Trench clubs

[abeallen]

I know this isn't exactly a milsurp, but I thought you guys might have some insight. I was thinking a trench club might be an interesting thing add to my collection, is there even a market for these things? If so where could I find one? Are the ones you see in museums typically replicas? What are the chances of finding an authentic one, and how much would something like that cost?

Thanks for any help you guys can give.

 

[scott585]

barring photographic evidence of the actual specific one in use during the war, authentication would be impossible. can you tell a 50-100 year old trench club from a hooligans club or a fish bonker of similar age? and thats not even getting into fakes made by the unscrupulous, or replicas made for film or reenactors.

 

[Philthy1]

Maybe you need one of these badboys

 

[tbhupe]

I remember seeing a display of trench clubs at the Canadian War Museum many years ago prior to their move. The clubs they had were a little more elaborate than the standard fish bonker. If my memory serves, some had small studs on the head and some had iron/steel bands wrapped around them. As was mentioned it would be very hard to authenticate these non-issued, improvised devices.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I remember seeing a display of trench clubs at the Canadian War Museum many years ago prior to their move. The clubs they had were a little more elaborate than the standard fish bonker. If my memory serves, some had small studs on the head and some had iron/steel bands wrapped around them. As was mentioned it would be very hard to authenticate these non-issued, improvised devices.

Things got pretty barbaric, for people who had been friends, not so long before. See the war hammer thread on this.

Grizz

 

[collector67]

Maybe you need one of these badboys

I've read that sharpened spades were a popular weapon in the trenches. Bayonets tended to get stuck in rib cages, whereas a spade was more like a battle axe.

 

[Steve1987]

Hi,

At one point, I had some interest in trench clubs. A few random thoughts from what I recall;

Very few originals exist, most of what surfaces on dealer sites are fakes. Some of the fakes are very convincing.

Collectors Guild at one point had one that seemed authentic, but it sold for a very large price tag.

The Canadian War Museum still has a rather good selections of original trench clubs on display, from both sides.

I changed my mind about persuaing one after reading several accounts of officers using trench clubs to 'finish off' wounded/dying enemy after gas attacks. I suppose if I stumbled across one in a grouping or something I would likely keep it, they are still part of the history of the conflict despite being rather grusome.

If someone has an original, I would be interested to see it posted along with whatever provenance it may have.

-Steve

 

[Steve1987]

Here's a link to what the CWM has to say on this topic with some photos:

http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/battles-and-fighting/weapons-on-land/trench-weapons/

 

[Zdragunov]

I've read that sharpened spades were a popular weapon in the trenches. Bayonets tended to get stuck in rib cages, whereas a spade was more like a battle axe.

In basic training in the Hungarian army you "learn" about how to use the shovel as a weapon, it wasn't anything like Bruce Lee would do, so probably the Amd with the bayonet would be more effective, you got more of a reach advantage I guess.

 

[Cottage Hill Bill]

Go here http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php and do a search on trench clubs. You'll find several very informative threads. There are a number of well known fakes. A guy in France was cranking them out by the case lot in the 70's. Real ones are pricey and rare. Fakes are pricey and not so rare. You can get burned pretty badly if you don't do your homework.