description

Physical description

long shaft of gnarled wood, fitted with leather grip, spiked iron finial, iron spikes and a coil of lead for weighting.

Label

The specialized nature of trench warfare, as it developed during the First World War, spawned a variety of new weapons. Many of these, such as clubs and knives intended for close quarter fighting, recalled more primitive eras of warfare. This exotic looking weapon is described in the original accession register of 1917 as a 'Casse Boche' with the suggestion that it was used by the French in the 2nd Battle of Champagne in 1917. It is constructed from a naturally gnarled piece of wood, weighted with lead and fitted with iron spikes. It is too long to make an effective club if the leather hand grip is held. It may well be that it was intended primarily as an officer's walking stick.

History note

Accession entry describes it as 'Casse Boche', 'used in Champagne 1917'. Too long to be used as a club if leather grip is held. Was possibly intended primarily as a walking stick.