The Peaky Blinders were a criminal gang based in Birmingham in the late 19th century and, to a lesser extent, in the early 20th century. According to Carl Chinn, the name is popularly said to derive from the practice of stitching razor blades into the front of their flat caps, which could then be used as weapons. However, Chinn points out that this was a highly unlikely and cumbersome way of attacking someone. He says a more mundane explanation is that "peakys" was a common nickname for the then-popular flat caps with peaks.The gang were known to have a distinctive clothing style, wearing the peaked caps, cravats and bell-bottom trousers, while "a line of brass buttons down the front gave added distinction.
