Smith & Wesson slapper - blackjack

[Guevera]

Speaking of batons, I researched a book about gangsters in the 1930s, and a common piece of cop slang was "a hickory shampoo," based on hickory as the favored wood for batons. On Saturday morning when you wake up in the lock up with your head all lumped up, you're said to have had a hickory shampoo.

 

[John F.]

Difference in effectiveness by type?

Hi, folks,
Very interesting reading about the "old days!" I'm not an LEO,
but do remember seeing both the flat "slapper" and cylindrical,
spring-type blackjacks in use by police officers when I was young.

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?

Just curious. I was raised with proper respect for police officers, so
luckily, I never encountered these except from afar!


John

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Sap gloves were popular when I was just getting started in the late seventies--black leather gloves with powdered lead sewn into a pocket over the knuckles. If I remember correctly mine were deerskin, made by a company in New Hampshire or Vermont. They were heavy. Very impressive when you dropped them onto the counter at the coffee shop. And equally embarrassing when you then whacked your teeth with the (by comparison) featherweight coffee cup.

The company was Monadnock. Located in Rindge, New Hampshire. They sold a complete line on Police protection. They are now owned by Safariland.

 

[Ed Fowler]

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.

 

[BUFF]

I think S&W used to advertise the slappers on television. I kind of recall the jingle:

"Slap off, slap off,
Slap off, slap off, slap off.
The slapper!"

I may be confused about the product, but that's how I remember it.

 

[old bear]

I think S&W used to advertise the slappers on television. I kind of recall the jingle:

"Slap off, slap off,
Slap off, slap off, slap off.
The slapper!"

I may be confused about the product, but that's how I remember it.

You sir are So Bad

 

[Texas Star]

When an AF cop, I had a Presidential security detail at the USAF Academy.

While there, I talked to one of the men stationed there and he showed his nightstick that had been hollowed out for several inches and filled with lead. I suspect that it was very effective.

I was trained to use a nightstick at the Air Police School, but never saw a blackjack or sap on duty. Did see civilian cops with them.

Some people will grasp a roll of coins to give their fists added striking power.

 

[Kiki-saps]

Writing the first ever book on saps

Hello gents.
I am an antique weapons collector, amateur historian and martial arts nerd.
Guess I have to start reaching out now that my manuscript is pretty much done.
I've written what I believe is the first book ever on saps and jacks.

If anyone wants to post more pics of their classic S&W flat saps or throw in some more war stories, please do!

 

[Ed Fowler]

While an LEO I never received instruction on how to use a sap, always wondered why, I guess they just figured we all knew how to use one.

I learned how by watching a bar tender in Central City Colo use one. The bar was the 49er, a man aptly named "Shorty" owned it and usually tended bar. He was fair and ran a good bar, when needed he had a long sap in his back pocket. I watched him use it a lot! One little tap with the flat just behind the ear and the fight was over, never any blood or permanent damage that we heard about, he was a real artist with the sap. If he got in trouble his regular customers backed him completely.

We had a game, Shorty was aware of it, but never let on. The object of the game was to take Shortys' sap our of his pocket, if you could do it you got free drinks. Many tried, but Shorty was fast, very vast and those who tried ended up laying on the floor with a little bump behind their ear.

One night I entered the bar acting very drunk, staggered to a stool at the end of the bar and ordered a drink. After a while shorty took me for granted and got careless and I was able to take his sap out of his pocket!! He was furious but soon got over it, Shorty and I shook hands and I returned his sap. After a while I felt kind of sorry for Shorty, I had taken his championship away from him, but sometimes you got to loose.

Our first thought is to hit the antagonist on the head, but they work great for slaps to the face, ribs, elbow, wrist or any other part of the anatomy you could get to in a brawl. You could easily turn one side wise and break an arm or what ever needed done.

 

[Kiki-saps]

While an LEO I never received instruction on how to use a sap, always wondered why, I guess they just figured we all knew how to use one.

I learned how by watching a bar tender in Central City Colo use one. The bar was the 49er, a man aptly named "Shorty" owned it and usually tended bar. He was fair and ran a good bar, when needed he had a long sap in his back pocket. I watched him use it a lot! One little tap with the flat just behind the ear and the fight was over, never any blood or permanent damage that we heard about, he was a real artist with the sap. If he got in trouble his regular customers backed him completely.

We had a game, Shorty was aware of it, but never let on. The object of the game was to take Shortys' sap our of his pocket, if you could do it you got free drinks. Many tried, but Shorty was fast, very vast and those who tried ended up laying on the floor with a little bump behind their ear.

One night I entered the bar acting very drunk, staggered to a stool at the end of the bar and ordered a drink. After a while shorty took me for granted and got careless and I was able to take his sap out of his pocket!! He was furious but soon got over it, Shorty and I shook hands and I returned his sap. After a while I felt kind of sorry for Shorty, I had taken his championship away from him, but sometimes you got to loose.

Our first thought is to hit the antagonist on the head, but they work great for slaps to the face, ribs, elbow, wrist or any other part of the anatomy you could get to in a brawl. You could easily turn one side wise and break an arm or what ever needed done.

Bartenders and saloon keepers having a sap behind the bar is definitely a time honored tradition. One trick that I know wasn't exclusive to them but very convenient in their case was to wrap it in a dish rag. That way they looked pretty innocuous walking with it in their hand up to the troublemaker.

 

[Kiki-saps]

Apologies for the back to back posts but I just made this a couple of days ago if anyone wants a primer on our subject here.
Still need to acquire a S&W B96S and L so I can do a vid just on that line.

Saps, blackjack overview...
Sap, Blackjack & Slungshot- Overview and History - YouTube