Original German WWI Trench Raiding Mace - From Personal Collection of David Machnicki, Author of At Arm's Length Series & Featured in Upcoming Volume III - One of Three Known Examples
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Purchased directly from David F. Machnicki, the author of At Arm's Length Trench Club book Series, the most up-to-date reference on the topic today. This is a tremendous lightweight trench club with great patina & character. This very club is slated to be featured in book three of the series AT ARMS LENGTH.
The author also notes that there are only three known examples of this variety; one is in a private collection in France, another is in a European museum, and this is the third, a very rare example.
This gruesome example is comprised of a large almost cylindrical head which has fifteen (15) small metal spikes arranged in diagonal groups of three, but are only embedded on one side of the head. Additionally, a roughly 1 ¾” metal spike has been nailed to the head via four nails attached at the base. The entire head was then painted a gray color, perhaps to give the idea that the head is entirely composed of metal.
The shaft directly under the head is wood-burned with the number 175, the significance of which is yet to be determined. The wooden handle tapers gradually to the pommel where it becomes bulbous. There is a small hole right over the pommel for the attachment of a lanyard. The club measures roughly 14” in length.
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. It is going to be featured in the upcoming Volume III of Machnicki’s popular “At Arm’s Length” series, which will only increase its value! 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.
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