Speedo66
Member
As a kid growing up in a Bronx housing project in the '50's, groups were formed for protection, "gangs" if you will, although they weren't for criminal enterprise. Rather they were to keep kids from other blocks or buildings from coming over and stealing your money, bicycles, etc. or just beating you up for fun.
The particular building I lived in was one of a group of 9, with 14 floors each, 10 apartments to a floor, so there were a lot of kids.
Sometimes large fights ensued, and whatever could be used as a weapon was employed. This is about those non-firearm weapons.
Some were just articles of clothing. Many wore what were referred to as "garrison" belts. They were black 1 1/2-2" wide belts with a large square brass buckle. The belt was pulled from your pants and one end wrapped around your fist, the other end was swung. The sharp corners of the buckle could cause quite a bit of pain if you got hit in the face with it.
The belts were often decorated with your hand painted designs or metal studs and the buckle was worn off to one side for style.
Another article of clothing were boots, in particular what were called "engineer" boots, with thicker leather uppers and soles. These could be employed for kicking and stomping.
There were also weapons to be had all around you. Garbage cans were all metal at that time, throwing cans or lids, or using a lid as a shield or striking weapon was not uncommon.
Car antennas didn't retract into the body back then, and were 18" -2' long tubular steel, then could be extended to maybe 3- 3 1/2'. They were easily snapped off cars and could be employed as whips.
Many sidewalk trees had brick borders around them, the bricks could be pulled out and thrown.
Linoleum was a common floor covering back then, and worn out rolls were often thrown out, then grabbed by the kids. A "carpet gun" was made, basically an L shaped wooden "gun", with heavy rubber bands on top. A 2-3" square piece of linoleum was placed in between the stretched rubber bands, and when released the flying piece could cut you if it hit exposed skin.
Rolled up newspapers and magazines were also used as striking weapons.
Real weapons included switchblades, which were still legal back then and could be found hanging on a card of 12 in your local candy store. Improvised firearms were made from converted starter pistols and crude "zip" guns were made from locking door bolts, a piece of wood, and rubber bands.
I don't remember kids in my area using knifes or guns in fights, although I do recall the older kids playing with switchblades in front of our building.
Anyone else grow up in an urban environment and have seen another improvised weapons?
The particular building I lived in was one of a group of 9, with 14 floors each, 10 apartments to a floor, so there were a lot of kids.
Sometimes large fights ensued, and whatever could be used as a weapon was employed. This is about those non-firearm weapons.
Some were just articles of clothing. Many wore what were referred to as "garrison" belts. They were black 1 1/2-2" wide belts with a large square brass buckle. The belt was pulled from your pants and one end wrapped around your fist, the other end was swung. The sharp corners of the buckle could cause quite a bit of pain if you got hit in the face with it.
The belts were often decorated with your hand painted designs or metal studs and the buckle was worn off to one side for style.
Another article of clothing were boots, in particular what were called "engineer" boots, with thicker leather uppers and soles. These could be employed for kicking and stomping.
There were also weapons to be had all around you. Garbage cans were all metal at that time, throwing cans or lids, or using a lid as a shield or striking weapon was not uncommon.
Car antennas didn't retract into the body back then, and were 18" -2' long tubular steel, then could be extended to maybe 3- 3 1/2'. They were easily snapped off cars and could be employed as whips.
Many sidewalk trees had brick borders around them, the bricks could be pulled out and thrown.
Linoleum was a common floor covering back then, and worn out rolls were often thrown out, then grabbed by the kids. A "carpet gun" was made, basically an L shaped wooden "gun", with heavy rubber bands on top. A 2-3" square piece of linoleum was placed in between the stretched rubber bands, and when released the flying piece could cut you if it hit exposed skin.
Rolled up newspapers and magazines were also used as striking weapons.
Real weapons included switchblades, which were still legal back then and could be found hanging on a card of 12 in your local candy store. Improvised firearms were made from converted starter pistols and crude "zip" guns were made from locking door bolts, a piece of wood, and rubber bands.
I don't remember kids in my area using knifes or guns in fights, although I do recall the older kids playing with switchblades in front of our building.
Anyone else grow up in an urban environment and have seen another improvised weapons?
