# Wrist watch garrote **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445 "2014-11-23T23:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/1 "2014-11-23T23:23:29Z")
I was just watching the movie Blowout and the bad guy used one. I think they used one in a Bond flick among others. Was this ever really a thing or is it just a movie fabrication? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/2 "2014-11-25T01:43:47Z")
I hate to see a thread die without even a single reply, so: Think about the physics of using a garrote - a bunch of force pulling toward one’s shoulder (or so). Now think about trying to subject your wrist to such force in such direction. You are trying to kill somebody, not break your wrist. A cute trick for 007, but not in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/3 "2014-11-25T02:58:52Z")
It’s not practical. The Bond flick was _From Russia With Love_, in case you’re wondering. The [Walkman garrotte](http://bplusmovieblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/the-living-daylights-141.png?w=590&h=368) from _The Living Daylights_ is a bit more plausible. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/4 "2014-11-25T03:46:09Z")
Why would it be any less practical than any other means of using a garotte? The force on the wrist would be spread out over the width of the strap, presumably designed for the task. The force against the victim’s neck would be focused in a path about 0.02" wide. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/5 "2014-11-25T04:04:29Z")
You need a mechanism inside the watch that allows you to extend, say, 18 inches of wire or whatever, with which you have to apply a substantial amount of force. There’s a reason garrottes are normally constructed with handles. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/6 "2014-11-25T04:18:12Z")
Breitling makes a pilot’s watch with an emergency locator beacon\* that has an antenna that extends when you unscrew a stud and pull out an 18 inch wire. I always wondered if that came from a fan of the Bond movie. - two, actually: military pilots can get one with the military beacon frequency. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/7 "2014-11-25T09:32:48Z")
Such a watch was sold through ads in Soldier of Fortune magazine back in the 1980s. It wasn’t cheap. The same company sold other gimmicked watches and 007ish items. None of them were cheap, either. So, such watches did/do exist. Were they actually used by secret agents? I doubt it. The company seemed to target customers who had seen the items in movies or in books about the OSS. Actual government agencies probably didn’t buy from them. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/8 "2014-11-25T12:56:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You need a mechanism inside the watch that allows you to extend, say, 18 inches of wire or whatever, with which you have to apply a substantial amount of force. There’s a reason garrottes are normally constructed with handles. If you look at Red Grant’s “watch garrote” in _From Russia With Love_, you can see that it has a bulbous “fob” on the end. So it does have a handle, of sorts. I’d think that a loop you could at least put a couple of fingers through would be better, though. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/9 "2014-11-25T13:07:37Z")
But does it keep accurate time? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/10 "2014-11-25T15:32:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > But does it keep accurate time? It keeps one time accurately. “Time to die!” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/11 "2014-11-25T15:32:47Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I hate to see a thread die without even a single reply, so… Ha ha, thanks. I had considered bumping it but decided against it. I guess I hadn’t considered the lack of a handle on the extending end. A fob probably wouldn’t cut it. I guess a lot depends on the force required to be effective. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/12 "2014-11-25T16:26:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you look at Red Grant’s “watch garrote” in _From Russia With Love_, you can see that it has a bulbous “fob” on the end. So it does have a handle, of sorts. I’d think that a loop you could at least put a couple of fingers through would be better, though. > [@White SIFL](#): > > I guess I hadn’t considered the lack of a handle on the extending end. A fob probably wouldn’t cut it. I guess a lot depends on the force required to be effective. How about a metal ring, a couple of inches in diameter? When not in use, it could frame the face of the watch, or encircle the back of the watch. That might give you a better grip. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/13 "2014-11-25T16:26:51Z")
