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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Knives, cosh found in British parliament weapons haul

World Oct. 16, 2011 - 01:27PM JST ( 6 )

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6 Comments

1

NotthesameOct. 16, 2011 - 03:30PM JST

Some 371 knives were recovered

They were not recovered. They were confiscated. Do journalists even take English classes anymore?
0

LagunaOct. 16, 2011 - 05:47PM JST

Well said, Notthesame!

I had to look up "cosh" - it appears uniquely British. Americans would most likely call it a truncheon.
1

nandakandamandaOct. 16, 2011 - 06:58PM JST

A truncheon is what the Police carry.

A cosh is shorter and fatter and can be more easily carried concealed. Could be made of hard rubber, or soft cloth with heavy contents.
2

nandakandamandaOct. 16, 2011 - 07:05PM JST

From Wiki: "A blackjack (American English), or cosh (British English), is a small, easily-concealed club consisting of a leather-wrapped lead weight attached to the end of a leather-wrapped coil spring or rigid shaft, with a lanyard or strap on the end opposite the weight.[3] Materials other than lead and leather are sometimes used to construct these weapons, but the design of a soft covering over a dense weighted core remain.

This weapon works by creating kinetic energy in the dense core, via the spring handle, during the swing. When directed at the head, it works by concussing the brain without cutting the scalp. This is meant to stun or knock out the subject although head strikes from blackjacks are regularly fatal.

Blackjacks were popular among law enforcement for a time due to their low profile, small size and their ability to knock a suspect unconscious, however, are all but prohibited in most municipalities due to liability issues stemming from their potential lethality when used as a compliance device. A blackjack is sometimes wrongly referred to as a sap. "Blackjack" is also American English slang referring to an improvised weapon composed of a heavy object placed inside a sock. The same improvised weapon is referred to in British English slang as a "slungshot" or a "cosh".
0

TriumvereOct. 17, 2011 - 12:32AM JST

A blackjack is sometimes wrongly referred to as a sap.

Ok, what is a "sap" then? This article has me all confused.
0

TriumvereOct. 17, 2011 - 12:34AM JST

Wiki, again: "A sap is a flat-profiled, leather-covered lead rod, fitted with a spring handle.[2] It is also the name for a weapon of similar design (also called a slapper, slap jack or beavertail sap). A sap has a flat profile as opposed to a cylindrical profile of a blackjack, and spreads its impact out over a broader area, making it less likely to break bone. It was primarily used for head strikes, intended to stun an opponent or render him unconscious."