Interesting club (I hope)

[Atlantia]

Why oh why have I started buying these thrice damned things?

Here's my latest.
Appears to be some kind of bashing impliment.
Solid (and I mean SOLID) ancient seasoned Oak.
Like it was turned from an old ships timber.
Not rounded or flattened on the end enough to be a pestle.
Too big and heavy to be a rounders bat, too short for a baseball bat.
Lanyard hole appears to be contempory with manufacture.
Length 55cm, weight 1kg. 6.5cm wide at the end.

Any thoughts?

[KuKulzA28]

an Indian club for conditioning and exercise maybe?

[Rick]

Possibly a 'tranquilizer' for larger fishes .
Usually these have a lanyard hole .
Possibly an old 'gang weapon' ?
21" is too small for a baseball bat; not to mention the weight of oak .

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Rick

Possibly a 'tranquilizer' for larger fishes .
Usually these have a lanyard hole .

21" is too small for a baseball bat; not to mention the weight of oak .

Hi Rick

And too big for rounders.
But fish?
If they were this big I guess?

[ThePepperSkull]

They cast Sam Jackson in everything these days.


(Interested to see where this thread develops. Quite a familiar shape but the size is a little different then what we're all used to.)

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

They cast Sam Jackson in everything these days.


(Interested to see where this thread develops. Quite a familiar shape but the size is a little different then what we're all used to.)

Here's a picture of it next to aviators for scale.
It's really chunky.

[fearn]

You need something like that to kill large halibut, since they can get up to 300 pounds and can hurt people in the boat if you let them flop around.

It could also be the equivalent of one of those "ozark tire thumpers," although those reportedly have a lead center, and I don't see evidence of that in your club (I calculated the density from the figure you gave, and it's within the realm of solid wood).

Best,

F

[kahnjar1]

Looks to have been turned on a lathe judging by the "ring" between the handle and the "bat".

[Atlantia]

It came from a house clearance of an old house here in Devon.
I still get the feeling of a reused piece of ships timber or ceiling beam. It was turned on a lathe. but possibly a fairly crude one. For sure the 'chisel' used to cut it left tiny lines, thousands spiralling around it.
It feels like its got great age.
I wondered if it was some naval or slavery item. I did a google image search for 'slavery club'......... that didn't go so well

[A.alnakkas]

LOL. I got curious and googled that... xD

Interesting club, I'd take it to a fight any day.

[kahnjar1]

Hi Gene,
Is that a screw head I see at the centre of the business end? Does it serve any purpose or is it covering a hole filled with something like lead.
Another possibility is that this COULD be a Trench Club from WW1. The ones I have seen are usually covered with boot hobnails at the business end, but thats not to say that this is not one.
Stu

[katana]

Hi Gene,
surely this club would be defined as a truncheon. Oak was commonly used in Britain for both Police and Admiralty truncheons ....with so much Maritime history around your area ....and if old enough ...ex-press gang

All the best
David

[Atlantia]

Lotfy,

LOL, hope you had 'safe search' on?

Stu,

It looks like it in the pic, but it's just a hole from the crude lathe 'bit'.

David,

Thats what I was wondering. Press gang or slave trade?

Best
Gene

Edit: picture added. After a little polish (not on the Macana, thats just for scale).

[graeme gt]

This is similar i am confident that its a trench club.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by graeme gt

This is similar i am confident that its a trench club.

Nice example Graeme! Can I ask the size/weight please?

Best
Gene

Edit: I just found a beyond doubt original example on the net which is dated and militarily marked. 21" long. Interestingly it has the same strange 'hole' on the end in the centre from a lathe bit. I wonder if it would have had three if it were not turned to more of a 'cone'?:

[Atlantia]

And mine, 21.75" long, for comparison:

[graeme gt]

Here are 4 more all 18" lead filled heads dont know the weight but it would smart a bit .

[graeme gt]

Here are 4 more all 18" lead filled heads dont know the weight but it would smart a bit .They should be here now.

[Atlantia]

Hi Graeme,

The reason I didn't initially consider trench club is the lack of studs etc on mine.
Are you familiar with other plain examples?
Mine does have the addition of having extra weight in its design to compensate for the lack of lead or studs.

Oak seems common too.

What are your thoughts?

Best
Gene

[graeme gt]

Hi Gene, I dont know if its a trench club all the ones i own have some form of "doofer" on the end here is a Yank club same length as yours .Oak is common as is Beech.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by graeme gt

Hi Gene, I dont know if its a trench club all the ones i own have some form of "doofer" on the end here is a Yank club same length as yours .Oak is common as is Beech.

Hi Graeme,

Hmmm, still seems like a good candidate though.

Are the pictures all yours?
Hell of a collection if so!

Thanks
Gene

[Indianajones]

Hi all, perhaps just a small addition to 'clarify' the holes at each ends of the clubs; they are actually the holdingpoints to keep the piece of wood staedy when turning on the woodcutmachine. Three points at each end are also common as this gives more grip on the wood when turning.
Best,

[graeme gt]

All mine be carefull its addictive,

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by graeme gt

All mine be carefull its addictive,

WOW!

[graeme gt]

Hope i am not boreing you ,here are some springy ones .

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by graeme gt

Hope i am not boreing you ,here are some springy ones .

Bore me? God no!
I'm really greatful for the help and very pleased to get to see such an amazing collection of examples.
You must have gone through some shoe leather finding so many? How long did it take?

Best
gene

[graeme gt]

Been at it for years it all started with Knobkerries.