Saps, blackjacks, night sticks, thumpers, etc.

In the early years of my LE career it was common for guys to carry slaps, blackjacks, use sap gloves and night sticks of every conceivable length. I carried a flat sap because sitting on the round ones would hurt your leg after sitting in a car after time. I must admit I have used all of the above including the old metal maglight flashlight. I worked patrol in an urban NJ city and it was not always a kind and gentile enforcement policy back then. The sap gloves were a brutal thing to use. There was an armed robbery at a gas station once and the armed man ran from the scene. I intercepted him in a back alley running away from the scene. He was the last person I ever introduced to the sap gloves. He was hard to identify by the gas station employees because he looked really different afterwards.
 
As a USAF cop, I was issued a black wooden nightstick and was taught to use it to thrust as well as to strike. We were taught that some individuals were better struck on the shins than on the head, because the heads were too thick. I can't say more here about that.

We were taught to parry a knife attack with the stick, held in two hands to deflect the blow. But I decided that if I saw a knife coming, I would shoot and hope for the best result, administratively. Still, in some areas like the UK, American military police were restricted to using sticks while off base, no guns allowed. I actually met one guy wearing a ribbon that I didn't recognize. He said it was for Soho Patrol, given to our cops who patrolled that dangerous zone without pistols. I think he was serious. Has anyone else heard of that ribbon?

I had one assignment at the USAF Academy when the President deivered the graduation address. One of the guys stationed there showed us visitors his stick. It was shorter than usual, but the end was hollowed out and filled with lead. He said that it was very effective. I didn't doubt it.

I've seen TV cop shows where they had those sticks with a handle on the side. I gather that they were the cat's meow in their day. Did any of you use those?
 
I've seen TV cop shows where they had those sticks with a handle on the side. I gather that they were the cat's meow in their day. Did any of you use those?

Yes, a PR-24. We got those later but I've only seen them used in real life, not training, by holding them on the wrong end and beat people with the short handle end. In theory they were better then a stick but nobody ever used them the way they were intended. They were to big to carry anyhow and always seemed to get in the way so they were always stuck up in the roof of the car above the prisoner cage.
 
I've never been in law enforcement but I did have to carry one of the old wooden billy clubs when standing Shore Patrol. We were told never to use the club as a striking weapon. According to our officers, if we needed them we were simply to poke the person and tell them to "move along." Yeah, right! I do have an ASP my brother gave me when he got a newer one for duty.

CW
 
These were my Dad's when he was on The Denver P.D. in the 1940'/50's. The nightstick has D.P.D. stamped on the end. I remember him saying the sap was his "attention getter".

DPDBadge-Sap-BillyClub.jpg


WebDadsDPDStuff.jpg
 
My slapper spent most of it's time in the briefcase. There were no training protocols back then, actually with any of our weapons. We started regular firearms training when I became the department training officer as a full time position. The attachment of liability really changed law enforcement training, and much for the better.
 
My favorite memory of the sap was one night the local police came to the house as my old man was being an ***........

Dad decided to NOT go in the patrol car........ha ha ha

The officer gentle hit him behind the right ear and he went down like he had been tazered!!!!!!:)

He went directly to jail..............;)
 
Had a "Slap Jack" when I was a LEO, lead poured in a sardine can mold and covered in leather , with a strap on it, wore it in your palm, excellent for removing someone from a crowd.
olcop
 
When WI passed CC, they legalized batons, with a permit. I have been thinking of one for my truck and bike. I don't want to get beat up, cause I couldn't shoot an unarmed man.

Plus not every violent situation should be dealth with lethal force. But for civilians, it seems to either be unarmed, or a gun.
 
Carried a sap, had two sticks (a 24" and a 40", both good oak) and a Kel-Light back in the day. They could be quite persuasive, just being rapped in your hand. The knurling on a Kel-Light could peel skin off if used "correctly". All were great intimidators.

The 24" still lives in my car......
 
I've seen TV cop shows where they had those sticks with a handle on the side. I gather that they were the cat's meow in their day. Did any of you use those?

Yes, a PR-24. We got those later but I've only seen them used in real life, not training, by holding them on the wrong end and beat people with the short handle end. In theory they were better then a stick but nobody ever used them the way they were intended. They were to big to carry anyhow and always seemed to get in the way so they were always stuck up in the roof of the car above the prisoner cage.

