Saps Blackjacks and Slungshots: A History of Forgotten Weapons

Saps Blackjacks and Slungshots: A History of Forgotten Weapons discovers and preserves the story of the most forgotten weapons from history for the first time in history. These unique fighting tools were feared for centuries and embraced equally by the law and the lawless like nothing else had been or would be until firearms became commonly available. They are best remembered when at all for being favored by real life muggers and fictional private detectives. They were however also used by police soldiers sailors spies cowboys and duelists in various times and countries. Following their trail takes the reader from New York Citys infamous Bowery to the San Francisco Gold Rush Pariss Moulin Rouge to Georgian era London and beyond. Encountered along the way is a cast of characters from the noble (Abraham Lincoln) to the ignoble (Al Capone) the literary (Shakespeare) to the musical (Frank Sinatra). For centuries they were an essential part of any tough guys arsenal the last vestige of this portrayed in classic noir films and books.Despite all this their tale remained untold until now. Robert Escobar had never found a subject with less available information. Looking to correct this he searched everywhere imaginable for their fading footprints including...pulp comics - medieval illustrations - court records - Victorian self-defense manuals - police and criminal histories - etymology guides - historical naval accounts - newspaper stories - ancient ballads - medical journals - government reports - archeological excavations - hobo memoirs - folkloric studies - interviews conducted by the author.Fortunately the sum of it all doesnt just fill a gap in the understanding of countless historical incidents and personages it entertains. Saps blackjacks and slungshots were rough tools used by tough people in tough times. Those times and their dangers have passed but should be accurately remembered. To do that these strange weapons have to be as well.