Are those quick release tripod plates a new thing? I think SethS suggested that
I brought that up when we were talking about the Holiday Special saber's control box.That said, mounting plates sometimes have longer levers.
I don't think the V2 lever was an OFFICIAL graflex part or an after market part. While we still occasionally spot unique parts on Graflexes, there's been multiple examples of everything. For one not to have surfaced by now is telling. Also LOM makes a great point. If production was in the business of making levers, why not do it for ol' silver bars?
That sort of leads me also to the idea that it was an improvised/home-made part not by production, but by some rando photographer fixing his gear. We've seen so many examples of swapped parts and other jury-rigged situations, we know photographers customized and rigged stuff pretty often.
I'm starting to feel that some photographer in the UK in the 40s who had stubby fingers decided to make a lever he could grip a little easier.