Mystery Object No. 87

[fv1609 32]

A type of wheel chock for cannon or cart to increase grip on icy ground that can be pulled out with ropes once traction regained?

 

Gary

 

They might well be useful for that, but not their intended purpose.

[gritineye 16]

I think they hung one each behind a pair of poor old horses rumps so they would pull the guns through the deep mud faster, like bouncy spurs :-( :cry:

[antarmike 10]

Bolas (boleadoras) with severe attitude problem??

[fv1609 32]

Bolas (boleadoras) with severe attitude problem??

 

 

Getting very warm.

[fv1609 32]

I think they hung one each behind a pair of poor old horses rumps so they would pull the guns through the deep mud faster, like bouncy spurs :-( :cry:

 

These predate guns.

[gritineye 16]

How about boarding party weapons, or are those flint spikes? in which case were they issued to Celtic tribes in case the Romans brought some of Hannibals elephants over here?

 

Were they some kind of dry land keel hauling device, like a loofah with attitude?

[ArtistsRifles 10]

If they predate guns - howabout mediaeval throwing clubs that lingered on in use through the flintlock era.

[antarmike 10]

Getting very warm.

So these are swung around on the end of a piece of rope or something, presumably as a weapon or they are used to ensnare something in the same way as the Bolas.

 

Anything like a grappling hook or the like for boarding enemy ships or climbing fortifications?

 

If they are a weapon I cannot see how you could wield two at a time unless they were both tied of the same piece of rope.

[antarmike 10]

They are spikey all the way up ( love technical descrirtions!), so you can't hold them. Ie There is no handle. They have to be used/ wielded on the end of a rope surely?

[antarmike 10]

Infantry weapon against mounted troops. Snare the horses' legs??

[croc 10]

:idea:used to confuse the enemy, by asking them what they think they are for:confused:

[gritineye 16]

we don't know how big they are or if they are even weapons do we?

 

Maybe for cleaning earwax out :shake::shake::shake:

[fv1609 32]

The ingenuity & humour of contestants knows no bounds. I have not been hiding because someone was getting close, simply my wife has been hogging the connection..... to ebay :shake:

 

I'm afraid I don't know how big they were, but big enough to do damage. Antarmike & gritintheye seem to have got it, with the conviction that it is a close quarters weapon. I had never heard of this thing before it comes from a book written in 1852.

 

When you google this you will find that it has the same name as some software which makes finding much out about it quite difficult. But one other source put its use in Roman times & soldiers were armed with two of them.

 

Edited February 18, 2009 by fv1609

[gritineye 16]

:tup:: Good one Clive, made us grin a few times!

[antarmike 10]

I am glad it didn't turn out to be a supository...

[AlienFTM 10]

I am glad it didn't turn out to be a supository...

 

Suppositories are useless. You might as well shove them ...

[ArtistsRifles 10]

So I was pretty much right when I said:

 

A device for safely pacifying the Local Indigenous Population" at a distance???

 

:cool2: :cool2: :cool2:

[fv1609 32]

So I was pretty much right when I said:

:cool2: :cool2: :cool2:

 

Oh I see, Neil but I thought you were thinking in terms of how shall we say, Cpl Jones's view on coping with the locals :cool2:

[ArtistsRifles 10]

Oh I see, Neil but I thought you were thinking in terms of how shall we say, Cpl Jones's view on coping with the locals :cool2:

 

Nooo - Cpl Jones advocated the bayonet - which has it's merits as as a solution too!!!