Police Truncheons

Jim McDougall · 28th November 2008, 09:15 PM

Sounds great Son ! It really is an interesting subject, and in all honesty, one I had never thought much on.....I like to see focus on any topic and learn as much as possible. Keep us posted OK?

Best,
Jim

Pukka Bundook · 5th December 2008, 02:24 PM

Hello Son!

No, this isn't your dad...
(But I might fit the description!....)
Am living in western Canada now, but used to live near Middlesbrough, and years and years ago, I saw the biggest display ever of truncheons at the museum in York.
I'm pretty sure it was York and the display was indeed huge, and ran from the Bowstreet runners 'clubs' up to modern times...(well, late 60's as it was at the time)
There were many as Jim has already described, but many earlier ones were rather horrific!
some were like a chair leg. (Might have been!) turned round where it was gripped, and dead square on the 'working end. Would really send the skin and hair flying!
Others were made from plaited rawhide, with a maybe an inch-and a half lead ball wrapped in the working bit....more like a small-headed indian war club.

Some appeared to be equally the results of spare time, and a fertile imagination, with the bottom line of being intended to Really Hurt, or put the lights out Very quickly.
I was imressed.
We did have one, belonged to an old relative. It was his dads.
It was approx. 18" long, turned handle, with turned ring at the end of the grip, for traction, the rest was straight sided, maybe 1 1/2" in diameter, with a hole bored down the centre and filled with a plug of lead.
Also had a leather loop for the wrist.

All the best Son!

Richard.

son of oaf · 2nd January 2009, 01:03 PM

Hi Folks!
Thanks for all the great feedback.

I've been doing some digging and had a great time talking to the curator at Leeds Armouries who told me about a book called "Those Entrusted With Arms"which goes into some detail about the old Lignum Vitae truncheons.
I ended up buying a copy from Amazon for around $12.

I also visited Leeds Armouries and took a few photos while i was there
I slapped them on my Flickr page if anyone's interested
http://flickr.com/photos/rem0
I used a Cold Steel Sharkie pen as a size guide as i always have one in my pocket. It's about the size of a bog standard permanent marker.

I wish i could've taken photos of everything at the armouries, it's an amazing place (especially the Hall of Steel).
I plan to go back there soon researching Duelling pistols and swords as well as Filipino weapons (another pet project or two

)

If anyone in the UK sees any truncheons up for auction please give me a heads up...i'm totally fscinated now...

Thanks again
Great community
all the best and happy new year

Andy

VANDOO · 10th January 2009, 07:02 AM

JIMMY MANTERIS HAS A VERY NICE COLLECTION OF THESE AND QUITE A BIT OF REFRENCE AND INFORMATION ON THEM. NEXT TIME I TALK TO HIM I WILL SEE IF HE CAN POST SOME REFRENCES OR INFO.
THIS TYPE OF WEAPON WAS ALSO USED A LOT BY THE PRESS GANGS WHO WOULD KONK AND DRAG OFF ANYONE THEY COULD FIND TO SERVE IN THE NAVY. MANY A FAMILY SUFFERED THE HARDSHIP OF LOSEING A FATHER OR SON TO THE PRESS GANGS AND AMERICA FOUGHT A WAR OVER OUR SHIPS BEING STOPPED AND OUR SAILORS BEING PRESSED INTO THEIR NAVY.
SOME OF THESE CLUBS WERE HOLLOWED OUT AND LEAD FILLED TO ADD MORE WEIGHT AND STRIKE HARDER MANY ALSO HAD A LEATHER COVERING TO KEEP IT FROM SPLITTING. THERE ARE ALSO SIMULAR POLICE CLUBS THAT WERE USED IN AMERICA I HAVE ONE AROUND SOMEWHERE THAT WAS USED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1920'S

Pukka Bundook · 13th January 2009, 02:35 PM

Vandoo,

Police club....this is a perfect description of some of them!

I must take the time to see if anything will come up on the collection in York.

R.

son of oaf · 16th January 2009, 01:54 PM

Pukka,

I must've missed a beat...
is there a collection in York?!
I'm actually visiting York next weekend and it'd be good to look this stuff up...
amazing coincidence
whereabouts is it?

thanks in advance

Oaf

Pukka Bundook · 16th January 2009, 03:18 PM

Hi Son,
Ive sent a PM back to you.

I Think the display was in the museum in York, but it's been 25 yrs since we came to Canada, and probably ten yrs before that when I looked at the collection....so the details are getting fuzzy.
We'll see what I can find out.

Richard.

Just googled Truncheon collection, York, and a line or two turned up.;

.."York posseses a noted folk museum, based on large collection....Constable truncheons,....... fireplace fittings..." etc etc.
Hope this might help.

Had another look, & e-mailed York castle museum...seems the most likely spot.
Even if they don't have the truncheons, they have a fantastic weapons display!
R

R.

