Some cops & robbers movies when I was a kid featured a thug who used a blackjack, or sap, on his victims. Likely saw the flick with my Dad, who took me to the movies often, usually on a Friday evening, as the new ones started on Fridays. He explained to me the nature of blackjacks as weapons, illegal in some places, and knew and described that they were often made of leather, and filled with lead shot, maybe having a thong strap wrapped around the user's wrist. Idea was that wrapped about the user's wrist, the weapon was less likely wrested away by the victim of the beating. I of course contrived to have one! I used the good old inner tube rubber to form a pouch, stitched all around using my Mother's old Singer, and filled it with 1/4-inch ball bearings, which proved a bit too large, but never hit anything animate with it! Unfortunately, I have no pics! My Dad called it a "Be-Bop"! Frank
Another type of Be-Bop weapon is commonly called a "Nun-Chucks", pronounced "noon", correct name being Nunchaku, Okinawan Japanese in origin. They are simply two sticks or rods, connected by a cord, or other flexible means. Here's a variety of them: These things are variously classed as dangerous weapons, and are illegal in some places. In Germany, for example, they are written up as "Strangling Weapons". Interesting that lengths of rope or chain, or other cord used for strangulation purposes are NOT illegal! "The nunchaku (Japanese: ヌンチャク Hepburn: nunchaku, often "nunchuks",[1]"nunchucks",[2]"chainsticks",[3] "chuka sticks"[4] or "karate sticks"[5] in English) is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks connected at one end by a short chain or rope. The two sections of the weapon are commonly made out of wood, while the link is a cord or a metal chain. The nunchaku is most widely used in martial arts such as Okinawan kobudō and karate, and is used as a training weapon, since it allows the development of quicker hand movements and improves posture." "The use of nunchaku was, in the 1990s, censored from UK rebroadcasts of American children's TV shows such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons and films." "Many states prohibit carrying nunchaku in public as a concealed weapon, but a small number restrict or outright ban ownership. California has made exceptions for professional martial arts schools and practitioners to use the nunchaku." "In 2015, police in the town of Anderson, California were trained and deployed to use nunchaku as a form of non-lethal force. They were selected because of their utility as both a striking weapon and a control tool." OK, apparently, for police to inflict bodily harm pursuing their profession, using a simple weapon illegal for civilians. At least in Anderson. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunchaku#Legality This type of device has never held any interest for this particular weapons fancier, but my nephew in the Marine Corps. returned in about 1970 from Okinawa with flaming interest in them! Frank
It's interesting that the nunchuck would be illegal then a cartoon such as The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes along and be a hit with youngsters. They are even sold in the toy section not the real thing but sure to encourage a child's interest in them. I know because I purchased a set for my grandson when he was a die hard fan of the Turtles. I never knew they were illegal at all. Had I have known I wouldn't have bought them.
@Von Jones They may not have been illegal at your location. IMO, they ought to be as "illegal' as a length of rope, wire, or chain. Frank
Before school started in Jr high we had dances in the gym . Socks only and the music was called Be-Bob
@Frank Sanoica, in Ohio there isn't a law stating nunchucks are illegal or considered as a weapon. The usual martial arts status was mentioned in my readings. I guess if used as a weapon and hurt/killed someone effort would be taken to make it so.
That nunchaku thing reminds me of the Clackers toy back in the 1970's. I nearly broke a knuckle once trying to get that thing to go over the top. Never touched it again.
Yeah, me too, Bess! I always enjoy hearing old recordings of 1940's BeBop giants Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins, J.J. Johnson, Kenny Clarke, & others. Hal
I have a sap as we called them, mine had spring steel in it covered by leather, I carried it on duty many days never used it, flashlights replaced many of them it did for us. We actually had a class on the use of them one time. Oddly now we can legally but so many things that were prohibited then, really makes not much difference those wishing a weapon will have it laws or not. Sadly some just cant understand that. Laws are not much deterrent to those paying no attention to them, never have been nor will be