The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

**Mike Irwin** · December 6, 2012, 10:18 AM

Well, the primary purpose was, as it was on the "military" revolvers, to provide a lanyard attachment point.

ETA: OK, apparently the company referred to it as the skull cracker. I thought that was something that was added later by popular usage. Other M&H revolvers had lanyard rings on a flat butt.

I don't believe military Colt 1873s or Smith & Wesson Schofields had lanyard attachments, which is odd, given that many went to cavalry, but it was a common feature on military handguns of the time.

The 1911 destined for cavalry use had a lanyard loop on the mainspring housing and on the magazine.

As for whether it's pre-1898 or not, I believe that M&H went belly up in 1896, and Hopkins and Allen ceased production of revolvers at that point, so all M&H revolvers should be antiques from a legal standpoint.

December 6, 2012, 10:18 AM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Well, the primary purpose was, as it was on the "military" revolvers, to provide a lanyard attachment point. ETA: OK, apparently the company referred to it as the skull cracker. I thought that was something that was added later by popular usage. Other M&H revolvers had lanyard rings on a flat butt. I don't believe military Colt 1873s or Smith & Wesson Schofields had lanyard attachments, which is odd, given that many went to cavalry, but it was a common feature on military handguns of the time. The 1911 destined for cavalry use had a lanyard loop on the mainspring housing and on the magazine. As for whether it's pre-1898 or not, I believe that M&H went belly up in 1896, and Hopkins and Allen ceased production of revolvers at that point, so all M&H revolvers should be antiques from a legal standpoint. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. Last edited by Mike Irwin; December 6, 2012 at 10:23 AM.