Dated 1797 burl club

[firefly]

Hi,
attached pls find what appears to be some type of club. It measures 30" in length and has a large burlwood head engraved with the date 1797, also some initials; the head is filled with lead. The handle has a series of pins/nails inset, almost in a pattern, and there are various notches cut into it. Any thoughts if this is a weapon? Also attached pls find a copy of a photo from the book "Gangs of New York" by Herbert Asbury where it shows someone wielding a club with a circular head similar to this. Thanks for your input.
Jim

 

[Fred Fuller]

Looks like a shillelagh to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillelagh_(club)

http://www.walkingequipment.com/shillelagh.htm

http://www.fashionablecanes.com/50950.html

http://johnwhurley.com/hurleyframeset-2.html

lpl

 

[M-Cameron]

large lead filled head.....notches cut......its obviously a club of some sort and theres a pretty good chance it seen some action.

 

[RatDrall]

Friggin awesome!!!!

 

[hso]

Lead filled "clubs" were pretty common (and effective) weapons. These days they're illegal in most jurisdictions. You have a very interesting piece of history there.

 

[PinoySteel]

I carry a 9" lead filled club in my back pocket when I'm in the Philippines. The cops over there don't mind at all.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

A Ole School Classic!