<P> The Peaky Blinders were a criminal gang based in Birmingham, England, during the late 19th century and, to a lesser extent, in the early 20th . They were one of many urban youth gangs in the era . </P> <P> According to Professor Carl Chinn, a historian of Birmingham, the name "Peaky Blinders" is popularly said to be derived from the practice of stitching razor blades into the peak of their flat caps, which could then be used as weapons . Chinn describes this as an unrealistic scenario and says that a more mundane explanation is that "peaky" was a common nickname for the popular flat cap with a peak . In an article, to supplement his claim, Chinn cites historian David Cross, of the West Midlands Police Museum in Sparkhill . </P> <P> "If you think of your grandfather's cap in those days, then it would have had a very hard peak . When they hit someone or headbutted someone on the nose while wearing one, it would cause their victim temporary blindness ."' Blinder' was also a well used term in Birmingham, and even to some extent today, to describe one's' dapper' appearance .' Peaky Blinders' may have come directly as a reference to this, along with the flat cap . The gangs were known to have a distinctive clothing style, wearing peaked caps, cravats, bell - bottom trousers, and jackets whose "line of brass buttons down the front gave added distinction". </P> <P> It is a debated question whether the Peaky Blinders were a single gang or a local Birmingham term for a form of violent youth subculture . Eric Moonman states that youth street - gangs in Birmingham were known as "Peaky Blinders" or as "Sloggers". Paul Thompson writes, "These gangs would attack a drunkard and probably leave him insensible in the gutter . If they cannot trip a man or knock him down, they kick or use the buckles of belts, again similar to the Scuttlers of Manchester...They will use knife, poker, fork or anything ." Thomas McDonagh was one of the most feared members of the Birmingham gang, on which the Peaky Blinders TV series was originally based . His real name was Thomas MacDonald and McDonough was another name that he used . </P>

Where does the saying peaky blinders come from