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Seriously, why are they called bolt cutters?

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firworks

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Jun 29, 2015
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Location
IL
They were originally designed in the 14th century to trim the bolts fired by crossbowmen to adjust for distance. Since then archery as national defense has fallen out of favor so they found new uses for existing tools. Now they are most often used by school janitors during weed shakedowns of lockers.

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gdocktor3

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Joined
Apr 18, 2015
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5,419
Location
Connecticut
They were originally designed in the 14th century to trim the bolts fired by crossbowmen to adjust for distance. Since then archery as national defense has fallen out of favor so they found new uses for existing tools. Now they are most often used by school janitors during weed shakedowns of lockers.

]

Very interesting. Thanks for that history lesson.
 

larry_g

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Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
16,858
Location
oregon
Bolt;

noun
1.
a movable bar or rod that when slid into a socket fastens a door, gate, etc.
2.
the part of a lock that is shot from and drawn back into the case, as by the action of the key.
3.
any of several types of strong fastening rods, pins, or screws, usually threaded to receive a nut.
4.
a sudden dash, run, flight, or escape.
5.
a sudden desertion from a meeting, political party, social movement, etc.
6.
a length of woven goods, especially as it comes on a roll from the loom.
7.
a roll of wallpaper.

verb (used with object)
15.
to fasten with or as with a bolt.
16.
to discontinue support of or participation in; break with:
to bolt a political party.
17.
to shoot or discharge (a missile), as from a crossbow or catapult.
18.
to utter hastily; say impulsively; blurt out.
19.
to swallow (one's food or drink) hurriedly:
She bolted her breakfast and ran to school.
20.
to make (cloth, wallpaper, etc.) into bolts.
21.
Fox Hunting. (of hounds) to force (a fox) into the open.
verb (used without object)
22.
to make a sudden, swift dash, run, flight, or escape; spring away suddenly:
The rabbit bolted into its burrow.
23.
to break away, as from one's political party.
24.
to eat hurriedly or without chewing.
25.
Horticulture. to produce flowers or seeds prematurely.
adverb
26.
Archaic. with sudden meeting or collision; suddenly.
Idioms
27.
bolt from the blue, a sudden and entirely unforeseen event:
His decision to leave college was a bolt from the blue for his parents.
Also, bolt out of the blue.
28.
bolt upright, stiffly upright; rigidly straight:
The explosive sound caused him to sit bolt upright in his chair.
29.
shoot one's bolt, Informal. to make an exhaustive effort or expenditure:
The lawyer shot his bolt the first day of the trial and had little to say thereafter.

Many definitions of the word BOLT. There are others. It's more than a threaded fastener. Notice that one of the uses is for the lock pin in a lockset.

lg
no neat sig line
 

rlitman

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Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,576
Location
Long Island
They were originally designed in the 14th century to trim the bolts fired by crossbowmen to adjust for distance. Since then archery as national defense has fallen out of favor so they found new uses for existing tools. Now they are most often used by school janitors during weed shakedowns of lockers.

LMAO, good one!
 

T45

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Joined
Nov 20, 2014
Messages
3,249
Let me guess, this is the one where you bought the $10 tekton

:lol::lol::lol:
 
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ebonyswan

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Feb 29, 2012
Messages
53
Location
Mission, BC, Canada
We call the one we have here at work the "universal key". As in "do we need to bring the universal key to this install" as we sometimes have to deal with legacy padlocks where no one knows where the keys are anymore or padlocks installed without our involvement.
 
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