Antique Wooden Trench Raiding Club with Internal Lead Weighted Tip

Here on offer is what appears to be a WW1 trench raiding club made from a branch of wood, possibly blackthorn. The tip has an internal lead weight fitted similar to the type fitted to officially issued British clubs, at the time.

A hole has been drilled through it near the end of the grip, which would have originally had a thin rope or leather strap/loop fitted.

At the thin end a black painted wooden disc has been fitted that would act as a guard to stop it slipping out of your hand in the muddy trenches.

The main section now has a rich dark patina to the wood and the tip retains its original branch socket that acts as impact nodules, like hob nails did on other versions.

The tip has had a hole drilled through it, that has then been filled with lead, adding weight and extra impact to this weapon.

This is an exceptionally rare example of a nearly impossible to find WW1 trench club, that is perfectly weighted and could do some serious damage!


Trench raiding clubs were homemade melee weapons used by both the Allies and the Central Powers during WW1.

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. Some then had rows of large hobnails hammered in around its circumference, to add to the damage it would cause,

Most designs had some form of cord or leather strap at the end to wrap around the user's wrist.

Apparently, 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 clubs, from whatever materials where available at the time. They were generally used along with other "quiet" weapons such as trench knives, entrenching tools, bayonets, hatchets and pickaxe handles.

The club is in excellent condition, with no visible damage.

It measures 16.75” (43.5cm) long and weighs a heavy 350g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 52086