Colonial cosh swagger stick

[RobT]

Hi All,

While searching the net for information about a completely unrelated subject (a vintage 24” Lufkin combination square), a number of sites selling so called “plantation canes” were provided courtesy of eBay tracking. Apparently, when I initially was searching the net about these canes for this thread, eBay was following my efforts and provided a number of sellers with these canes for sale. All of these sellers allege that these are US civil war era “plantation canes”. I did a search for "plantation cane" and found many sites offering them for sale. The items shown range in length from cane to swagger stick. Evidently, from what I read, they were used to beat slaves that had done something to displease their owners. Given the cane’s construction, I find this explanation as plausible as it is repugnant. Here is a typical seller’s site: https://www.bargainjohn.com/product/walking-stick-4/.. On another (but in a strangely related) note,, I know from past experience that any search involving “canes” will turn up various sites featuring attractive people of both sexes from teen to middle age being subjected to similar punishment. I wonder what eBay thought of that.

Sincerely,
RobT