Name/Title
Wooden wire decorated cosh c1850 - 1900Entry/Object ID
904Description
Wooden black painted cosh 11 1/2 inches (29cm) long with leather bound ends ends and wire decoration. Has leather wrist strap and additional leather thong. No marker's marks.Use
For general use as an offensive weapon and for self defence.Context
During much of the 19th century it was not uncommon for people to arm themselves as protection against assault and robbery and at the same time for criminals to carry weapons. Items such as this, were carried by the public and criminals alike. The use of wire on this example may indicate that it was of colonial, possibly Indian manufacture. That this example came from an ex East Sussex Constabulary police constable, could indicate that he used it later, possibly as a reserve weapon or when working in plain clothes, though this is speculation. Frank Etheridge joined East Sussex Constabulary in 1908. Most police forces were strict about officers using only issue truncheons and on balance it is probably more likely that he obtained this in the course of his duties, possibly as a result of seizing it.