to lose your secondary!!

 

[Chief Jones]

Ever seen an entire Battalion spend three extra weeks in the field searching a DZ for a lost M9? That's why......

Woody Jones
CW4 USA (ret)

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

Some talented folks in the WWI,WWII and earlier, also used them as shooting aids.

I can't quite remember where I saw the reference, but I have seen pictures of the British shooting in this fashion (believe the picture was shot in some colonial local, when the British Empire was still rather big).

I think there was an article in the not too distant past or a thread somewhere about it, was quite interesting.

 

[C.R.Sam]

At Mountain Warfare School,

Bridgeport, Pickle Meadows etc. Fun, fear and fatigue all at the same time.

Sam

 

[BryanP]

The original "correct" way to wear a lanyard attached to a pistol was around the neck, believe it or not.

 

[jercamp45]

Indeed, Sam!!

Bridgeport was my favorite training ground!!!!
The four day pass to Lake Tahoe a close second for 'Liberty'(next to the Subic Bay of a bygone era!).
When on a ten day SERE compass course and the chopper pilots, true to form, dropped us 15 miles from where we were supposed to be left.
The climbing was a blast, the scenery AWESOME!! The M60 I was packing was a bit heavy though, going up them mountainsides!!
Was thinking 'bout reuppin' to be an instructor there, but that lasted about 10 minutes! Indentured Servitude did not sit well with me!!LOL
All the best!! You sound like a most interesting fellow!!
Semper Fi
Jercamp45

 

[Devonai]

I was never issued a pistol, but some of my peers recommended that I dummy-cord my canteens. Then one day my squad was surprised by the BLUFOR whilst I was taking a sip. I began to fight and discovered I had a cute little olive drab anchor grabbing onto things. That was the end of the dummy-cord for me.

Of course, nobody's going to get on line and search for a lost canteen.

 

[Dr.Rob]

A lanyard keeps your horse pistol attached to you when the horse decides not to.

I have one for my 1917 Colt, but I only use it when riding horses.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Make horse wear ear plugs or muffs.
Easier on lanyard.

Sam

 

[KP95DAO]

I have seen recent TV footage from Iraq which shows a trooper holding his Beretta and it has a lanyard attached. He was engaged in clearing a house at the time.

 

[curt]

Not all military uses flap holsters. Some use straps or safariland holster with the rotating hood. Anything can get snagged and pop open at which point you'll probably loose your BU. I heard of one marine at least that owes his life to his lanyard having a breakaway when his ride went in the water and inverted.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Made more sense to me - - -

- - Looping the other end of the lanyard around the shoulder, holding it in place by the epaulet, assuming the outer garment is so equiped.

The breakaway could then be rigged strong enough to retain the pistol against a very strong pull. With the loop around the neck, there could be a fair amount of anatomical damage done before the breakaway lets go.

A few decades ago, a wrist lanyard was a big comfort to me. My .45 was easily at hand while a couple of bears prowled the campsite garbage cans.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Idaho]

I can't believe no one mentions Tuco....

 

[Ron_Miami]

Retention?
Learn something new everyday.

I always thought the lanyard loop on a M1911 was so you could partially eject the magazine and use it to open a bottle of beer!

Regards,
Ron, in Miami

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I can't believe no one mentions Tuco....

'Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez- also known as the Rat'

I just saw this again this weekend. Tuco in the bath with the lanyard has one of the best lines ever: "If your going to shoot- shoot. Don't talk"

Blackhawk and a number of other 'high speed- low drag' companies make a updated version of the lanyard that resembles a curly phone cord.

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=2458&d=

I like the idea of retaining your firearm. And really hate the idea of dragging it along the deck.

 

[Idaho]

Tuco in the bath with the lanyard has one of the best lines ever: "If your going to shoot- shoot. Don't talk"

I agree - I love that line. I looked for a photo that showed that scene (in order to show one possible use of the lanyard) on the net, but no luck. I don't have a dvd drive in my computer so I couldn't get a screen shot....