Lanyards for Weapons

[far-trader]

Developing out of a question I've long wanted to ask. What ever became of the popularity of lanyards for weapons, generally revolvers?

As it turns out there is a resurgence of their use (if they ever went out of use) and praises if a quick google is any indication. And if I'd been more than half awake a few times I'd have realized that tactical slings are really just lanyards with a fancy mil spec name

I'll post more later, but feel free to join in with ideas, pros, cons, specs, and anything else. Real field experience appreciated but not neccessary

 

[far-trader]

First up, from a blog of Lessons Learned in Iraq...

"Troops also improvised lanyards for the pistols using phone chords. These coiled chords would automatically retract when the pistol was holstered, unlike the straight issued chord. Another popular item from civilian sources was three point slings for M-16 rifles. One popular off the shelf one was the “Giles Tactical Carbine Sling” (from “The Wilderness Tactical Products”)."

The page the quote is taken from can be found here:

Iraq Combat Lessons Learned

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Yes, lanyards are still important - though not used as often as they should be. Of course, using a lanyard doesn't necessarily mean otherwise safe weapon handling....

 

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by far-trader:
Iraq Combat Lessons Learned

Nice. We have learned even more the last two years. But I like using the NBC unit as mobile showers.

 

[far-trader]

Is there anybody here who's deployed recently that knows if the Marines (apparently the ones who did the phone cord lanyards) made good on their push to have the straight lanyard replaced with a coiled one? And if so is it a $65 item from Uncle Sam that you can pick up at any Wal-Mart for $1.99?