Smith & Wesson slapper - blackjack

SAFireman · Apr 18, 2015

I was meandering the isles of the Tulsa show and spotted this little monster. I believe that this is the 'pocket sized' version, as it fits neatly in my rear jeans pocket without sticking out. The strap has a snap built it to allow you to fold full the full length retention strap out of the way until it is in your hands.

I wonder how many agencies still utilize these today?

One more tool in the box wouldn't hurt, even if it is not very PC

....and here it is pictured next to another little sap/convoy that I picked up as a photo prop (or spousal adjustment tool if my wife finds it

)

in this photo, you can see the strap and snap arrangement.

Bobbysixkiller · Apr 18, 2015

I have the full size version. Have to dig it out a post a pic.

nyeti · Apr 18, 2015

I carried a great big one. Best impact weapon I ever used as a cop. When the stopped letting us carry them, everybody got hit with a full size Maglite instead. They worked great, but the big difference is the Sap just put the crooks down and they might bruise or have a lump. The Maglites made a big bloody mess when you whacked guys in the head. I still have my Sap and it is full of great memories of cop work.

moosedog · Apr 18, 2015

When I first got on Detroit PD, my scout car partner asked me if I had been issued a sap. I said no, and he drove around until we found a Edison crew working on a pole. He asked the Edison guy in charge if he could cut me a piece of big cable for a sap. The Edison guy even wrapped the ends for me with a electrical tape.
My partner said "Here, that will get you thru until you can afford one from the uniform store."
My, how police work has changed.

SAFireman · Apr 18, 2015

nyeti said:
I carried a great big one. Best impact weapon I ever used as a cop. When the stopped letting us carry them, everybody got hit with a full size Maglite instead. They worked great, but the big difference is the Sap just put the crooks down and they might bruise or have a lump. The Maglites made a big bloody mess when you whacked guys in the head. I still have my Sap and it is full of great memories of cop work.

I heard that some of the earliest lights carried by some PD's were Kell-Lites. Apparently, you could get one good whack before the cap flew off and your batteries went everywhere....

I had a Streamlight SL-20 with the adjustable intensity (variable brightness) knob at the end where the batteries goes....I lost that cap one dark night, but the gentleman whom was receiving 'adjustment' that night lost 5 front teeth. I had to put the original cap back on. It was a sad day indeed, that dimmer made paperwork easier on the eyes (re-adjustment to night vision).

If you have a big one - post it up. I just love the S&W toys

nyeti · Apr 19, 2015

My sap is a Safariland. Maglite was in the city I worked in, and the owners kid was a cop with us as well (he was one of my pilots when I was a flight officer). On Monday morning the weekend graveyard cops would be lined up at the Maglite warranty area and the girls would put new bulbs in and replace all the broken stuff for us. My Maglite is fairly well beat and could tell some stories. I called it "the Jewish dentist". It was a companion the my .45 Long Colt 25-5 that was the Hebrew Hammer. Even the Hebrew Hammer has teeth marks in the trigger guard. It was a different time. The big bore revolver and sap days were pretty amazing. People really don't have an idea about how violent the 70's and 80's were. I have a feeling with a lot of the anti police sentiment, we are headed back that way again.

kennyb · Apr 19, 2015

I started with a big kel light (still have 2 of these) I doubt there are any agencies using saps/blackjacks these days

quinn · Apr 19, 2015

OK, so here's Big brother...9" of S&W goodness.

majick47 · Apr 19, 2015

Saps, Flashlights etc.

Anyone remember removing the end cap of the KellLight and installing a deeply grooved extension that was about 3" long? Came in handy for battering a lot of things. Buchheimer also sold saps, about the nastiest device was the come along wrist crusher, forget the name of the company that made it.

old bear · Apr 19, 2015

People really don't have an idea about how violent the 70's and 80's were. I have a feeling with a lot of the anti police sentiment, we are headed back that way again.
Reply With Quote

Correct, but the big difference was most of the weapons were impact or cutting items, either of which could, and did kill or maim. But not many firearms. I believe the opposite is true today.

toddimusnimski · Jun 2, 2015

majick47 said:
Anyone remember removing the end cap of the KellLight and installing a deeply grooved extension that was about 3" long? Came in handy for battering a lot of things. Buchheimer also sold saps, about the nastiest device was the come along wrist crusher, forget the name of the company that made it.

I believe you're talking about the Argus Iron Claw. Google has some great images of it. Dad was issued one sometime in the 70's and mentioned how unforgiving it was on the bad guys wrist. Glad he held onto it - great conversation piece.

model70hunter · Jun 2, 2015

SAFireman said:
I heard that some of the earliest lights carried by some PD's were Kell-Lites. Apparently, you could get one good whack before the cap flew off and your batteries went everywhere....

