UBB.threads Forums General Interest Other Hobbies and Collections, like sports cars, movies, music,etc Tools of the Trade [?]

I started collecting Nazi regalia in the mid 1970s. After a few years I had all sorts of stuff,,helmets, daggers/bayos, medals/badges. A few jackets, a few hats and caps, a little bit of everything.
Some of the pieces I had from the many members of my family that were in the war,,their war booty,' war souvenirs'. Some bought, some traded. Things were different back then. IF you were collecting daggers and wanted a Army,you'd get the nicest one possible with the nicest of hangers. There was no collecting by maker, by handle color etc. Same with a medal,,You'd want a iron cross, you'd get the best condition one you could afford. Not by LDO number, maker stamp etc.

Anyway most my early collection was gone a few times, Motorcycles, women, 'substances',etc . In the mid 80s I decide to 'specialize' in the things I really liked. 3rd reich Jewelry, Foreign Volunteer items, Holocaust, ID tags/Worker IDs.
Well between Hurricane Irene and SuperStorm Sandy I lost 99% of my collection.

Well over the years I'd pick up a weird thing here, a weird thing there. I'd toss them in a crate in my attic. And of all my stuff they of course survived the waters up there.
This stuff one of my Uncles one time called 'Tools of the Trade'.. So here they are. Hope you guys enjoy the stuff,,most old, 1920s, 40s,60s..
I have more [I store them now in a old Violin case!] so heres a small taste..

The leather covered 'billy' has a ball bearing lanyard hole!

,,the straight razor was my grandfathers.. The come-a-long and spring cosh are Nazi and family bringbacks..

,,the 'straight' set of knuckles are my favorite style,,the black jack a real oldie,,probably 20s [froma old buddy in AZ .],,the stocky/stubby billy is a type of hardwood,,its like a rock yet has a split in it, hopefully not from a head!

I got about 10 knuckles made from all sorts of different materials. This one in photo I just got this past MAX and is my first real brass ones!
Got a bunch of the old blackjacks also. They are getting real hard to find. Hey, anyone with a line on any of this type stuff give me a shout and maybe we can work something out...,Thanks , G.

Great collection, G! Yeah, I'm seeing some shawshank redemption era stuff in here, nice! I love that it's stored in a violin case... touché!

This was hand painted on the top of some sort of box lid..
Love this!

Heck yeah! Looks like something one William Cutting (aka "Bill the Butcher") might have rolling around there in the back of his shop in 5 points! If it were Daniel day lewis, I see it holding something ironic like a cutaway bible with a pistol in it !!

What a great collection, some amazing items!

old catalog ads:

As a retired policeman I have collected many old tools of the trade myself over the years. These are mostly "working" nightsticks and billy clubs. Don't forget there were also fancy daysticks in the US made in coco-bolo or other exotic woods. These mostly had tassels to distinguish rank and are still used as presentation pieces in some departments today. No longer carried by most departments they have been replaced with other more modern batons and impact weapons made of synthetic materials. When I first started we could carry leather slappers and billies but no longer as time went on.

When it quits snowing I will take a couple of pix.

Man! that belt is something!! Whats on the star?
Oh yes please,,when you have the time any tools of the trade I'd love to see them!

Gaspare,

I have an intermission in the snow it seems so here are some photos.

A couple of fancy cherry wood day-sticks from the turn of the century. The thick stick with a gold tassel is from the Kansas City Mo. Police Department and is only some 20-30 years old. These sticks have the officer's name engraved on them. The glass billy has an interesting story behind it. These were made with hard candies in them and were sold to children. They seemingly were also used by policemen to carry a bit of liquor on their long nightly tours. Supposedly their Sergeants would feel, or see, the shape in the nightstick pockets on their pant legs and assume it was a regular billy club. Very clever these old cops.

I love the idea of a candy filled billy club, it's ironic but also probably helped teach kids that cops aren't here to beat you up, but rather to help protect the community. Good message in 2015.

Yep, the glass billy is a neat one that is very hard to find. The tear gas billy was patented in 1923. This is also a difficult one to find.

