I happen to be inclined towards the theatrical in the physical presentation of my dominance, fully cognisant of the fact that (a) I am a dominant and not a top, and (b) my dominance is an integral part of my psyche with the choice of apparel and toys carefully selected to reflect my dominant persona.

Many dominants are not into theatre and are quite satisfied with their black pants or even blue jeans and T-shirt, and with your standard flogger, paddle, etc. Well, as has been said: “T’aint me!”, and as a result I have made one of my hobbies to be discovering unique toys.

In fact, I’m like a kid in a candy shop when I do uncover an unusual toy and I must show it to others, which has led to my being asked where and how others might find imaginative, unique toys.

Let me clarify that anyone can use their imagination when looking for toys, as witnessed by so many talking of what delightful objects can be found in their local Dollar store or Home Depot, but what I am addressing here is moving beyond conceptualizing what can be used to strike or beat with. It is moving beyond the thought: ‘Oh this will be stingy or thuddy!’ and more into first and foremost the topic of “Mind-fucking and Innovative Instruments 101”. It is the psychology of dominance and the use of toys to achieve this.

And so it was that I introduced my black thorn cane into my repertoire of toys. Commonly known as a shillelagh, I purposely searched for one that was uncommon. Most on the market have had their thorns shaven down to nubs while I wanted intact thorns – intact in order to appear psychologically menacing, and which would be both erotically sensory or painful; subject to how the cane was applied.

Another prickly cane I discovered is an apple cane. It is whippier than the black thorn cane as it is thinner but its thorns have also not been shaven. The major drawback of the apple cane in comparison, is that it is more brittle and unless one is cautious the thorns tend to break off when in transit in the toy bag. It is best used for rolling across the skin as opposed to striking with it.

Ah yes! Hot corn cobs do burn finger tips and so someone invented corn cob holders and you can purchase plastic ones in almost any dollar store.

They, however, lack the panache that I prefer and the psychological impact of the ones I discovered in an antique store. These are sterling silver, look formidable, and are wonderful for knife play. The last time I played publicly with them I chuckled, as a top, who was watching, sucked in her breath and cringed.

These, and the seven inch long porcupine quills I also use, can be pressed or slid into the most minute crevasses of the body. The quills are from South African porcupines and do not have the barbs at the tips that quills from North American porcupines have. They therefore do not risk being imbedded into the flesh but again such a fear is natural in the minds of my play partners who are new to the quills. The versatility of the quills are that they can prick, they can be drawn slowly along the flesh, or you can slash with them severely enough to raise welts. Hmmm welts! Just add a touch of salt!

If welts and bruises are part of your play, then I strongly recommend a sjambok. Regretably, original sjamboks are almost impossible to find and buy as they are made from hippo hide. Hippo hide sjamboks were used by herdsmen in Africa and became a favoured instrument to control riots and to seriously punish. During apartheid, the South African police converted to using plastic sjamboks and these can be purchased on Ebay for substantially less money than the rare hippo hide ones. Even then, the plastic ones are bone-breakers if one is not careful and they most certainly cause deep bruising and prominent welts; a sign of pride on the part of many pain sluts.

Recently I was browsing through an antique store, which is often where I make my toy discoveries. Let me emphasize that such browsing must be methodical. It cannot be rushed as you will often overlook items. My latest toy was buried amongst what appeared to be junk items in a display case. Not even the owner of the store knew what its original purpose was and so sold it to me for $10.00.

I then posted photos of it on a number of BDSM sites on the internet asking if anyone knew its origins. A number of suggestions were made including it being a cigar cutter.

Eventually, it was accurately described as an egg topper which would have been placed over the shell of a soft boiled egg, squeezed until the shell was pierced and then the upper shell was lifted off the intact egg.

However, what I initially saw in the display case was a devilish instrument that could be applied to the tip of a breast, or could be used in CBT, in an imaginative way.

Imagine – you gently place this around the scrotum and then instruct the submissive to hold it while you beat them. They are in control of the instrument and it is they who will choose to inflict great pain if they squeeze too hard. You, as the dominant, merely introduce other stimulus in the play.

Stimulus in play varies, of course, as do the toys one chooses to use, and how, when, and to whom they are applied. At a point in time, I may choose a thuddy toy but again my choice of thuddy rests with the mind-set I wish to impose. I may use a flogger, but floggers are not unique. I may use a paddle, but they tend to vary primarily on the basis of wood versus leather, and thickness and size.

My preferred toy for thuddy play was again discovered in an antique store. In this instance it was a huge complex of antique stores in Pennsylvania, in which I found the rug beater. Now one can find bamboo rug beaters but they tend to be fragile and break. There are also wire rug beaters but most often they are like coat-hanger wire which can cut due to its thinness.

This particular coat hanger is wire but a thick, woven copper wire which was originally strung between lightening rods on roof tops. Some innovative soul pounded the copper wire into a flattened state, bent it and attached it to a wooden handle – converting it into a rug beater.

Now, in my hands it has become a versatile thuddy toy. It appears wicked because it is metal wiring, and conjures up the image of torn flesh. In truth, it is long and therefore flexible, requiring little torque when striking and the wire is of a thickness that it is truly thuddy.

For those who have an interest in introducing unusual toys into their play scenes, think outside the box. First, view almost any object/instrument in light of what their appearance might do to enhance the submissive’s mindset. Remind yourself that vision is a major tool in creating impressions or eliciting emotions.

Allow your mind to become more creative. Consider that your toys are like theatrical props; props on a stage being major contributors to setting the scene in the audience’s minds.

Expand your scope in finding new and unique toys by going to local flea markets, antique stores, and spending some concentrated time on the internet. Time in doing so is an investment and a necessity, as I have personally spent hours on the internet (e.g. – Ebay) much like an archaeological dig; knowing that such internet searches are like removing layer after layer after layer of subsoil to finally uncover the treasure.