In the 70's, I carried a PR-24. You could hit with it or use it as a stock for your revolver. It was handy to take down people if you knew how to use it. You can still buy one on amazon.
 
My father in law was LEO from 1958 until the late 89 or 90. He had been a MC patrolman for about 7 years until the city did away with them. Unable or unwise to carry a night stick, he had a sap unlike any I've seen here. The lead bar ran parallel to the knuckles, and was shaped like a stirrup. This was carried in a slit pocket on the right side of his uniform pants, with the handle right at his thump. He only told one story of ever using it for the intended purpose. Called to a bar disturbance in mid afternoon, walked in and nothing was happening. Someone came up behind him and wrapped their arms around his arms (my FIL had a 58" chest back then!). All of you can guess the drill: stomp the arch of the foot, back of the helmet to the nose, then turn and slap the gorilla up side the head. He called fo 2 wagons; one to take the gorilla in by way of the Hospital, and one for the bartender and the 3 customers... for not alerting him, yes the judge upheld it. Ivan
 
I have several family members who are retired LE and I inherited a PR 24....I loved their slogan (actually got the tshirt)..."takes the fear out of being close!" I remember when I was younger watching training classes for the PR24.....those guys could do some amazing things with it...was really cool watching this as a kid
 
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At one time I've used all of the above. When I started as a LEO in 1969 everyone I worked with had a sap, black jack, Convoy, or nightstick/club. We also had three cell flashlights which were usually good for one lick. Then the batteries went flying everywhere. My favorite was a rubber club with a lead insert. "One call, that's all." I recently found it stored in a box of stuff left over from my last move 13 years ago. Then came the PR 24's, tasers, and those little telescopic thingy's designed to make somebody mad. I guess the tasers are probably the most humane way of dealing with some one who wants to beat your brains out, but while carrying the other stuff it seemed like a LEO got assaulted less because even a nut knew what was going to happen after throwing the first punch. One of the things I got out of the trunk of the cruiser when I retired was an aluminum softball bat I kept around for social engagements. I never hit anybody with it because if I got it out they thought I was crazy and backed off, although I did unintentially break a table in half with it while explaining that we had better stuff to do right after Hurricane Katrina than to referee some stupid domestic stuff. We didn't hear any more out of them. I still see a few surviving old timers walking around with patches of hair missing from an encounter with a Convoy.
 
The only 'instruction' I ever got on use of a sap involved a crafty bump of a head/tail light to create probable cause for a stop (burned out light) if and when required. Never carried one, so never tried it.

I've still got what's left of a pair of sap gloves somewhere. You could provide someone with quite an education without looking like a thug to those with a gentle upbringing.

The stick training of those dark ages would cause coronary failure to the present generation.

I recall searching a Port Authority garage for a prowler one night. I stopped because I thought I heard something. After a couple of minutes of silence, I watched a dark shape appear in front of me from a grease pit. I ruined my month old Western Auto 5 cell flashlight, they didn't make those for use as impact weapons.
 
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Remember back LEO's????? When you used to get the FOP magazine, or that other magazine trying to sell you something you "Needed".

There was one article, I wished I had bought...That was the wood night stick, with the single .32 in it. It was a single shot. The barrel was full length of the stick. The trigger was a sort of slide button at the rear handle. Long time back, I remember our lit'l ole village marshal had one. I always wanted one too, but never bought it. The sap gloves were always for sale in the mag, as well as 3 and 4 cell flashlights..(For seeing better in the dark;))

I wish I could remember now, where I did buy my sap.

My sticks, I still have, both the "inspection" stick, and my "carry" stick"...My ole carry stick, the woven leather thongs for wrapping around my hand, so the stick couldn't be taken, or slip out of my hand, have rotted away. But the wood is still just fine.

Ah, yes..Bultaco helmets with the face shields and big sticks..(And no name tags:rolleyes:)

Looking back, I sort of wish I would have "Lost" my badge, like some of the others had done, so I'd have it in my retirement. Instead I was given a "Retirement" badge. Looked just like the official badge, but had a different badge number, and said retirement officer....(I gave that, plus my ole wallet, with the badge cut out, to my oldest daughter for something to remember her ole dad)

Retired guys, do you remember your badge #? It's sort of like your military ID #. You never forget it....

Badge #82, where are you?


WuzzFuzz
 
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