Clay Pipes as Weapons, Surgical Tools

[briarfriar]

However, our research has uncovered fascinating new evidence about some of the other ways people used tobacco pipes in the past. Smoking might kill but what we found is that people routinely used tobacco pipes as weapons and as medical instruments from at least as early as the 17th century, although most of the evidence dates to the 18th century.

Read all about it here.

 

[Scottmi]

This is great...and wholly unexpected!

 

[anotherbob]

makes sense. Pretty much nearly every thing can be a weapon if the need or want arises suddenly. Also common highly disposable things make an extra good weapon for the post violence period. I.e. it's easier to overlook a murder weapon or connect it with a particular person if the object is one that not only does everyone have but also is going to get thrown away in the normal course of action.

 

[OzPiper]

Ah, if only dated 01/04 rather than 23/04

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Also recently used for a nasal probe -

 

[AJL67]

Evidence from medical publications such as the Lancet and surgical guides suggest that pipe stems could be used as catheters to relieve both men and women of retained urine.

Nooooope

 

[kcghost]

Very nice article!!

 

[bullet08]

Interesting article. I guess beer bottles weren't readily available back then.

 

[canucklehead]

Nooooope

Just think of how clay stems get stuck on your lip if not careful...

 

[mso489]

The handle broke off a crockery pitcher that has been a spoon vase in the kitchen for years, so I can attest, its broken edge would serve as a scalpel or a spear head.

 

[Wet Dottle]

Enjoyed reading the article. Taught me things I never knew. Thanks for posting.

 

[The Clay King]

Just think of how clay stems get stuck on your lip if not careful...

@canucklehead It nearly happened to me with a new clay more than once!

 

[5star]

Fascinating article. Thanks for posting the link to it.
One can imagine Professor Moriarty using such an instrument of destruction in a Sherlock Holmes story.

Mac

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Similar thing used to happen in Japan. Not a samurai, not allowed to carry a sword. What did the gangsters do? Start walking around town with "fighting pipes".

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

And everyone was clay-pipe fighting....

 

[Zamora]

I had no idea clay pipes were once used as weapons, given that they were tavern fixtures I'm not surprised. I know in Japan large kiseru pipes were often used as weapons, especially since you couldn't legally have a sword if you weren't a samurai.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

With clay pipes as weapons and surgical tools, does this mean the Clay King @halfdan is now going to be PM's resident enforcer and surgeon?

 

[coming to_falling too]

With clay pipes as weapons and surgical tools, does this mean the Clay King @halfdan is now going to be PM's resident enforcer and surgeon?

He'll punish us by making us smoke a cigarette in one drag!

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

He'll punish us by making us smoke a cigarette in one drag!

or smoke a cig in drag

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

or smoke a cig in drag

That's a punishment?

If so, tis neither cruel nor unusual.