Originally posted by John F.
"I'm curious to ask if there was any significant difference in effectiveness
or damage done by either flat saps or cylindrical, coil-spring blackjacks?
It seems the flat saps replaced the coil-spring type? Is that because they
did more damage than was desirable, or were less effective than the saps?"

In my experience the flat saps were more user friendly, you could carry them all day long and not know they were there. They would not wear out a pocket or bruise you if you ran into something or someone. They were as deadly as you intended them to be, a good hand with them could end a confrontation with little more than a slap, many times witnesses did not even know it was there. You could use the edge, but I liked the flat.

After a long time being carried (worn out) the round saps would shed BB's when used. They were more likely to break the skin or do more damage than necessary. The braiding on the end of the round saps was pretty.