Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Purchased directly from David F. Machnicki, the author of At Arm's Length Trench Clubs and Knives (Vol. 1), where this very club is featured on page 47. Please note that the attached page image from the book is copyrighted material and the use of the page is done by permission of the author. A printed copy of the page will accompany the purchase of this club. This is an outstanding but very heavy and worn spring-handle trench club with an enormous cast iron head almost resembling a doorknob. 

The entry reads:

“This is a unique example of an Austrian trench club that was manufactured by a soldier using the readily available materials to construct a weapon while stationed along the front. The club has a length of 347 mm and a mass of 845 grams. Its robust cast iron head was most likely a piece of salvaged metal that resembles the shape of a "doorknob". This iron head was welded to the top of the 18mm diameter spring handle. The flexible steel spring is embedded approximately 90-millimeters into the wood grip. The spring appears to have been repaired by a weld at the top of the ferrule. A remnant of a trench club's broken handle may have been used to assemble the club. Its wasp-waist grip is cracked, discolored and shows a combination of 30 narrowly spaced and 10 widely spaced, 0.5 mm deep groove turned about its circumference. The head of the pommel shows evidence of a pommel cap. A 33.5 mm diameter steel ring intended for the attachment of a lanyard is permanently housed around the club's spring handle.”

This example now has a small rope attached to the steel lanyard ring, but this was not on the club in the book and appears to have been added by the author later. The handle shows heavy cracking, no doubt from being forced to bear the weight of a far-too-heavy cast iron head. The spring still works well but due to the condition we would not recommend using this for its intended purpose! 

The club measures roughly 13 ½” long and really looks the business! These spring-handled clubs are normally attributed to Germany, but the author is adamant that it is a handmade Austrian example assembled at the front, and we are inclined to believe him.

One of the most eye-catching trench clubs that we have offered! Ready to become the centerpiece of your collection!