BLACKJACK

[tonyc1]

Sometimes called a Sap.

[Rayban]

I just made one recently for a fella who collects them...

[whinewine]

Hi,

Very nice!

I could be wrong, but, wasn't a 'Blackjack' also a leather drinking vessel?

Steve

They were just called "jacks"- but, for the most part, they were black (perhaps age, dye, vigaroon, whatever), but they were NOT blackjacks.

[Rayban]

ALSO....I talked to a fella out West who has been making saps/jacks for 40 years, mostly for reenactors. He also makes them with short handles to use as a massage tool. I tried the one pictured on my above post on my wife, and she said it works great...she said:

[Randyc]

Interesting thread that sure brings back memories. I became a police officer in 1976. At that time we were very limited with what was available for personal protection gear. At that time the chemical spray (mace) was being phased out, pepper spray and electric tasers had not yet been invented. We had the choice of our fists/feet, straight baton (night stick), or the sap or "blackjack. I carried both the flat sap or round sap in a special pocket sewn into the side of my uniform trousers.

The flat saps were made from a piece of spring steel covered in leather. The round sap was made with a piece of spring with powered lead at the business end also covered in leather.

The spring steel/lead filled saps could be very lethal if a person was struck in the head. By the 1980's most police departments phased out or completly outlawed the use of saps by police officers. I would guess they are probably illegal for civilian use in most states.

From a leather workers point of view, they were works of art. From a police officers point of view, their proper use could be considered an art form.

Randy

[SteveBrambley]

They were just called "jacks"- but, for the most part, they were black (perhaps age, dye, vigaroon, whatever), but they were NOT blackjacks.

Thanks for that. I just had that in the back of my memory from some place, I guess somebody probably wrote something like, "Here is a black Jack", and it sort of got 'mis-filed'.

Steve

Edited March 2, 2009 by SteveBrambley

[flagaman]

Gentlemen,

New here as I have only in the last few months became interested in leatherwork. When in grade school, I had to interview a police officer for a speech class. The year was 1962, I know, I'm kinda old. He carried the flat version and he called it a "slapjack". Just FYI.

Regards,

Howard

Edited March 3, 2009 by flagaman

[UKRay]

I can only speak from personal experience, Russ, but I grew up over here in the UK knowing these things as blackjacks. I have one hanging on the wall in my workshop alongside a pair of brass knuckles!

They were just called "jacks"- but, for the most part, they were black (perhaps age, dye, vigaroon, whatever), but they were NOT blackjacks.

[whinewine]

I can only speak from personal experience, Russ, but I grew up over here in the UK knowing these things as blackjacks. I have one hanging on the wall in my workshop alongside a pair of brass knuckles!

Ray:

I was answering someone's question about drinking jacks, NOT blackjacks. I do know what a blackjack is & I do know what a jack is (a drinking vessel). And what you have pictured is a blackjack. I know that.

russ

[Jordan]

Used in a lot of movies in and around the waterfront to shanghi sailors. I used to call it a melon thumper.