Saps, blackjacks, night sticks, thumpers, etc.

[Kinman]

I've gotten myself out some pretty tough circumstances with a sawed off axe handle, about 20" long with the handle portion wrapped with sticky electricians tape, leather thong. I always carried it in my gun rack on the pickup and once when I took the old Ford up through the Canadian border I was asked if I had any firearms or weapons on board. I said "No sir" he said "What would you call that?" I said "That would be an axe handle." He said "I'd feel alot better if you kept that in the back of your truck." I said "It wouldn't be very handy back there." He said "Thats what I'm talking about."
I have a nice antique blackthorn shilleleigh I keep on the floor in the back seat of my town car, its a little short for a walking stick as my wife's great grandfather was much shorter than I am, but its a great equalizer in an argument and does a nice job on an arrogant dog that won't back off.
I took years of Karate and we spent quite a bit of time with those police nightsticks we called them "prick 24's", they are lethal weapons in the right hands, a backhand shot to the temple and its good night sweet prince, skull crushers...they must have been tough to work with getting in and out of a car. Much easier to spray somebody or taze them today, probably a lot less bodily harm.
I knew a little guy that was an AP at the local airbase, he dearly loved to take a big guy down with his nightstick, it was an art form in action, like watching a guy take down a big tree.

 

[Grayfox]

My FIL was the head for security for a local grocery store chain. He always had a flat sap in his back pocket. It was well worn too.

About 1973 I was a young troop at Ft. Hood when my unit drew Riot Control detail. For the next two months we trained for controling large civil disturbances.
Among other things we were issued batons and taught how to use them. As I recall there are about a dozen points on the human body where suitable application of a large chunk of wood results in immediate incapitation. I still remember that.

Several people I've known kept one of the little souvenir baseball bats the local AAA team used to give away in their vehicles. Bright blue with the team's name and logo proudly displayed. "What weapon officer? You mean this little bat they gave away at the game?"

 

[A10]

I ruined my month old Western Auto 5 cell flashlight, they didn't make those for use as impact weapons.

I scattered my share of batteries too. Before we got the Kel Lights, we were issued 5 cell Western Auto Cheapo lights. Used to cut a piece of PVC pipe and slide it over the barrel, with a notch so you could activate the switch. Certainly increased the durability and utility of the light!

 

[jimmyj]

Voice of Experence: Tasers are not always effective !
An "Illegal Citizen" running naked down a busy highway. First Officer on the scene was thrown like a rag doll. The suspect continued to a restaurant and attempting to enter. People saw him coming and locked the door. Suspect continued running to a Drive In where he met "Jimmy". Taser employed with suspect screaming and whirling around to pull out the taser barbs. K-9 attacked suspect and was also thrown off like a rag doll. Taser employed a second time with negative effect. Two backup Deputies attempted to subdue suspect and also was thrown off like rag dolls. Third attempt at Taser brought suspect to his knees but again regained his feet. At this time all my taser Cartridges were used. I employed my 32" ASP baton with negative effect except bending the Asp in the shape of a "Bow". I stepped back, drew, aim at suspect's lower lip, and started the "Trigger Squeeze". I stopped as four Deputies appeared and was able to take the suspect down and cuff him. Suspect transported to E.R. where drug test shown Alcohol, Marijunna, Cocaine, and PCP.

 

[Old TexMex]

Voice of Experence: Tasers are not always effective !
An "Illegal Citizen" running naked down a busy highway. First Officer on the scene was thrown like a rag doll. The suspect continued to a restaurant and attempting to enter. People saw him coming and locked the door. Suspect continued running to a Drive In where he met "Jimmy". Taser employed with suspect screaming and whirling around to pull out the taser barbs. K-9 attacked suspect and was also thrown off like a rag doll. Taser employed a second time with negative effect. Two backup Deputies attempted to subdue suspect and also was thrown off like rag dolls. Third attempt at Taser brought suspect to his knees but again regained his feet. At this time all my taser Cartridges were used. I employed my 32" ASP baton with negative effect except bending the Asp in the shape of a "Bow". I stepped back, drew, aim at suspect's lower lip, and started the "Trigger Squeeze". I stopped as four Deputies appeared and was able to take the suspect down and cuff him. Suspect transported to E.R. where drug test shown Alcohol, Marijunna, Cocaine, and PCP.

Gee Jimmy, what a wet blanket,that guy was just having a little fun and yall spoil his celebration..

 

[absolutevil]

The best thing about all of them was they made the BEST door knockers! Beat a steel front door with them would save your hand.

 

[Toyman]

These are some come-a-longs I have acquired. I was issued the IRON CLAW when I started in 1970 but it was taken out of service after an over zealous officer broke a prisoner's wrist with a little to much twist. The other 2 I found on EBAY. There is a web page about IRON CLAWS showing changes to the tool.

 

[safearm]

I started in 1978; carried a Model 15 in a Jordan River holster, spring sap in a sap pocket on the right side of my uniform trousers, and a Bianchi "Magic Wand" aluminum baton in a baton ring behind my portable radio. We had the option of carrying Mace, but after you used it once, you learned that all it did was p*** off the bad guy, and you usually sprayed or were sprayed by your partner/back-up.
I was taught the "Koga" method of the baton, named after Bob Koga of LAPD. It was a jab/thrusting technique that could be used out of the baton ring. The spring sap was designed for close-in use; one technique was to strike the chest and have the head of the sap spring forward and strike the collarbone.

 

[wbraswell]

I was never in LE. I have been arrested a time or two, but never, ever was disrespectful or troublesome. I can tell you one thing for sure, if you pull a taser on me, i'm doing whatever you want, pronto. Just don't hit me with that thing. I hate electricity.

