Purpose of the loop on a lever action

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Dobe

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Besides looks, what is the purpose? Is there one, or is this just something made famous or infamous by the silver screen?
 
I'm not quite sure what you're asking, Dobe. The loop on a lever action rifle is generally part of the lever, allowing you to easily cycle the rifle.
 
Are you talking about the small ring on the side of the rifle? If so, that was used with a leather thong through it to secure it in the scabbard while on horseback.
 
They come from the carbine ring which was common to most weapons used by Dragoons (the US Army didn't use the term Cavalry until the Civil War). The Dragoon wore what was called a Carbine sling which was a wide leather band which went over the left shoulder and hung down the right side. The sling had a large snap which snapped into the carbine ring and was what supported the carbine while the trooper was mounted. To keep the gun from flopping around, the barrel went through a leather ring called a Carbine Boot which was mounted on the saddle rigging. This Boot was merely a tube, open at both ends usually, which only controlled the gun but didn't support it. As the trooper rose in the saddle to dismount the carbine would pull free from the boot and he didn't need to take any particular mind of his weapon as it was attached to him, not the horse.

(copied and pasted from elsewhere)
 
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The loop lever allow a shooter, with careful practice, to "twirl" the rifle, which chambers a round and brings the lever up locked, all in one fancy motion. The standard lever is too small to let the lever "twist" around the hand. It DOES work, with a properly tuned rifle, and is SAFE, as the action is not closing on the live round until the muzzle is forward and downward, and thus "downrange". Think I'm kidding? Try it with a dummy round.................
 
The large loop on the operating lever, as opposed to the more standard oval, race track shaped loop, was a creation of Hollywood, I believe. I think it was part of the john Wayne mystique, but I could be mistaken--frequently am.

It allows you to cycle the action by swinging the rifle in a big circle. There is enough room for your hand to rotate in the loop. Not so with the conventionally shaped lever.
 
Sorry fellows. I didn't mean to be cryptic, the operating lever on a lever action. I was just drooling over the 1892s on the Winchester site. I saw one with a large lever, not a saddle ring.

I can really think of no reason for it, other than the use with gloves. Yet, and maybe because I grew up watching and admiring John Wayne and Chuck Norris, I actually would like to shoot one.

Just wondering if there were any real benefit to the looped lever.
 
John Wayne had a large loop lever carbine in Stagecoach, 1939, which considerably predates The Rifleman.

Notice that these are short carbines - IMFDB says Wayne's was a Trapper, even shorter than standard - and both John Wayne and Chuck Connors were tall men. If you are of short to medium height, you can get ground contact trying to twirl a lever action. Or foot contact.
 
Being on the short side, I consider myself well-grounded, I don't think twirling a carbine is meant for me. I was wondering how it cycles. Do you keep your hand in the ring, or grasp the outside?

I realize Chuck Norris' show rifle was fitted with a set screw, which pushed the trigger as the action closed. I was just wondering, if anyone on this forum shoots one, and if so, how do you operate it, hand inside or outside the ring?
 
John Wayne had a large loop lever carbine in Stagecoach, 1939, which considerably predates The Rifleman.
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That is true but more sixty's era boys (myself included) saw The Rifleman" than saw "Stagecoach" and were influenced by it.
 
I recall seeing somewhere that the large loop lever was originally sold to guys that were heading to the Yukon and parts North.

Always made sense to me as a standard lever would be hard to work while wearing bulky mittens.

BSW
 
The lever loop on a 92 Winchester lets you blast off alot of ammo, like bump firing an AK. You spray alot of lead and don't hit much......Worthless hollywood mod to a nice rifle.....chris3
 
briansmithwins said:
I recall seeing somewhere that the large loop lever was originally sold to guys that were heading to the Yukon and parts North.

Always made sense to me as a standard lever would be hard to work while wearing bulky mittens.

BSW
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Yeah -- I always thought the big loop was to facilitate the use of large, bulky gloves.

But whadda I know...


.
 
Always made sense to me as a standard lever would be hard to work while wearing bulky mittens.
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It does make sense for cylcling the action with heavy mittens but how about pulling the trigger? Some mittens have slots to allow for a finger to slip out but if the hand is inside a rifle lever it seems just as difficult to operate/fire. Personally I don't know as I haven't tried it( heavy mittens aren't very common in Alabama).
 
jimmyraythomason said:
It does make sense for cylcling the action with heavy mittens but how about pulling the trigger? Some mittens have slots to allow for a finger to slip out but if the hand is inside a rifle lever it seems just as difficult to operate/fire. Personally I don't know as I haven't tried it( heavy mittens aren't very common in Alabama).
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I'm thinking "glove" rather than "mitten" -- although there are mittens with a separate part specifically for the trigger finger...


.
 
Owning a lever here, I can say it's more than a gimmick. I won't be twirling my 336 around or any such nonsense, but there are days when i'd love the wider gap to make throwing the lever easier.
 
Panzercat said:
Owning a lever here, I can say it's more than a gimmick. I won't be twirling my 336 around or any such nonsense, but there are days when i'd love the wider gap to make throwing the lever easier.
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I kind'a wish I got my Trapper with the bigger loop. I can see where it would be more comfortable to manipulate.

I just wanted a slimmer, trimmer profile at the time...


.
 
I have never had a problem working any of my levers(Marlin 336s in 30.30,.35rem and 1894 in.44mag and Win.1894 in 30.30) with "normal" levers while wearing gloves. My gloves aren't the thickness of Yukon worthy gloves or mittens though. I'm guessing that unless you live where VERY HEAVY gloves/mittens are a necessity,personal preferrence will make the call.
 
Think multiple pairs of hand protection, like a pair of gloves over mitten with knit gloves inside.
The Military used to issue trigger mittens with liners. It was often cold enough to wear my glover liners inside my mitten liner under my water proofed leather and canvas mittens. I also had a string through my coat sleeves (just like 2nd grade) so I didnt lose them when I took them off.
Often in the 19th Century Trappers had a similar system but the outter shells were made of Beaver Skin with the fur left on and the either had a trigger finger or cut built in to them.
Watch the movie Jerimiah Johnson, I believe several pair are shown in use in the movie.

So in answer to your question a lever action rifle required a larger ring in order for you to operate the action with these gloves in this enviroment.
Twirelling a rifle doesn't make safe sense to me, in an enviroment that you wont wear those gloves the larger ring is actually uncomfortable as your hand tends to bang around in the larger loops as you cycle the lever.
 
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