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Espantoon

Tuesday, 14 January 2020 07:23 Written by  Published in Courage Read 724 times
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Espantoon


Espantoon

Espantoon Info/History

Webster's Third Edition: "An Espantoon In Baltimore, a policeman's stick" We would like to start out by saying we collect Nightsticks, Espantoons, Batons, Truncheons, Billy Clubs Etc. - If you have one for sale, or donation let us know as we are interested.  For what might be obvious reasons we particularly like Baltimore style sticks, aside from their being the sticks carried by our brothers they also show a progression not just in what we carried, or had made, but what the department had made for us. While we like Baltimore sticks, we collect them all, from any state in the US to any country in the world. We hope to start a Baltimore Police Museum and would like to have as many we can to show what police have used for years to protect themselves and the public. Initially, it could be a rolling museum, and they will be used to show the differences over the years, as well to show how they wear, due to their having been carried everywhere with an officer over his or her career. As for the Museum, Commissioner Batts has promised us the old Headquarters Museum again, so as soon as possible we will be trying to get back into that museum, and able to show off our history to the public. 

 

burrell Barrell

Woodworkers that Turned Baltimore Espantoons
1939 / 2007

1939 / 1957 – Rev W. Gibbs McKenney - Made BPD Issue - Sold to Howard Uniform - 10,000 hickory 2,000 redwood over 20 yrs

1957 / 1977 – Rev. John D.  Longenecker - Made BPD Issue - Sold to Howard Uniform - 10,000 hickory 2,000 redwood over 20 yrs

1955 / 1979 – Carl Hagen - Made BPD Issue & his own Stick - Sold to Howard Uniform and Officers - 2.000 various wood types over 24 yrs

1974 / 1977 – Edward Bremer - Made his own Stick – Sold to Officers - 300 various wood types over 3 yrs

1977 / 2007 – P/O Joe Hlafka - Made his own Stick - Sold to Officers and Police Supply Shops - 10,000 various wood types over 37 yrs

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What makes an Espantoon and Espantoon? The Espantoon: A Private Club?

We might have the answer that will satisfy the age old question! What Makes a Baltimore Officer's Nightstick an Espantoon. We could just go by Webster's version, in which by definition of 3rd edition, defines the Espantoon as follows:

"In Baltimore; a Policeman's club" - There but for a more realistic and detailed answer, based on more than 30 years of carrying an Espantoon, using one, seeing them used, and studying them through photos, in person, and conversation. Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll has been able to answer the questions with a new answer that up until Ken found it, it had not been thought of or realized as to what makes an Espantoon, an Espantoon.

Why a Nightstick in the hands of any police officer other than a Baltimore "City" Police Officer, is a nightstick and will remain a nightstick until it is placed in the hands of a Baltimore city officer, and as if by magic the very second the nightstick is placed into the hands of a city officer it becomes an Espantoon. People have ascertained that it is merely a name as if calling it something different makes it different. Det Driscoll says it is much more than a name, calling it solid gold wouldn't make it solid gold, but, changing it from the hands of say a Baltimore City Officer to the hands of a Baltimore County Officer will, in fact, change an Espantoon to a Nightstick.

Ken like many have been trying to figure out what makes an Espantoon, an Espantoon, and it wasn't until while researching the subject for the Baltimore Police Historic Society to add to an exhibit in the Museum downtown, that he came across an article on the subject and in it the reporter asked the following question, a question that remained unanswered by the reporter in his article. Did Ken have the answer, as a kid, Ken listened to a lot of music, and there was a song by The Steve Miller Band that had a line Ken used to use when asked a question that he didn't want to, or didn't know the answer to. The line was, "The answer to everyone's question is usually found from within." So when he read the reporters' questions, he rephrased them a little further, where the reporter asked about an out of state officer driving through Baltimore with departmental issued locked in the trunk of his car. Would his stick become an Espantoon as he made his way through the City Limits? The answer would be, "No!" But, what if that same officer was to have flagged down one of our 20-Year veteran "City" Officers, a guy that was about to retire, and somehow the young officer was able to talk the retiring veteran into a trade. He opens his trunk, grabs his baton, the two make the swap. The young officer has been training by his agency in baton training and plans on taking this Baltimore treasure to work with him, where he'll be able to carry it for the next 20 years of his career. Does that young officer now process an Espantoon? Most of us would be surprised to hear, the second they make the exchange, that 20 years Baltimore stick in the hands of an out of jurisdiction officer, is no longer an Espantoon. 