Here are a few more working clubs and another day stick to show the size differences. Notice the acorn carving on the butt of the large day stick with tassel. These balls were used as impact weapons. Drawn quickly from the belt the ball could be driven into the solar plexis to knock the air out of a miscreant. The unique woven stick has a lead ball at the end and there are a couple of other leather covered clubs to be seen.

Orpo,, thanks so much for showing all this,,what a treat..
Man that tear gas one!,excellent!
In the right hands any of these can do devastating damage to someone!

They made a single hand cuff,,that also could be turned into a 2 knuckle hitter [old]. Could have grabbed one a couple years ago. Could of, would of, really should of!! The piece sound familiar to anyone? maybe have one to show?

,,,,OH man!,,,just remembered I might have a photo of one on another drive... Found it!
So this is a knuckle hitter, and some sort of thumb cuff [?]

I have a extra that I put in the for sale section forum.,,thought I'd put the photos up here before I delete them..

This one is a very well made one. Pretty sure a 1960s example.. Strong black leather stitched well, the strap securely attached..
These are way better than a black jack.. With some practice you can learn to knock someone out very quickly with little effort! Used to hit on its side,,can easily break a bone.. Back in the old days some Police had a special side pocket in their pants for this tool..

,,,,,a quickie updated photo... Got to get a bigger/better display case!

Cool tools!

Vee have vays of making you talk!!!

ha ha you got it Mr F.!!

I have a new piece I picked up.. At the MAX of all places too! I've been wanting one of these a long time. Usually they are in such bad condition,,or will not function.. This near perfect. All the workings are fine and functions perfectly,,just missing some small bits of plaiting.

open,,,and closed [ouch!]... When closed,,with just a flick of your wrist the right way and anyone that has their wrist clamped will be on their knees!

guys,,maybe the ultimate 'tool of the trade'...

I guess after you beat the ******** out of the guy you can shoot him!

The centennial eh? Pretty intimidating - I wonder what it meant by centennial ? French Revolution? Second empire? Napoleon crowns himself / first empire?

man, here's another one..

With this thing there's no need for an enforcer to carry his knucks and a heater..

Plus maybe this thing has no rifleing [?] so it could be a little harder to trace/match..

All kidding [?] aside,,wonder what the value is on one of these things!

Hmmm that's a good question- maybe there's a small arms guy on the forum who has a good idea- we know Rick Harrison will give you 45 cents for it lol .,. Thanks for the closer picture it's the French Revolution/ American constitution centennial- both a big deal in France...g did u pick up this piece?

I wish Mike... I am sure this is a small fortune [a few thousand].!!
Anybody home here?!?,,does anyone maybe have one of these or could tell us a accurate value?

Saw one sold on a British auction site for 895 pounds, mint in the box with original ammo.

So somewhere in the $1200. to $1500. range.. Actually, not to bad! , Thanks Vern....

Glad to help

Here is an old nickeled .38 Colt Police revolver and restraint. The "nipper" is patent dated Aug. 10, 1869.

Also, a few early police whistles for your enjoyment.

Wow!,,Municipal Police of NY.! What would be the date on that?

Is the pistol an issue item?

Real nice nipper!

The whistles are from around the turn of the century... 19th Century that is. The S.A. French marked whistle is shown in his late 1800s catalog of police equipment.

The Colt revolver is not property marked but is probably a private purchase.

Nice collectables.

No doubt! G, do u have pics of those come-alongs u have? I think I recall u having a few and all very cool worth posting again with some history (I think many ppl don't know what they are!)

I do have some other restraints and come-alongs but I will have to look for the pictures.

In the meantime, here are some neat color police postcards from around the turn of the century. Some great shots of various US police uniforms and equipment from the late 1800s.

yeah! nice PCs!!..

I saw a old NYC police uniform. The pants has a 3 inch wide pocket, about 10 in long.. I asked what it was for??,,for a black jack!!

Here are a few shots of some old 1800s period restraints. Also, what display would be complete without a brass knuckle persuader?

A better shot of the nippers and patent date.

ORPO.,, WOW what a treat!

That leather holder for the come a longs is a first for me..

Some really nice stuff you got there,,thanks for posting!