THERE WERE QUITE A VARIETY OF THESE I HAVE SEEN SOME DOUBLE ENDED ONES ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG OR LESS AND WERE EASILY CONCEALED. THE HANDLE WAS MADE OF WHALE BALEEN SO WAS FLEXIBLE WHICH ADDED TO THE POWER OF THE STRIKE MUCH LIKE THE LEATHER BLACKJACKS OR SAPS. A MUCH SHORTER SWING WAS NEEDED TO GET THE DESIRED EFFECT AS WELL. THE HISTORY OF THESE IS A DARK ONE AS THEY WERE OFTEN USED BY PRESS GANGS TO KIDNAP (SHANGHAI) OR OTHERWISE IMPRESS MEN AGAINST THEIR WILL TO CREW THEIR SHIPS. THEY WERE EASILY CONCEALED AND COULD BE USED BY AN EXPERT WITHOUT NOTICE OR BLOOD SO WERE USED BY THIEVES TO MUG AND ROB THE UNWARY OR DRUNKS. A LOVE TAP BEHIND THE EAR WHEN NO ONE WAS LOOKING AND HELP YOUR DRUNK FRIEND OUTSIDE TO GET SOME AIR AND THEN AWAY WITH HIS GOODS AND PERHAPS DELIVER HIM TO A SHIP FOR FURTHER GAIN. YOURS IS A NICE EXAMPLE LIKELY USED ON SHIP OR PERHAPS ASHORE OCCASIONALLY BY A PRESS GANG RATHER THAN BY A THIEF.
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