Name/Title
Homemade lead weighted cosh c1950-1960Entry/Object ID
2282Description
Lead weighted cosh 9 1/2 inches (24 cm) contained in a crudely hand stitched canvass sleeve with a hemp rope handle and wrist strap. Obviously homemade.Use
For use as an offensive weaponContext
In the 1950s there was a large rise in violent crime in the UK. In particular, in 1951 there were 800 cases of armed robbery, assault with intent to rob or robbery with violence. At that time it was not an offence to carry a weapon in a public place only to carry a weapon during the commission of a crime. This meant that a police officer may well find a well known criminal in possession of a weapon, perhaps with the intention of committing a robbery but be powerless to act. As a result the 1953 Prevention of Crime Act was passed, making it an offence for a member of the public to carry a weapon in a public place.
This cosh has clearly been homemade but is a very brutal weapon as it contains solid lead, possible old piping. It can have no other use than to cause injury. The materials used suggest it probably dates to the 1950s or 1960s. Whilst it may possibly date from the Second World War when all sorts of improvised weapons were made by Home Guard Units, it could also be related to criminal or gang violence from the 1950s.
This item is one of a number that came to the museum from Sussex Police as confiscated weapons. It was common for the police to retain collections of such items for training purposes and for lessons in schools.