Early 19th Century, British Royal Navy Bosun’s ‘Press Gang’ Waxed Cord Bound Cosh With Integral Weighted Club Ends. Sn 13474 Antiques & Militaria

Early 19th Century, British Royal Navy Bosun’s ‘Press Gang’ Waxed Cord Bound Cosh With Integral Weighted Club Ends. Sn 13474 - 13474

Press gangs were well known for the physical force they used in recruiting men into the Royal Navy during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was, however, a practice which Parliament had first sanctioned several centuries earlier. The Crown claimed a permanent right to seize men of seafaring experience for the Royal Navy, and the practice was at various times given parliamentary authority. Impressment was vigorously enforced during the naval wars of the 18th century by Acts passed in 1703, 1705, 1740 and 1779. The men pressed into service were usually sailors in the merchant fleets, but might just as often be ordinary apprentices and labourers. During the wars with France from 1793 to 1815, an impress service operated in British coastal towns. Although further laws passed in 1835 upheld the power to impress, in practice it fell into disuse after 1815. This is an original early 19th Century cosh in the form used by Royal Navy Press gangs when ‘pressing’ men into Naval service. Those resisting ‘the press’ would often face assault and restraint to enforce their ‘recruitment’. This type of cosh were also used as ‘persuaders’ by Bosuns supervising the crew in sailing the vessel and maintaining the ropes, rigging, boats, anchors and stores on board. Clearly this was a role that required very strict discipline, hence this type of instrument commonly used to keep the crew working hard. The cosh is tightly bound in waxed cord. The cosh measures 15 ½” length. The flexible shaft has weighted ‘club’ head ends which double as pommel ends for striking and to assist grip. The cosh is clean with no damage. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 13474 (Truncheons)

£245.00