User blog comment:Evans0305/Possible art concept of the BioShock movie's Bouncer?/@comment-3412492-20110219122106/@comment-1330314-20110219161819

It's more of a decorative thing, rather than a practical addition. In the actual BioShock universe, the Bouncers don't have their Drill linked to their back, and Alpha Series have a series of guard wires along their Drill armgrip.

Irl, cogs would most likely be a bad idea, since they'd wear down very quickly due to rust and seawater exposure, and shooting them would instantly disable the Drill.