Wierd pliers ?

colin henshaw · 1st November 2014, 03:39 PM

My guess is its for removing arrows or bullets from the body, which would explain the concave inner section to the jaws, also the pointed tips to the jaws. The small spear-like blade to the handle end would be for widening the wound, if required to locate the foreign object. An explanation for the two pairs of "horns" could be to see at a glance how far the tongs/pincers had penetrated, or to facilitate tying the tongs tight over the arrowhead or bullet, before pulling out, maybe using both hands. A cord attached to the small "horns" could also help to pull out, say a barbed arrowhead.

drac2k · 1st November 2014, 06:09 PM

Mutilation Tools

In the Middle Ages mutilation was popular. As well as branding, Church and Civil authorities carried out a range of mutilations, lopping off hands, feet, ears, tongs, lips, noses, breasts and genitals.

In England ear lopping was particularly popular. Pamphleteers attacking the religious views of the Anglican episcopacy under William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had their ears cut off, including Dr. Alexander Leighton (1630) and John Bastwick, Henry Burton and William Prynne (1637).

In Scotland a Covenanter, James Gavin of Douglas of Lanarkshire had his ears cut off for refusing to renounce his religious faith.

The above is a reference that I found, with the tongs being used in a ghastly manner.

Shakethetrees · 1st November 2014, 09:51 PM

I don't have a copy but there was a collection of torture instruments and ephemera put together in the mid nineteenth century by the Marquess of Shaftesbury or Queensbury (one of them, I don't remember the exact name.). The collection went on tour in the 1890's and a catalog was published.

It is my understanding that this collection was disbursed after a disastrous fire destroyed a good portion of it some years back.

This catalog was available about twenty years ago from a dealer (I forget who it was) and I would think it might be able to be found today.

1st November 2014, 06:09 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,281	Mutilation Tools In the Middle Ages mutilation was popular. As well as branding, Church and Civil authorities carried out a range of mutilations, lopping off hands, feet, ears, tongs, lips, noses, breasts and genitals. In England ear lopping was particularly popular. Pamphleteers attacking the religious views of the Anglican episcopacy under William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had their ears cut off, including Dr. Alexander Leighton (1630) and John Bastwick, Henry Burton and William Prynne (1637). In Scotland a Covenanter, James Gavin of Douglas of Lanarkshire had his ears cut off for refusing to renounce his religious faith. The above is a reference that I found, with the tongs being used in a ghastly manner. Attached Images

1st November 2014, 03:39 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	My guess is its for removing arrows or bullets from the body, which would explain the concave inner section to the jaws, also the pointed tips to the jaws. The small spear-like blade to the handle end would be for widening the wound, if required to locate the foreign object. An explanation for the two pairs of "horns" could be to see at a glance how far the tongs/pincers had penetrated, or to facilitate tying the tongs tight over the arrowhead or bullet, before pulling out, maybe using both hands. A cord attached to the small "horns" could also help to pull out, say a barbed arrowhead.

1st November 2014, 09:51 PM	#3
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	I don't have a copy but there was a collection of torture instruments and ephemera put together in the mid nineteenth century by the Marquess of Shaftesbury or Queensbury (one of them, I don't remember the exact name.). The collection went on tour in the 1890's and a catalog was published. It is my understanding that this collection was disbursed after a disastrous fire destroyed a good portion of it some years back. This catalog was available about twenty years ago from a dealer (I forget who it was) and I would think it might be able to be found today.