TrenchRat Posted October 22, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 22, 2018 Good day all, Does anyone here have any information on WWI era Military Police batons or Billy clubs? I am looking to see what they were made of, the styles and if there was any type of frog that may have held them to a belt. Thanks in advance, TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 22, 2018 Share #2 Posted October 22, 2018 There was no standard issued or regulation club in WWI. Some units had what appears to have been civilian police clubs and others have every shape and size you can imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themick Posted October 22, 2018 Share #3 Posted October 22, 2018 Here's one. It's made of oak, and 18 inches long. It belonged to my Uncle's (by marriage) father who used it in WWI, with a Massachusetts outfit. It used to have a leather wrap around the grip (white leather) with thin leather straps to wrap around the wrist. Over the years it fell off and is lost.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 22, 2018 Share #4 Posted October 22, 2018 Here are a couple of WWI RPPCs of MPs with clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 22, 2018 Share #5 Posted October 22, 2018 A few more RPPCs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 22, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 22, 2018 Here are a few MP clubs. The Bottom one is WWI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 22, 2018 Share #7 Posted October 22, 2018 I thought I'd include the Navy Shore Patrol....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrenchRat Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted October 23, 2018 Hello themick, That is pretty neat to have a named club...thanks for posting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrenchRat Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted October 23, 2018 MP25, Thanks for the pictures, love those. My club looks like it could fit right in with that group (post #6). I see that none of the MPs in those photos have any way to carry the club, outside of looping the lanyard over the mag pouch. I am curious if there was ever any provision to have any sort of carrier...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 24, 2018 Share #10 Posted October 24, 2018 No carriers were issued. Clubs were usually just suspended from the web belt by the leather thong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrenchRat Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted October 24, 2018 MP25, Thanks for the info. I ask b/c I recently purchased a baton with a carrier that seems to have been made from an old leather bayonet scabbard. Former owner claims it was made from the upper portion of a trapdoor bayonet scabbard to be exact. Wasn't sure what to make of it, but the 1912 mounted belt it came with was worth the price I paid for the entire set... Thanks... TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 24, 2018 Share #12 Posted October 24, 2018 NY Home Guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #13 Posted October 27, 2018 Various (alleged) WW I era MP batons ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #14 Posted October 27, 2018 1912 Pistol belt allegedly modified to hold an MP baton (photos courtesy of Bay State Militaria.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 27, 2018 Alleged WW I era MP baton frog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #16 Posted October 27, 2018 Early MP with batons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 27, 2018 WW I MPs with batons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #18 Posted October 27, 2018 WW I MP with baton suspended from a cartridge belt lift-the-dot snap fastener. (photo courtesy of the JGuy collection) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #19 Posted October 27, 2018 WW I "Provost Guard" personnel with extra long batons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 27, 2018 Share #20 Posted October 27, 2018 WW I MP with batons … note the white on blue MP Brassards. I'm still trying to figure out if there was any significant difference between the white on blue MP Brassards and the more common Red on Black MP Brassards. Or why (and when) the Army a changed from white initials to red initials? Does anybody know??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 27, 2018 Share #21 Posted October 27, 2018 Originally U. S. MPs wore the navy blue or black brassard with white lettering. At sometime early in the war, we adopted the British colors, black band with red letters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP25 Posted October 27, 2018 Share #22 Posted October 27, 2018 Alleged WW I era MP baton frog. That doesn't look WWI to me...….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted October 28, 2018 Share #23 Posted October 28, 2018 I've also read that the AEF adopted the British MP Brassard colors overseas. The British Army seemed to have had a different brassard for just about every military activity that you can think of. In late 1917, or early 1918, the AEF followed suite and adopted a number of the British style brassards, and some from the French Army as well. As near as I can tell the majority of the adopted brassards were authorized to only be used by AEF. Because of that policy, I wonder if the British MP Brassard colors were authorized only for AEF personnel or if that color change extended to the rest of the Army scattered across the United States and throughout its foreign possessions. Period photos seem to show a mix of the two colors being worn both overseas and here in the states. It would be nice if some documentation explaining the above would turn up to help clarify things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted October 28, 2018 Share #24 Posted October 28, 2018 Proof is in the pudding! I enjoy coming over here and looking through many of these threads, so many excellent vintage images. Images are impeachable. I don't even collect WWI but am fascinated about the learning experience from the conversations that transpire in this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted October 29, 2018 Share #25 Posted October 29, 2018 Alleged WW I era MP baton frog. Hi WWINerd, That looks to be the leather frog for an AK/AKM bayonet; from the cold war era. I have seen these on bayonets advertised as Romanian manufacture. So I think we can rule this one out as a WWI piece, unless it just happens to strongly resemble the AK/AKM frog. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now