An "interesting" braided cosh
 

I have long been interested in those weapons that go thump in the night and have a modest collection of coshes and knuckles. I made a bay purchase a couple months ago of a braided cosh often associated (especially by dealers) with press-gangs and midshipmen, I was surprised at how much the thing smelled when I unpacked it, it absolutely reeked of new, fresh, tarred seine twine. The item also shows not the slightest hint of wear or handling. and I am seeing another exact twin of it on the bay. While some think such things were made by sailors at sea in idle time (never idle time at sea) I have been told that there were complex braiding machines that knotted and braided the surface of such things as well as coach whip and umbrella handles and I think someone has such a machine at work today. I suppose it is possible someone found a stash of " new, old stock" coshes in the back of a warehouse I think "modern reproductions" are more likely.