Antique police batons?

[bikerdoc]

*I still have my original issued stick, sap, and brass call box key.

Man that was a long time ago, I have been off the job longer than I was on it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I also have my old brass call box key, a straight stick and PR-24. We were never allowed saps or short batons. Nor were head shots authorized. Later we were instructed on how to use our flashlights as an weapon should there be no time to transition to the baton. That included head strikes. Any use of force had to be included in the report and had to be justified by the officer. The watch commander who approved the report had you make an entry into the use of force log at the station. Done properly, the paperwork could protect you in an excessice force investigation or complaint.

 

[joshk-k]

I have an old Portland Police baton that I bought from a former co-worker who's family was in the antiques business. It's two feet long, grooved handle at one end. I have the leather belt and holster for it too. It lives in the bottom drawer of my dresser and, in the middle of the night, would be more immedately accessible to me than any of my guns. Occasionally, I look from my kitchen window and see unaccompanied dogs in my yard. I bring that along when I go to chase them off.

This weekend I got it out for a nine-year-old to use while we were stretching and drying an elk hide.

I bought it as a defensive tool. I certainly wouldn't want to get cracked with it. I feel confident that I could break any bone I hit with it.

JOsh

 

[Loc n Load]

On the job in 75

I started my career in 75 on a large metro dept. in Cal. We were issued 6" 38spl revolvers and a 26" hardwood baton.....when we went on shift that baton was a mandatory part of your gear.....later as a motor cop I carried a sap in a specially made sap pocket which put the sap about midway down my right leg.....where it was readily accessible.....later I was issued a PR-24 which was useful, but I missed my hardwood stick.....the plastic sticks had a tendency to curl if left on a hot car seat......plus they had a tendency to break in cold weather.....the hardwoods didn't. I have seen horse mounted riot police use hardwood staffs that looked like jousting poles....finished my career in 08 carrying an expandable baton.

 

[Ohio Deputy]

Well, this marks yet another occasion that this forum inspired me to buy something cool. As a Marylander that grew up around Charm City, I couldn't help but want a piece of history I could hold in my hand.



This is made by www.eliteespantoons.com, a little side project of Chase Armington, sergeant with the Perryville PD.

This one is cocobolo and what is most striking in person is how large they are. It's almost like a ceremonial mace used at universities. 24" long, balance point 11" from the pommel, shaft is 1.4" in diameter and the "hilt" is almost 2", and it weighs 1.7 pounds.

Besides the large, elaborately turned handle, another distinctive feature is the hand strap. It's quite long and attaches below the guard instead of the pommel. It's a popular archetype of the late 19th and early 20th century policeman walking down the street twirling his baton vertically by the strap. The espantoon however is spun horizontally like a helicopter, and even has a metal pivot in the strap so this can be done continuously without it twisting. It's great fun and I can see why many in Baltimore City still carry them around on foot patrol.

I had Elite Espantoons make one of thos for me out of lignum vitae. They are super nice.

 

[Ohio Deputy]

Hello, I'm the new guy here. By some quirk of nature I have never found this site before today. I have not read every post here but read several then registered. I have been a Texas Peace Officer almost 40 years and have been collecting police "stuff" all those years. I have over 300 nightsticks, I recently sold a collection of 70 blackjacks, saps and such. I see most of the posts in this thread are several years old but I would be happy to discuss anything about sticks with anyone interested. I have several of the British Truncheons shown. I certainly don't know "everything" about sticks but I've learned a lot over the years. Part of my collection was used in "American Police Equipment" by Matthew Forte.

I would love to talk sticks or jacks with you. I have been looking for someone that might have a certain style of short billy that I've been wanting to have madeup.

 

[Ohio Deputy]

The local St. Louis Metro PD for many years issued a fairly short, heavy wooden nightstick, and many of the officers here used to twirl them as described.

An interesting feature of the St. Louis model was a steel ferrule on the grip end.
The purpose of this was so that pre-radio foot-beat coppers could whack the pavement with same to produce a loud, ringing distress call.

The Mullanphy Stick, those are still made. I will try to post some pics when I get time.

 

[gastong30]

In the Louisville Slugger museum they have some batons that they madem in addition to baseball bats. IIRC they were from the 40's.

 

[Double_J]

you guys are making me want to get a stick again. I had two of them when I was growing up, both from a local surplus store in town. I got pretty good with basic strikes (growing up with a younger brother helped a bunch), and some blocks.

I guess I need to find a proper stick instructor now that I am old enough to know how to use one. I had a cheap collapsible baton when I did security years ago, and we got just enough training to "qualify" with it. That was mainly no striking to the head, strike to arms, and legs, and jab to stomach.

I do love the stories and pics. of the old wood, they remind me of a time when police could be counted on to be fair and honest, not holier-than-thou like many I meet now-a-days.

 

[joeschmoe]

The original British police batons were based on sailors "Belaying Pins". They are, still, used to hold ropes into a wooden rail. Sometimes made of brass. As old as sailing with ropes.

 

[glistam]

The original British police batons were based on sailors "Belaying Pins". They are, still, used to hold ropes into a wooden rail. Sometimes made of brass. As old as sailing with ropes.

I believe it was Robert Peel that made the adaptation, who knew sailors were conking heads with them for centuries.

 

[thepumpfaction]

My neighbor gave me a wood lathe when I was 16. I went to the hardware store and bought like 12 feet of curtain rod. I made quite a few of these lol. I would drill out the end with a spade bit and fill it with pennies, then plug the end with wood glue.

 

[C.F. Plinker]

Didn't one of the TV shows from the late 50s or early 60s open with an MP standing at his post twirling a baton? Just can't remember the name of the show -- must be getting old and having CRS begin to set in.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I think it was The Blue Knight with William Holden protraying Bumper Morgan.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2008/10/the_espantoon.html
http://www.eliteespantoons.com/

 

[Deltaboy1984]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2008/10/the_espantoon.html
http://www.eliteespantoons.com/

Good story these, slaps and such need to come back.They work

 

[Ohio Deputy]

Amen, those were true tools of the trade. The streets haven't gotten any safer yet the powers that be believe we need to do our job in a kinder gentler way.

 

[mdauben]

I have seen wooden police batons at gun shows and swap meets and they usually seem short and light by todays standards.

I remember a story my dad used to tell about his time in the army when he was stationed in England. He and a buddy got a little out of hand at the local pub and the police had to break things up. He was always amazed at how easy the English cop was able to subdue him and his friend (and my dad wasn't a small man) with his little wooden 'stick'.