Issue, Numbering, and Inspection of Military Truncheons How War Department and Military Police Truncheons Were Controlled in Service Once a truncheon had been manufactured to specification and accepted into service, it did not simply become a generic piece of equipment. Within the War Department Constabulary and later military police units, truncheons were treated as controlled… Read More »
The 1941 Wartime Emergency Truncheon Specification Why the War Office Had to Compromise When the War Office issued its original truncheon specification in May 1926, it assumed something that would no longer hold true fifteen years later: that exotic hardwoods could be sourced reliably and in sufficient quantity. By 1941, that assumption had collapsed. The… Read More »
What Was Required, and Why It Mattered Long before anyone talked about “standard issue” truncheons, the British War Office had already tried to define exactly what one should be. In May 1926, the War Office approved Specification No. E168, formally covering “Truncheons for War Department Constables and Military Prisons”. This document is not a guideline… Read More »
The Short, Handbag-Sized Police Baton Most People Never Knew Existed Every so often, someone sends in a photo of an unusual police truncheon, and it opens up an entirely new corner of British policing history. This week, we were sent a picture of a short wooden baton which, at first glance, looks like a standard-issue… Read More »
An Unusual Truncheon with a Unique History We occasionally come across an unusual truncheon that stands out for its unique characteristics. Recently, we acquired such a truncheon, and the story is worth sharing. This is an update. When this article was first written, we genuinely did not know what it was. As many of our… Read More »
We recently received an inquiry regarding wooden batons and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. This legislation came into effect on the 14th of July 2021. It brought about changes to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, a subject we’ve previously covered. Specifically, we were asked about Section 66, Part 4, Annex A – list of offensive… Read More »
The wooden police truncheon, often referred to as a “Bobby’s truncheon,” carries a rich history and multifaceted appeal that goes beyond its original function as a weapon. These traditional British-style truncheons, whether original or expertly reproduced, captivate the imaginations of collectors, theatre groups, and even police forces seeking retirement gifts for officers. In this article,… Read More »
We were asked a question recently about wooden truncheons and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. This came into force on the 14th of July 2021. This section made amendments to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which we have wrote about before. We were asked specifically about Section 66, Part 4, Annex A – list of offensive… Read More »
In the realm of law enforcement, the British wooden police truncheon holds a unique place in history. Once a formidable tool used by British police officers to maintain law and order, these traditional batons have now become sought-after collectibles. In this article, we look at some of the reasons why people are drawn to these… Read More »
Why do police truncheons have a leather strap? Both modern and old police truncheons have a strap on. They’re called a lanyard. Some call them a retention strap or a wrist strap. On modern truncheons, they are often made of nylon, on proper old-style wooden truncheons they are usually leather. But why do police truncheons… Read More »