The amount of force needed to compress the blood vessels isn’t great. Crushing the trachea would require more. The wire-cutting-through-the-neck effect seen in movies and novels would reqire a ridiculous amount of force. I’m not sure it could even be done manually. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/14 "2014-11-25T16:37:37Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Such a watch was sold through ads in Soldier of Fortune magazine back in the 1980s…Actual government agencies probably didn’t buy from them. I have it on good authority that CIA employees, including [former directors](http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/bush-fight.png), are skilled in their use. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/15 "2014-11-25T17:09:57Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The amount of force needed to compress the blood vessels isn’t great. Crushing the trachea would require more. The wire-cutting-through-the-neck effect seen in movies and novels would reqire a ridiculous amount of force. I’m not sure it could even be done manually. I don’t think the amount of force is the big problem. I think it’s maintaining that force while the victim is struggling. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/16 "2014-11-25T17:45:33Z")
Fairbairn and Applegate both addressed strangulation in their military training manuals. I don’t think a gimmicked watch is really the tool of choice based on their work. A knotted length of cord, or even a necktie, would be better if one was required to appear unarmed. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/17 "2014-11-25T18:10:36Z")
Are there legitimate stores that sell garrottes? Maybe _Bob’s Garrotte Emporium_ or _Garrottes “R” Us_? ---
**Author:** ![Beauregard\_Porkypine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Beauregard\_Porkypine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauregard_Porkypine)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/18 "2014-11-25T19:56:12Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you look at Red Grant’s “watch garrote” in _From Russia With Love_, you can see that it has a bulbous “fob” on the end. So it does have a handle, of sorts. I’d think that a loop you could at least put a couple of fingers through would be better, though. Hey Red, I think we’re gonna need a bigger watch. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/19 "2014-11-25T20:05:58Z")
Googling “Red Grant Wristwatch” produces the following pictures, which show a ring rather than the “fob” I thought I saw in the film. It’s still pretty small – I’m not sure you could get even one finger in there [https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8pxS4HRUWAYAKhuJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTIya3BtOGloBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMwYzNjMDIwNDJhN2IzNmQ4YjExMTE2MWU1ZDVkNjExNgRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dred%2Bgrant%2Bwristwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=600&h=555&imgurl=www.yourprops.com%2Fmovieprops%2Foriginal%2Fyp\_51abab1291e797.47306754%2FJames-Bond-From-Russia-With-Love-Red-Grant-Garotte-Wrist-Watch-2.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourprops.com%2FRed-Grant-Garotte-Wrist-Watch-replica-movie-prop-James-Bond-From-Russia-With-Love-1963-YP42333.html&size=69.6KB&name=James+Bond%3A+From+Russia+With+Love%2C+\Red\<%2Fb\>+\Grant\<%2Fb\>+Garotte+\Wrist+Watch\<%2Fb\>&p=red+grant+wristwatch&oid=0c3c02042a7b36d8b111161e5d5d6116&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=James+Bond%3A+From+Russia+With+Love%2C+\Red\<%2Fb\>+\Grant\<%2Fb\>+Garotte+\Wrist+Watch\<%2Fb\>&b=0&ni=288&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=13sj0ahvs&sigb=13j82np2n&sigi=1450mek53&sigt=12lj1a0tr&sign=12lj1a0tr&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pxS4HRUWAYAKhuJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIya3BtOGloBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMwYzNjMDIwNDJhN2IzNmQ4YjExMTE2MWU1ZDVkNjExNgRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dred%2Bgrant%2Bwristwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=600&h=555&imgurl=www.yourprops.com%2Fmovieprops%2Foriginal%2Fyp_51abab1291e797.47306754%2FJames-Bond-From-Russia-With-Love-Red-Grant-Garotte-Wrist-Watch-2.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourprops.com%2FRed-Grant-Garotte-Wrist-Watch-replica-movie-prop-James-Bond-From-Russia-With-Love-1963-YP42333.html&size=69.6KB&name=James+Bond%3A+From+Russia+With+Love%2C+%3Cb%3ERed%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EGrant%3C%2Fb%3E+Garotte+%3Cb%3EWrist+Watch%3C%2Fb%3E&p=red+grant+wristwatch&oid=0c3c02042a7b36d8b111161e5d5d6116&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=James+Bond%3A+From+Russia+With+Love%2C+%3Cb%3ERed%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EGrant%3C%2Fb%3E+Garotte+%3Cb%3EWrist+Watch%3C%2Fb%3E&b=0&ni=288&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=13sj0ahvs&sigb=13j82np2n&sigi=1450mek53&sigt=12lj1a0tr&sign=12lj1a0tr&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901) [https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8pxS4HRUWAYAQxuJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTIzbmpiaWtsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMxYTVkMjg2M2RkMjMzOWIxYTNhYzE4MjIzMmYxYWM1MARncG9zAzI2BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dred%2Bgrant%2Bwristwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D26&w=567&h=420&imgurl=www.007collector.com%2Fbond%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fmp\_FRWL\_red-grant-watch\_prop.