Mr. Eisenberg. Finally, if he had just grasped the cylinder, and Oswald had pulled back on the trigger, could you demonstrate the sound which might have been heard?
Mr. Cunningham. Yes; you can hold it, and you get a snapping sound—if the gun is grabbed away forcefully, and he would be really grabbing hard. So there could have been an attempt to shoot and a snap would be heard. Yes, sir.
Mr. Eisenberg. The only thing which is unlikely is that the primer would be dented on the misfire?
Mr. Cunningham. You would not get any denting if the cylinder was held and the gun was jerked forcibly out of Oswald's hands. You would hear the snap, but you would get no mark on the primer whatsoever.
The same thing he could hear if he jerked it out of his hands and he accidentally, somehow, hit the hammer—you would still get a noise, a snapping sound. But the firing pin would not come in contact with the primer of the cartridge.
Representative Ford. Because of the discussion we had a few minutes ago?
Mr. Cunningham. Yes, sir.
Representative Ford. Using the diagram that was inserted as Exhibit 593.
Mr. Eisenberg. One final question. Officer McDonald says in this letter, "I then got a secure grip on the butt of the pistol."
Now, would that grip in itself in any way interfere with the action of the pistol—the revolver?