16th January 2009, 03:18 PM	#7
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Hi Son, Ive sent a PM back to you. I Think the display was in the museum in York, but it's been 25 yrs since we came to Canada, and probably ten yrs before that when I looked at the collection....so the details are getting fuzzy. We'll see what I can find out. Richard. Just googled Truncheon collection, York, and a line or two turned up.; .."York posseses a noted folk museum, based on large collection....Constable truncheons,....... fireplace fittings..." etc etc. Hope this might help. Had another look, & e-mailed York castle museum...seems the most likely spot. Even if they don't have the truncheons, they have a fantastic weapons display! R R. Last edited by Pukka Bundook; 16th January 2009 at 03:55 PM.

28th November 2008, 09:15 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Sounds great Son ! It really is an interesting subject, and in all honesty, one I had never thought much on.....I like to see focus on any topic and learn as much as possible. Keep us posted OK? Best, Jim

5th December 2008, 02:24 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Hello Son! No, this isn't your dad... (But I might fit the description!....) Am living in western Canada now, but used to live near Middlesbrough, and years and years ago, I saw the biggest display ever of truncheons at the museum in York. I'm pretty sure it was York and the display was indeed huge, and ran from the Bowstreet runners 'clubs' up to modern times...(well, late 60's as it was at the time) There were many as Jim has already described, but many earlier ones were rather horrific! some were like a chair leg. (Might have been!) turned round where it was gripped, and dead square on the 'working end. Would really send the skin and hair flying! Others were made from plaited rawhide, with a maybe an inch-and a half lead ball wrapped in the working bit....more like a small-headed indian war club. Some appeared to be equally the results of spare time, and a fertile imagination, with the bottom line of being intended to Really Hurt, or put the lights out Very quickly. I was imressed. We did have one, belonged to an old relative. It was his dads. It was approx. 18" long, turned handle, with turned ring at the end of the grip, for traction, the rest was straight sided, maybe 1 1/2" in diameter, with a hole bored down the centre and filled with a plug of lead. Also had a leather loop for the wrist. All the best Son! Richard.

2nd January 2009, 01:03 PM	#3
son of oaf Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newcastle, UK Posts: 15	Hi Folks! Thanks for all the great feedback. I've been doing some digging and had a great time talking to the curator at Leeds Armouries who told me about a book called "Those Entrusted With Arms"which goes into some detail about the old Lignum Vitae truncheons. I ended up buying a copy from Amazon for around $12. I also visited Leeds Armouries and took a few photos while i was there I slapped them on my Flickr page if anyone's interested http://flickr.com/photos/rem0 I used a Cold Steel Sharkie pen as a size guide as i always have one in my pocket. It's about the size of a bog standard permanent marker. I wish i could've taken photos of everything at the armouries, it's an amazing place (especially the Hall of Steel). I plan to go back there soon researching Duelling pistols and swords as well as Filipino weapons (another pet project or two ) If anyone in the UK sees any truncheons up for auction please give me a heads up...i'm totally fscinated now... Thanks again Great community all the best and happy new year Andy

10th January 2009, 07:02 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	JIMMY MANTERIS HAS A VERY NICE COLLECTION OF THESE AND QUITE A BIT OF REFRENCE AND INFORMATION ON THEM. NEXT TIME I TALK TO HIM I WILL SEE IF HE CAN POST SOME REFRENCES OR INFO. THIS TYPE OF WEAPON WAS ALSO USED A LOT BY THE PRESS GANGS WHO WOULD KONK AND DRAG OFF ANYONE THEY COULD FIND TO SERVE IN THE NAVY. MANY A FAMILY SUFFERED THE HARDSHIP OF LOSEING A FATHER OR SON TO THE PRESS GANGS AND AMERICA FOUGHT A WAR OVER OUR SHIPS BEING STOPPED AND OUR SAILORS BEING PRESSED INTO THEIR NAVY. SOME OF THESE CLUBS WERE HOLLOWED OUT AND LEAD FILLED TO ADD MORE WEIGHT AND STRIKE HARDER MANY ALSO HAD A LEATHER COVERING TO KEEP IT FROM SPLITTING. THERE ARE ALSO SIMULAR POLICE CLUBS THAT WERE USED IN AMERICA I HAVE ONE AROUND SOMEWHERE THAT WAS USED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1920'S

13th January 2009, 02:35 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Vandoo, Police club....this is a perfect description of some of them! I must take the time to see if anything will come up on the collection in York. R.

16th January 2009, 01:54 PM	#6
son of oaf Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newcastle, UK Posts: 15	Pukka, I must've missed a beat... is there a collection in York?! I'm actually visiting York next weekend and it'd be good to look this stuff up... amazing coincidence whereabouts is it? thanks in advance Oaf