Hatpins Again

 A while back, I presented some material about hatpin laws.  Hatpins were popular defensive weapons for women at the close of the 19th and start of the 20th century.

Over dinner, my wife suggested that I might want to look at fashion and concealed carry.  This led to a discussion of hatpin length limit laws.  Published work suggests such laws were to discourage women defending themselves from "mashers."  I found another explanation; long hatpins on public transit could lead to accidental, and rarely lethal injuries.  Streetwalkers apparently used them against police as well.

They were also defended as self-defense weapons:

PLEA FOR BIG HATPINS

Chicago Woman Wants Them for
Protection on Streets at Night
Chicago. March 4. Alderman Herman J. Bauier has introduced his
widely heralded 'hatpin" ordinance in the
city council and it was referred to
the judiciary committee, which will
have prepared, if it can be legally
done, an ordinance requiring hatpins
of a shorter length than those lnow
commonly worn by Chicago women.

A letter protesting against the ordinance was submitted, by May E.
Davis, No. 309 East Seventy seventh
street.  It read:
"In behalf of myself and thousands
of other women in Chicago who are
occasionally on the streets after dark
I want to express an objection which
might not appeal to men against the
ordinance curtailing the use of hat-
pins winch comes before your honorable body tonight.

"A hatpin is woman's weapon of
defense. She is no more permitted
to carry a revolver or other weapon
than is a member of the sterner sex.

"I always feel safe going home late
at night with a hatpin available for
protection. Before leaving a street
car I always carry a hatpin ready in
my hand until I am safe within the
door of my home. Many a time it
has proved its need. Thousands of
other women undoubtedly can speak
from their experience of how a stout
hatpin has been an effective defense
in time of danger. A hatpin is also
useful in repelling 'mashers.' " [The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.), 04 March 1910, 3, h]