What's with tethers on handguns?

[SIGfiend]

Why do they still make tether grooves on regular civilian grade handguns?

 

[JohnKSa]

Are you talking about lanyards?

 

[VaughnT]

Ain't nothing wrong with a lanyard if you're in a HSLD situation or scrambling around the woods or working/playing on the water. Hate to lose a gun in the drink because I didn't have it lashed to the belt!

 

[Dienekes]

...also pretty handy if you spend time on horses or ATVs. As are flap holsters. Nothing more useless than a gun that suddenly isn't there anymore.

 

[Bainx]

While out on the lake, I always have a lanyard on any IWB or OWB. Pocket carry is more secure.

 

[Old Fuff]

For all of the good reasons that have been posted, plus the fact that some handguns that are sold on the commercial market have a military origin. Other them markings they are identical to their military/police counterpart.

The makers see no no reason to go the the expense of producing two different versions over so small an issue as a lanyard loop.

 

[Model520Fan]

S&W took it up again starting with the 317 because it was an easy way to cut weight at no cost in strength. However, their loss is our gain. You don't have to use a tether if you don't want to, but it is a proven retention device.

 

[Kodiak AK]

Fishing gun man .

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I never use a lanyard, except when making a parachute jump, riding a horse, in a boat, in combat, or hiking or hunting.

 

[1911Tuner]

Lanyard Loop

Surprised that nobody mentioned the neatest function of the
lanyard loop on a 1911...It makes a nifty bottle-opener. Not
so important in the era of twist-off bottle caps, but there was
a time that it was a real asset!

Brewski anyone?

Tuner

 

[Old Fuff]

I suppose maybe that's the reason some of my so-called friends are trying to grab the last of my USGI mainspring housings.

Never leave home without one ....

 

[1911Tuner]

re: Friends

Fuff! shhhhhh...Don't tell'em how it's done.

Uh...ya don't happen ta have a flat, checkered GI MSH...
do ya?

 

[Old Fuff]

Uncle Sam never had any "checkered" flat mainspring housings, they were all smooth.

However you can take one of the arched 1911-A1 kind and grind/file it down until it follows the lines of a flat housing but is slightly high ...

And then hit it with a checkering file. Then you'll have a checkered, flat mainspring housing with a lanyard loop.

I know 'cuz I've done it ...

 

[1911Tuner]

Uncle Sugar

Uncle Sam never had any "checkered" flat mainspring housings, they were all smooth.

Hmmm...maybe the one I saw but couldn't beg, buy, borrow or steal was a
commercial housing...but it had a bottle-opener on it.

I milled, filed and (machine) checkered one once...whew! I'd 'bout as soon
buy a S&A w/loop and lie about it... "Yep! made that'un my own self."

 

[Model520Fan]

First time I saw a Philippine Constabulary draw his .45 to open a beer, I thought to myself, "How am I going to get the glass out of that beer?"

I used to have an Argentinian 1911 with a lanyard loop. Arched striated, as I recall.

The same PC could field-strip a 1911 in four seconds, easily, two when he was hot. On a good day, I can do it in four. That's what I bought the cheap 1911 for - to practice with.

 

[roo_ster]

Lanyard loops are terrific, IMO. I have been in situations where the only reason I did not lose equipment was due to the fact that it was all tied down on my LBE or belt.

WRT that USGI MSH...I will keep my eyes peeled.