Phrank,,, I would rub a little leather conditioner on it & make a display out of it. Equipment of a bygone era,,
Printable View
Phrank,,, I would rub a little leather conditioner on it & make a display out of it. Equipment of a bygone era,,
Bygone? I guess it depends on the neighborhood or the neighbor hoods.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirlau
My dad kept a cosh/blackjack under the counter of our small grocery store during the 40's and 50's. If he sensed trouble from a customer he would quietly pull it out and tap impatiently on the counter. Never saw it used on anybody.
Thanks, was thinking that....it's a tough object, and the lead ball at the business end and the thick wire spring if can see where there used to be a loop or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirlau
I'm going to weigh it, but there is a solid lead ball in the end, it's pretty hefty in the hand and I don't want to speculate, but I think this thing would really, really hurt if you got wacked about the body with it...and Hirlau, hefting that thing in the hand, I can completely see why you'd the basically, the step right before you went to a firearm.
I read some more stuff about it, and we're also wondering if it might in fact have been his fathers, from WW1 - where it was used to discipline, "malingerers, cowards, and disobedience" in the trenches....
Neat thread, and find phrank.
And the word of the day= 'malingerers'.
Had to look it up, ;)
Thanks for sharing.
:chapeau
Was a small town cop ( like Mayberry RFD) in the sixties. Carried a slapjack then. Some of the Farm kids were humongous! Never needed it, they knew they'd get whupped at home if they caused trouble to someone on the force...
~Richard
Jimmy,
My grandfather carried the one that you'd shown when he was a Washington State Game Protector, it was wrapped in black leather and there seemed to be a 'spring' or something similar in the 'handle' as the handle was very flexible/bendable.
This one:
Attachment 212061
He said that the 'head' contained a chunk of lead. He never said if he'd ever needed to use it :shrug:
My grandfather called the one I'd shown a 'Sap' :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeB52
The things came in all sizes and varieties. They also had different names for them. I was originally issued a blackjack and turned it in for a "Slapper". Actually the large flat ones were less lethal. With a small blackjack one good hit on the head could kill someone because of the concentrated force of impact.
Yes - this one has a heavy lead ball in it, looks like it would punch a nice hole in your skull with little effort - scary thing - packed away now, don't want the wife to get her hands on it.....:DQuote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
