I've had a couple of very beautiful antique knotwork (macrame) sailor's coshes, which were actually what made me aware of this type of weapon, more commonly known as a blackjack. Subtle, but brutal, they features a pliable, braided middle and heavily weighted end, designed to enable a very bruising thwacking. Perhaps this black leather one, well worn at the weight end and reinforced with near the handle, was carried by a policeman in the 1920s or so, who was not afraid to use it. I like it as an object (a sort of elemental distillation of potential/power that feels somehow akin to a slingshot) and must admit I find it quite satisfying to carry around--and as far as having a weapon of self-defense weapon on hand at home or in the glove compartment, this would seem to me a good way to go.
7 7/8" long; 14 1/2" long including leather loop, outstretched. Dryness to the leather of the handle loop and wrapped reinforcement (a sort of burgundy colored cloth/vinyl tape) at top end of braided leather middle. Sturdy, sound, not at all fragile.
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