Fishtail purpose

[Jim Wescott]

Does a fishtail top lever serve a purpose or is it purely decoration?

[Rick Losey]

the thought has been - that on a hammer gun- the fishtail lever allows the gun to be opened with the hammers cocked.

they continued into the hammerless age - probably using up the parts

in any case - they look very nice on either gun

[Craig Larter]

Check out DGJ vol.4 issue 4 The Parker Fish-Tail Top Lever by Charlie Price.

[Brian Dudley]

Apart from good looks, I see the fishtail lever as holding ergonomic characteristics as well.
I doubt however that the fsctory had this in mind.