At this point I have one hammer gun with a fishtail lever. It does NOT allow the action to be opened with the hammer cocked, so I don't believe that was a consideration at all. If it ever did work this way, I think it was just happenstance. I think the fishtail was for aesthetics only, plus being an easier reach for either right or left thumb on opening.
Above all else, Parker Brothers were innovators. They were not afraid of trying a new idea. If it worked and took off in popularity (and sales), then it was continued. If it didn't make a measurable difference in sales or popularity, then old stock was used up, and they moved on. This was just good business sense. It was then and it is now. And Charles Parker, in the day, was an extremely savvy businesman.
IMHO, Dave
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