# Pirate Hooks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-hooks/99549>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 22, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-hooks/99549 "2002-03-22T16:24:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BZ00000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BZ00000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BZ00000)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-hooks/99549/1 "2002-03-22T16:24:20Z")

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How did pirate hooks attach to the arm? How functional were they? Could a pirate lift things with them?

Any information on the pirate hooks would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-hooks/99549/2 "2002-03-22T17:32:41Z")

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They were just crude prosthetics, used when a real hand was lost. Held in place by leather straps or ropes. Sadly, not too different from what’s used today.