Recently
I was doing some research on the SOE and the Home Guard Auxiliary Units. The
Auxiliary units were a uniformed force that in the event of an invasion were to
conceal themselves in occupied territory and conduct a campaign of sabotage.
The equipment list of the auxiliary units made for interesting reading. One
list I came across included a number of “knobkerries”. This probably refers to
World War One vintage trench clubs that have been discussed in another blog.
Such weapons would be an obvious compliment to the commando knives and other stealthy
combat systems the Auxiliaries were issued with. Another list contained an
entry for “rubber truncheons” instead. There are times when an enemy may need
to be subdued without excessive bloodspill or fatal results.
“Rubber
truncheon” is quite an evocative phrase nowadays. In the first half of the 20th
century a number of police forces issued hard rubber batons. This was probably
the source of the Auxiliary unit weapons. Such batons seem to have fallen from
favour and as is often the case the reason may be more political than
practical.
Many
years back I wrote an article on blackjacks and saps. These can be a useful
defensive tool for a police officer but have become controversial. Blackjacks
have been used as scapegoats, with the weapon conveniently blamed for the
misconduct of some users.
Blackjacks
and saps effectively divide into two types. One type is circular in section and
often has a coil spring in its shank. The other type is a flattened “beavertail-shape”.
If there is a spring incorporated in this second type it will be a flat leaf
spring.
The
round-type have a noticeable snap to them since the spring allows the head to
accelerate faster than the head of a rigid weapon of similar short length. The spring
of the flat-type does not seem to contribute as noticeably to the force as the
coil spring model. The beavertail-shape does allow the force to be spread over
a wider area, reducing the chance of serious injury. The flat-type also gives
you the option of striking with the edge when necessary, which is useful on
some bulkier target areas such as large muscle groups.
I
concluded that the ideal sap/blackjack would have a coil spring combined with a
flattened head. As far as I know, no one has attempted to make such a model, or
if they have they have not bothered to credit or contact me!
Encountering
the idea of truncheons made from rubber or rubber-like materials got me
thinking about blackjacks once again. Why not a modified beavertail-shape
moulded from hard rubber or a synthetic modern equivalent? Much easier to
manufacture than a leather, lead and spring weapon. If the stem was made in a
square or circular cross section the weapon would gain the benefits of
acceleration whether striking with the edge or the flat.
Police
officers need more less-lethal options. The blackjack can be concealed discretely
in the hand and brought into action when there is insufficient time to draw a
nightstick or handgun. Used correctly it can end aggression with minimal
damage.
It occurred
to me last night that the resulting rubber sap might actually resemble a dog's bone-shaped toy!
The Books
