[Radovan Geist]

Hello,
In one of the episodes of the Taboo series (can´t remember which one it was), the main character is attacked by a big man sent by his American "friends". The attacker uses a leather blackjack club. Does anybody have any clue what would be the earliest reference to these tools? Any pictures of historical pieces? I was searching the internet and the oldest thing I had found was from late 19th century.
Thank you in advance.

[Henrik Zoltan Toth]

I guess it's origins could had been apache, navajo etc. warclubs.

http://www.soldusa.com/rainworx/uploaded/9775.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/c8/d1/c2c8d1d92c74edf87589056ca271aad9.jpg
http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/5452/8471...4574713FF0

Or a sock with a stone in it.

[Timo Nieminen]

According to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPV6g_J2AY they go back to the early 1700s. Early 1800s at least, since there were states in the US banning them by 1850.

An ancestor might be naval monkey fist knots with extra weights inside.

Not so easy to search for, since the weapon has many names: sap, cosh, blackjack, slungshot, slapjack, billy club. Worse, some of the names are also used for other weapons.

[Mark Moore]

Were not the early Indian Thugee class known for using a weighted scarf, or something like that, as a weapon and also a type of garrotte(sp?) ? Seems I remember something of the likes. ....McM

[Radovan Geist]

Thank you for all your feedback. In the end I have made one piece - it´s a bit "theatrical" (colourful and glossy), and we have used it in one of our stage-fencing plays. I´m planning to make another one from buff-leather leftovers - will post it when it´s done.