Crocodile shears
The Crocodile shears was an instrument of torture used in late medieval Europe and typically reserved for regicides, viz., those who attempted (and, perhaps, succeeded) to assassinate the king. Made of iron, the shears were based upon the concept of a pincers, but - instead of standard jaws or blades-ended in a pair of hemicylindrical blades that, when closed together, formed a long, narrow tube. The insides of the blades were generously lined with teeth or spikes. After being heated red-hot, the crocodile shears were applied to the erect penis, which - once exposed to sufficient tension - was torn from the prisoner's body.
A similar device was purported to be used on women's breasts during the Inquisition to illicit confessions .
Reference
This device is described in Richard Sair's "The Book of Torture and Executions" (Arnold Hirsch, M.D., ed.; L of C cat #HV8593 .S3)
A Personal Note from Robin
On the discussion page for this article on the Wikipedia website, one wikipedian states he doesn't see how this device would be all that effective.
Their response:
- "They are very effective. I have never tried to whack the King"
Portal:Torture methods and devices
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