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Hand brand, for use on felons or deserters, England, 1642-1649.
Pictured here is a hand brand that was used on felons or deserters in England back in 1642-1649. Branding tools were often used both to humiliate offenders and make them easy to identify as a possible risk.
This particular hand-shaped piece was crafted by the British Army during the English Civil War (1641-1651). The branding tool bears the initials 'CR' surrounding a crown. This is presumed to refer to 'Carolus Rex' - King Charles I (who was beheaded in 1649 for treason), so this tool would've been used to mark 'ownership' of Royalist army deserters. This practice was totally abandoned in 1879.
