• Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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    3 天前

    Large maglight-style flashlights like that were often carried by people who weren’t permitted to carry a truncheon/nightstick, as a big stick full of D cell batteries is an extremely effective club (until it bends). While the idea that mostly people who owned them used them to beat black people is a bit hyperbolic (for a long time they were just the most reliable flashlight you could get) they definitely were also used as a bludgeon. Mostly that role has now been filled by telescoping batons though, just as effective but much less weight to carry around.

    • OwOarchist@pawb.social
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      3 天前

      I used to carry a big 6D maglite when I delivered pizza for a living. I think there were at least a couple times when having that thing with me at night dissuaded some sketchy folks from trying anything.

        • OwOarchist@pawb.social
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          2 天前

          o7

          I’m pretty sure it’s not quite the most dangerous job in the world, though. Isn’t logging more dangerous? But, yeah, it is actually pretty high up there on the list, lol.

      • volore@scribe.disroot.org
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        3 天前

        I carried one as a hotel night clerk, with a nice side-handle attachment to make it into a proper T-shaped baton.

        Heavy as shit and the local methheads still made threats, but they certainly never tried.