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.007collector.com%2Fbond%2F%3Fp%3D38066&size=161.4KB&name=MOVIE+PROP+–+DONALD+“\RED\<%2Fb\>”+GRANTS+WIRE+\WATCH\<%2Fb\>&p=red+grant+wristwatch&oid=1a5d2863dd2339b1a3ac182232f1ac50&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=MOVIE+PROP+–+DONALD+“\RED\<%2Fb\>”+GRANTS+WIRE+\WATCH\<%2Fb\>&b=0&ni=288&no=26&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=119tk4a4l&sigb=13ksl3kr3&sigi=12lrpr3lk&sigt=11vo26df6&sign=11vo26df6&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pxS4HRUWAYAQxuJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzbmpiaWtsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMxYTVkMjg2M2RkMjMzOWIxYTNhYzE4MjIzMmYxYWM1MARncG9zAzI2BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dred%2Bgrant%2Bwristwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D26&w=567&h=420&imgurl=www.007collector.com%2Fbond%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fmp_FRWL_red-grant-watch_prop.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.007collector.com%2Fbond%2F%3Fp%3D38066&size=161.4KB&name=MOVIE+PROP+%E2%80%93+DONALD+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3ERED%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%9D+GRANTS+WIRE+%3Cb%3EWATCH%3C%2Fb%3E&p=red+grant+wristwatch&oid=1a5d2863dd2339b1a3ac182232f1ac50&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=MOVIE+PROP+%E2%80%93+DONALD+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3ERED%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%9D+GRANTS+WIRE+%3Cb%3EWATCH%3C%2Fb%3E&b=0&ni=288&no=26&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=119tk4a4l&sigb=13ksl3kr3&sigi=12lrpr3lk&sigt=11vo26df6&sign=11vo26df6&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901) [https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8pTh4HRUlWUACoWJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTIzODc1dWJpBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM4ZjhjYjdmY2M5NWIyNTUwZmVkNGUyOTlkZTVmNzNlZgRncG9zAzI4BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3D%2522On%2BHer%2BMajesty%2527s%2BSecret%2BService%2522%2Bwrist%2Bwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D28&w=360&h=270&imgurl=content8.flixster.com%2Fquestion%2F65%2F91%2F93%2F6591930\_std.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rottentomatoes.com%2Fquiz%2Fbond-gadgetsweapons%2F&size=16.0KB&name=Diamonds+Are+Forever+Golden+Eye+From+Russia+With+Love+Moonraker&p="On+Her+Majesty's+Secret+Service"+wrist+watch&oid=8f8cb7fcc95b2550fed4e299de5f73ef&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=Diamonds+Are+Forever+Golden+Eye+From+Russia+With+Love+Moonraker&b=0&ni=288&no=28&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11nj9ln8o&sigb=14jcrlno7&sigi=11nj2gc62&sigt=11vkd9444&sign=11vkd9444&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pTh4HRUlWUACoWJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzODc1dWJpBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM4ZjhjYjdmY2M5NWIyNTUwZmVkNGUyOTlkZTVmNzNlZgRncG9zAzI4BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3D%2522On%2BHer%2BMajesty%2527s%2BSecret%2BService%2522%2Bwrist%2Bwatch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D28&w=360&h=270&imgurl=content8.flixster.com%2Fquestion%2F65%2F91%2F93%2F6591930_std.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rottentomatoes.com%2Fquiz%2Fbond-gadgetsweapons%2F&size=16.0KB&name=Diamonds+Are+Forever+Golden+Eye+From+Russia+With+Love+Moonraker&p=%22On+Her+Majesty%27s+Secret+Service%22+wrist+watch&oid=8f8cb7fcc95b2550fed4e299de5f73ef&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=Diamonds+Are+Forever+Golden+Eye+From+Russia+With+Love+Moonraker&b=0&ni=288&no=28&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11nj9ln8o&sigb=14jcrlno7&sigi=11nj2gc62&sigt=11vkd9444&sign=11vkd9444&.crumb=iFnxBO8CwGG&fr=yfp-t-901) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445/20 "2014-11-25T20:56:20Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The amount of force needed to compress the blood vessels isn’t great. Crushing the trachea would require more. The wire-cutting-through-the-neck effect seen in movies and novels would reqire a ridiculous amount of force. I’m not sure it could even be done manually. But wouldn’t you only need to cut off the blood supply to the brain? In the UFC, for example, people get put to sleep on a regular basis with a forearm. I can only assume if you didn’t let up the subject would eventually die. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445.md?page=2)