I had a Streamlight SL-20 with the adjustable intensity (variable brightness) knob at the end where the batteries goes....I lost that cap one dark night, but the gentleman whom was receiving 'adjustment' that night lost 5 front teeth. I had to put the original cap back on. It was a sad day indeed, that dimmer made paperwork easier on the eyes (re-adjustment to night vision).

If you have a big one - post it up. I just love the S&W toys

Still have and use my Kell-lite, 7 c cells. Nice lite. They replaced the old night sticks. I have seen what a big Maglite does.

Never used the Kell-lite for attitude adjustments. I pulled my small sap once and started towards the gents head, his eyes crossed watching it approach. He opened his hands and I stopped just before contact.

He really needed it, convicted murderer of a 70 some year old lady at her mom and pop store. All I was thinking of was all the paperwork I would have to fill out on why he had a split skull.

Drm50 · Jun 3, 2015

S&W Police Supplies

I remember 70-73, when dealers were pressured by distributors
to stock S&W leather, police supplies, hand cuffs, ect. This must
have been about the time Dirty Harry movie came out. Small
dealers would not get any S&W handguns unless they bought
S&W products. I was buying a lot of hand guns at the time and
LGO would give you a S&W product with your purchase. I had
one of the saps. Use to take it on trips,ended up giving it to a
French Canadian in Quebec who was guiding us for bear. He
called it his tire tester.

Old cop · Jun 3, 2015

I carried my blackjack for years until my agency outlawed them. It now sits in a drawer w/my other LEO stuff. These were very effective tools that filled the gap between talk and shoot. The expandable baton replaced the blackjack/slapjack but are used similarly so I'm not sure what was accomplished. The blackjack fit in a pocket and reduced the gear worn around your waist.

Yorkie Man · Jun 3, 2015

Ah the Ray O Vac whack, it ended many a disturbance until they issued us the plastic lights which were only good for a few whacks until they flew apart showering everyone with parts.

They say that violence is the tool of the ignorant and a segment of our society does not understand calm reasonable conflict resolution which is why the tools pictured will always be needed.

We'll end up back at that point when everyone tires of the protesters and bleeding hearts.

MarkC · Jun 3, 2015

majick47 said:
Anyone remember removing the end cap of the KellLight and installing a deeply grooved extension that was about 3" long? Came in handy for battering a lot of things. Buchheimer also sold saps, about the nastiest device was the come along wrist crusher, forget the name of the company that made it.

Yes to the extension. Had one on my KellLight back in the '70's - early 80's. Woke up a few people we couldn't rouse any other way by holding it against the rear of their ear and pressing down hard with your thumb against the front of the ear. Hurt like hell (them, not me

).

Club Gun Fan · Jun 3, 2015

My cruiser dog, Jody, carried my sap. She chewed the He_ _ out of it. I'd call her out of my prowl car by saying WACKER! She would come out chewing and growling. Got the bad guys attention right away. One time I had stopped a DWI. He was giving me a really hard time. She didn't wait to be called out. She dropped the sap at my feet, went over to the perp, pulled his pant leg so hard, he fell. Nice take down. That took the fight right out of him. I still have the sap hanging on the wall in my room.

quinn · Jun 27, 2015

Club Gun Fan said:
My cruiser dog, Jody, carried my sap. She chewed the He_ _ out of it. I'd call her out of my prowl car by saying WACKER! She would come out chewing and growling. Got the bad guys attention right away. One time I had stopped a DWI. He was giving me a really hard time. She didn't wait to be called out. She dropped the sap at my feet, went over to the perp, pulled his pant leg so hard, he fell. Nice take down. That took the fight right out of him. I still have the sap hanging on the wall in my room.

Great story, Don. Thanks for the chuckle!

JamesArthur60 · Jun 27, 2015

A great police tool. Our uniform pants had a small outside pocket located at the rear of your right thigh to carry it. Mine was a little longer, but looked the same. Used it as a door knocker and defensive purposes of course. As stated by others, it was removed by the civilian powers to be. I still have mine (in the truck) that was issued 44 years ago. I can't say the same for my issued duty revolver and wooden night stick.

I'm glad you shared the photo.

Ranger514 · Jun 27, 2015

My grandfather was the Police Chief of a small Iowa town back in the 1930s. Dad said his father carried a S&W .38 and a sap. According to him, the gun never got used in a serious LE encounter, but the sap got a fair amount of use for drunks and other belligerents who didn't want to be arrested. Grandpa died while my dad was serving overseas in WWII. By the time dad returned stateside, a lot of his father's personal possession had walked off, including his LE gear. By the time I entered LE, saps had been phased out, but I remember seeing them in the rear hip pockets of many Police officers in my hometown back int the 60s and 70s. Wish I had grandpa's sap. What a great piece of memorabilia that would make.

Smith & Wesson slapper - blackjack

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