Brian Keith Posted September 4, 2020 Share #1 Posted September 4, 2020 I picked up this lanyard recently and can’t positively ID it. I’m sure I’ve seen it ID’d before, but can’t find the reference. In the back of my mind I’m thinking it was ID’d as a WW II US Marine issue. It is well made, with an all brass hook, no markings on the webbing or the hook that I can find. The length of the brass hook is 1 5/8th inches; the width of the webbing is 5/8th of an inch; total length is about 56 inches. Anybody know for sure? Thanks in advance! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 4, 2020 Share #2 Posted September 4, 2020 While I have no proof, I also doubt that it was a USMC issue item. I've always believed that it was for flare pistols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted September 4, 2020 Thanks Robin! Flair pistols, never crossed my mind! Interesting! I'm assuming you mean US flair pistols. Early USN didn't have a lanyard loop (Mark II & III), the Very Pistol Mark IV did have a lanyard loop, as did the H & R Very Pistol M5 and the Mark VI. The nearly ubiquitous AN-M8 did not have a loop as it was mostly an Air Force issue item. The USN Mark IV and the USN Mark 5 did have the loop. Maybe because it was associated with a/an USMC flair pistol, it was ID's as a USMC pistol lanyard? Anybody have an other input? Photo's? Are these very commonly found? I don't recall seeing many of them. Thanks! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 4, 2020 Share #4 Posted September 4, 2020 I suspect the USMC usage was made up to sell an otherwise boring item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 4, 2020 Share #5 Posted September 4, 2020 There is a thread on these in the Firearms and Ordnance reference section of the Forum. Many were sold in the past as USMC pistol lanyards. I think there is a real possibility they were actually the lead to a dog collar / harness, as shown in photos in this thread: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/119034-usmc-pistol-lanyard/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted September 4, 2020 That is interesting also! One of those items that at first glance, you would think it would be easy to ID. Thanks, BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted September 6, 2020 Share #7 Posted September 6, 2020 Though I do not have an opinion of the lanyard in question, I would like to point out that there is a version of the AN-M8 with lanyard ring. The examples that have surfaced have a prefix to the serial number of ATS, all have a lanyard ring. Those that do not have this modification are typically prefixed simply with an E. It is possible that ATS stands for Army Transportation Service but is a guess on my part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted September 6, 2020 Share #8 Posted September 6, 2020 Here are some images of the Civil Air Patrol with the Mark-V signal pistol with lanyards. They are simply using a braided cord. Here, the lanyard is quite long wrapped around the body mass, a similar attribute to the lanyard posted here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collector Posted September 6, 2020 Share #9 Posted September 6, 2020 Here's a couple pre-war Marine shots, looks like the old WW1 lanyards were used, at least here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted September 6, 2020 Share #10 Posted September 6, 2020 Use for a flare gun is viable but yet seems to be omitted in listings as accessories for them. Example, is this description of the flare gun ships service box. A lanyard is neither pictured or listed in its contents. I am prone to lean away from this being a pyrotechnic pistol lanyard, at least for the navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted September 6, 2020 Share #11 Posted September 6, 2020 25 minutes ago, collector said: Here's a couple pre-war Marine shots, looks like the old WW1 lanyards were used, at least here. The M1917 pistol lanyard is not in question here, there is an abundance of information and imagery of its use service wide from WWI through WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 6, 2020 Share #12 Posted September 6, 2020 Some more images from that thread I linked previously. They make me think it is for dogs, not pistols: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 7, 2020 Share #13 Posted September 7, 2020 From the dog handlers WW2 manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 7, 2020 Share #14 Posted September 7, 2020 Original 25 foot leash. Damaged and repaired, its current length is 15' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 7, 2020 Share #15 Posted September 7, 2020 Compare to the OP's lanyard. This is only 5 1/2' long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 7, 2020 Share #16 Posted September 7, 2020 Snap hook comparison. Dog leash on the left. Much more robust that the lanyard's snap hook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collector Posted September 7, 2020 Share #17 Posted September 7, 2020 On 9/6/2020 at 1:44 PM, dustin said: The M1917 pistol lanyard is not in question here, there is an abundance of information and imagery of its use service wide from WWI through WWII. Didn't think it was in question, was showing some that were actually used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browninggunner688 Posted September 8, 2020 Share #18 Posted September 8, 2020 Here is a picture of the op's lanyard in full colour, clearly seen under the right arm passing through the small loop attached to the .45. That's proof enough for me that it is a pistol lanyard and not a dog leash. I have recently purchased one of these lanyards to complement my .45 lanyard collection. It was sold as U.S.M.C. WW2 .45 pistol lanyard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted September 8, 2020 Share #19 Posted September 8, 2020 This image is colorized. It can be seen in the original black and white and in close-up in the thread previously linked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share #20 Posted September 9, 2020 Very glad this thread has generated a lot of interest. Posted photo's appear to show this type lanyard in use as a dog leash and a pistol lanyard. I suppose, until we find a published photo in a manual or a labeled package, we still don't know for sure what it was made for. But, it does appear to have WW II USMC origins. The size of the snap hook seems to me to be too small to be made for use as a dog leash. Thanks to everyone who has contributed! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted September 9, 2020 Share #21 Posted September 9, 2020 It is important to point out that the dog leashes in the above photos all have the swivel snap hook like that on the leashes posted by Robin, look closely. The lanyard in question has the spring snap hook. An important detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted September 10, 2020 Share #22 Posted September 10, 2020 Looks like the Brit lanyard I got with a Webley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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