Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous example of a First World War trench club as used by the 7th Division of the British Army fighting along the Italian Front at Grave di Papadopoli sul Piave. Featuring 12 triple-cloverleaf textured hobnails, and the top of the club being hollowed out and filled with lead, this was a meticulously-designed weapon meant for repeated use in an unforgiving environment. 

This trench club was featured on Page 12 of Volume II of “At Arms Length: Trench Clubs and Maces” by David F. Machnicki. 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. The entry reads:

“This club shows extensive aging due to weathering and use. Its total length approximates 455mm and its mass is 523 grams. The entire surface for its wooden handle is attractively worn, scarred, and covered with tiny, round woodworm holes which are in actuality, a wood-earing larvae typifying on oe many beetle species. The center at the top of the club’s head was hollowed out and filled with lead. The mounting nail that once secured its leaded center is now missing. Its wooden handle tapers gradually to form the grip where 13 regularly spaced grooves were carved to provide “grip assurance” for its user. The pommel is severely damaged but retains its original hemp lanyard.

Note: In addition to its use on the Western Front, some references have identified this model of club being supplied to the British 7th Division fighting along the Italian Front at Grave di Papadopoli sul Piave.”

This is one of the most gorgeous trench clubs we have ever offered, with the added provenance of coming from the collection of the most prolific authorities on trench maces & clubs. Don’t miss out! Comes ready for further research and display.

Trench raiding clubs were homemade melee weapons used by both the Allies and the Central Powers during World War I. Clubs were used during nighttime trench raiding expeditions as a quiet and effective way of killing or wounding enemy soldiers. The clubs were usually made out of wood. It was common practice to fix a metal object at the striking end (e.g. an empty Mills bomb) in order to maximize the injury inflicted. Another common design comprised a simple stave with the end drilled out and a lead weight inserted, with rows of large hobnails hammered in around its circumference. Most designs had some form of cord or leather strap at the end to wrap around the user's wrist. Bosnian soldiers serving in the Austro-Hungarian army were fond of using maces. They were also used by officers to finish enemy soldiers wounded by poison gas attacks.

Trench clubs were manufactured in bulk by units based behind the lines. Typically, regimental carpenters and metal workers would make large numbers of the same design of club. They were generally used along with other "quiet" weapons such as trench knives, entrenching tools, bayonets, hatchets and pickaxe handles – backed up with revolvers and hand grenades.