A dangerous weapon?

In my youth this was chestnut time at school and any self respecting boy had a string of them ready to take on anyone with a rival chestnut. In some parts of UK they are referred to as "conkers" but we called them "chessies". Our farm grew no horse chestnut trees so forays had to be made to other parts to pick up our ammunition, raking around in the fallen leaves. There was much competition for a collection and usually the locals had cleaned up before we arrived.
Nights were spent with a hot knitting needle, poking a hole through the hard nut then threading them on to a long bootlace, knotted at the end.
In the playground two boys would challenge each other and the fight would start, one holding, at arm's length, the string with one of his prize collection dangling on the end. The opponent took careful aim and tried to hit this nut with his particular champion. They took turn about and whoever broke the other's chestnut was the winner and accorded his chestnut the title "bully 1"(if that was his first victory, or "bully 2" if the second and so on. If you broke a "bully 3"(or whatever) you could claim his victories as well....oh, yes, there were rules!
Nowadays many schools outlaw this game and children are forbidden to play as it is deemed too dangerous. I cannot remember many pupils being maimed or killed during this season!
And so now nobody wants my collection and there are chestnuts lying ready for the taking. I still cannot pass them by without picking them up and searching for more. My pockets are bulging everytime I return from a dog walk. Old habits die hard.
P.S........we don't eat horse chestnuts.