 

[Coldshooter]

Have a friend who was in the 82nd in the 60s and he told me about sewing a silver dollar under the glider patch on the overseas cap. He also told me about some sailors with a roll of dimes in their neckerchiefs. Seems the sailors won.

 

[Alnamvet68]

These are some come-a-longs I have acquired. I was issued the IRON CLAW when I started in 1970 but it was taken out of service after an over zealous officer broke a prisoner's wrist with a little to much twist. The other 2 I found on EBAY. There is a web page about IRON CLAWS showing changes to the tool.

You mean 1770....those things went away about the same time chastity belts did.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Wasn't a LEO, but when I was a kid, the local motorcycle cops were rumored to be wearing something called "sap gloves".

I've got a pair somewhere-they are probably 40 years old. Also have somewhee a couple of blackjacks-the flat kind that would lay you open quicker than a knife if you used them right. Gawd-I haven't seen or thought of either in years. Probably all mildewed up and ruint by now.

 

[charger73se]

I was never in LE. I have been arrested a time or two, but never, ever was disrespectful or troublesome. I can tell you one thing for sure, if you pull a taser on me, i'm doing whatever you want, pronto. Just don't hit me with that thing. I hate electricity.

I'm too young to have carried those items, but I used to carry an ASP. I wouldn't want hit by either. Nowadays, I carry a Taser. I had to be tased to qualify to carry it. 5 second of fun and the pain is over. The crook gets off too easy, but less mess and potential for contacting some crud from their blood. Less likely to injure me as well. I've also been sprayed with O.C. That stuff lasts for hours. Yep, I'll take the Taser any day if I'm a bad guy. An old school arse whipping is what many of them need.

 

[Old TexMex]

These are some come-a-longs I have acquired. I was issued the IRON CLAW when I started in 1970 but it was taken out of service after an over zealous officer broke a prisoner's wrist with a little to much twist. The other 2 I found on EBAY. There is a web page about IRON CLAWS showing changes to the tool.

Here's a set of come-alongs that were uncovered in a wall, along with the two old revolvers:

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

No doubt, I could write a small encyclopedia about this subject. I carried and used frequently, both spring blackjacks and flat slappers. When carried in unifrom, guys frequently lost them from the so called "flashlight" pocket of the uniform trousers. I'd find 4 or 5 of them every year wedged between the radio car seat. I always searched the car before we turned out, from the previous tour.

I preferred the largest slapper, my partner at the time called it the "horse killer". They were made by Jay-Pee and could be had from any police equipment store. I carried them in uniform and in plainclothes, having learned the fine art of their use from three of my Uncle's who spent the 1930's to the 1960's in the NYPD perfecting their skills in some of the worst areas of that city.

Nightsticks and daysticks. The latter was the prescribed for day patrols and was shorter. A savvy unifromed patrolman with a bit of experience would tell you they could be a life saver....or a life taker. It was a familiar sight to see a foot post patrolman or two, twirling a nightstick under a street lamp. I can still do it, like riding a bicycle. Before portable radios, the stick was often utilized to gain the attention of another officer on an adjoining post by striking it on the ground or by using the PAW (Police Assistance Whistle, most associated with the London Metro coppers and different sounding than the Acme Thunderer traffic whistle.) Call boxes (if they worked) went directly into the precinct desk and were rarely nearby when you needed one. The nightstick was an important tool then, when you were basically on your own. A skilled patrolman could toss a club to stop a fleeing suspect it was said, but I never saw that happen. Sometimes circumstances dictated the use of smaller blunt instruments where a nightstick wouldn't be effective.

On a lovely Easter Sunday afternoon, one fine spring long ago, we responded to a disturbance at a large, internationally famous theater. We were met at the stage door by an Usher who informed us that a drunk was up in the balcony disrupting the stage performance and making lewd remarks and gestures to the female patrons. He asked us to "please be discrete" when removing the drunk from the premises. We assured him that we would try our best not to disturb the performance.

My partner who was suffering from a lingering night of about....well too many Manhattan's, was in no mood for diplomacy. He stood the surly drunk up on his feet and in the ensuing confrontation, the Usher got between my partner and the drunk, unfortunately for the Usher. I watched with particular amusement with my flashlight as my partner reached for his slapper and fired off a few quick hits. When the women in the audience stopped screaming, the performance stopped and the house lights came on. We discovered the drunk was unconcious with multiple contusions to the face and head lying in the aisle. Seated next to him on the aisle steps was the Usher, bleeding like a stuck pig from a small scalp wound that later required a few sutures to close. My partner turned to address the audience and said "Ladies and Gentleman, do not be alarmed, this is all part of todays performance." The relief of laughter from the patrons, who had enough of that belligerent drunk was apparent. As we cuffed the drunk and dragged him out of the balcony we recieved a standing ovation of applause from the audience.

In addition to disorderly conduct, we also charged the drunk for assaulting the Usher.

Try pulling that one off with pepper spray or a taser, today.

Cheers;
Lefty

Edited to add:

The Baton, was something used by a Drum Majorette in damn marching band.

 

[whitecoyote]

 

[153]

These aren't antiques, I prefer to think of these as approaching "vintage"...



As for remembering my badge number ... let me think!

 

[Iggy]

These aren't antiques, I prefer to think of these as approaching "vintage"...



As for remembering my badge number ... let me think!

That for sure looks just about like the equipment I carried for 13 years.

Used it all at one time or another.

 

[Joe Kent]

My uniform trousers had a sewn in pocket for a sap much like the old carpenter jeans had for folding measures. Had one but used sap gloves more often, also quit using those when I realized it would be hard to grab and fire my Model 19 while wearing them.

 

[Cherokee Slim]

This is what I carried all the time in the 70's in rural Tennessee.
Cherokee Slim