10 July 1979 Espantoon 72

I have heard stories of city guys giving their Espantoon's to family members that have become County officers and hearing the county officer call it an Espantoon or a family member of the city police joining the county police, and he gives his relative his Espantoon, would the county still have an Espantoon, and again the answer would be "No!" As it turns out to better answer the question, Ken needed to have a kick-start of the reporter's questions, and as long as each of these officers followed their training, the nightstick is only and Espantoon in the hands of a Baltimore "City" Officer because of the "Barrel Head." Through conversations held with the guys that turned the Espantoon on the wood lathes, as well as old-timers that used them for self-protection, and or to protect those in need of an officer to protect them, hearing stories from these old-timers of only seeing a few minor changes over the years. When asked about the changes Ken was told in the early 70s, the sticks were made a little bigger than years prior, and around the same time, a swivel was added to the thong, making it easier to spin the stick, and possible to spin the stick for longer periods of time. Speaking of spinning the stick; I was told to spin the stick had multiple purposes, first it showed those wanting to make trouble that the officer had skills with the stick which more often than not often prevented anyone from wanting to mess with that officer. Spinning the stick also created a personal space situation, in which people knew not to get too close to the officer as it could cause them to inadvertently get hit by the stick. In firearms training they used to say, nothing stops trouble like the sound of, "racking a shotgun." Ken used to say this was the equivalent of racking a shotgun, but also had a way of entertaining kids. Some officers called it making the stick dance. Knowing the nomenclature of the stick helps, so we'll include that information below in a picture of a Joe Hlafka stick that Ken painted so the reader would understand better. the actual stick used in this article can be found in the Baltimore Police Museum downtown. 

ESPANTOON NOMENCLATURE72

The Blue portion of the Espantoon is mistaken most often as the handle of the stick, This is actually 
the striking end, it is called a Barrel Head, this too most likely comes as the result of an error
As in most Blunt force weapons, the striking end is called  Burl Head.  In the Tomahawk 

Sometimes something as simple as looking into the old General Orders and rule books can be telling, my favorite is something I think makes Baltimore's Nightstick into an Espantoon, copy pasted directly from the department's GO's now called Policies, specifically Policy 1111 - BATONS / IMPACT WEAPONS... Under Espantoon we find the following; Policy #1111 - BATONS / IMPACT WEAPONS... Under the heading or title Espantoon, it is the fifth title down under DEFINITIONS and reads as follows    Espantoon — Wooden baton between 22-25 inches in length, with the striking end of the baton being between 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the grip end being 1 3/8 inches in diameter. This baton has color restrictions and shall only be coated in an Oak, Ash, Maple, Hickory or Rosewood finish. Decorations are prohibited. Looking at the aforementioned info regarding measurements we see the following line - "the striking end of the baton being between 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the grip end being 1 3/8 inches in diameter "  So if we look close we'll see we have a striking end between 1-1/2" - 1-3/4" in diameter... while the Handle/Grip end is 1-3/8" in diameter... so the "Striking End" is at a minimal 1/8" to 3/8" larger than the Handle/Grip end. Meaning the "Striking End," is the larger end of the Baltimore Espantoon or nightstick, the end that is often mistaken as the handle, is in fact by order the striking end.

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mistaken as the handle, is in fact by order the striking end.

Nomenclature to the Espantoon

Nomenclature of the Espantoon

Looking at the BLUE Barrel Head or Burl-Head above we can see how in the upper photo, the picture of the Baltimore Espantoon, just how easily the striking end could be mistaken for the stick's handle. Looking at the Pictures below, we can see that by paying attention to what we are doing we can carry the Espantoon in a way that keeps the barrel-Head at our ready, It is always in a way that we can grab it with the weak hand, and have the barrel-head where we need it, just in case we have to used for our protection.

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ESP means to Carry at the ready labled 72i

NOTE; We included a few Non-Baltimore Police pics just to see how other agencies carry their batons, nightsticks, etc. and how when you carry it the way we carry ours, before long when you see others carrying them upside down, and backward, it kinda jumps out at us. This will provide a nice educational moment for those that might be interested and maybe a little humor for those that don't get it or understand.  

esp an toon EDITED

The letter "A" is marking off the portion of the stick known as the Barrel head. Notice how much cleaner the middle of the Barrel head is when compared to the shaft, especially the part of the shaft we have marked with the letter "B." The section we have marked with the letter "C" has a lot of dirty hand marks, but it is not as dirty as the section we have marked with the letter "B." To us, this shows the Officer handled it often down around that section marked "B," which could be an indication that this Officer spun this stick as he walked his beat. The constant catch and release of a stick while twirling it will put that portion of the stick in the hand most often. A stick with a light stain and no clear coat will absorb oil from the hands, then pick up and retain the most dirt. [especially when there is no swivel, and the stick has to be caught and released more often to keep it going while preventing it from tangling up on itself]. Then if we look at the stick between the portion marked "C," we can see the stick was carried most likely in the strong-hand. Some guys learned to spin/twirl in their weak-hand, many just use their strong-hand. So this helps us not only date the stick, but also prove how it was handled, and every hand print strengthens our feelings that this was a Baltimore Issued Espantoon that was spun by a Baltimore Officer because other agencies do not allow an officer to carry and Espantoon, the way a Baltimore Officer would.

Looking at the photo before this, the one where the Officer is seen in four variations, and we'll see his hand is most often held in the center of the shaft. Now we have to add to the holding of the stick, at the shaft, to what happened when the stick is actually used, either to strike someone or to pry their arm behind their back. It also works to put someone in an Am bar, and then to either walk them to the wagon or to cuff them when they are resisting. As long as it is resisting with intent to flee, rather than resisting while assaulting the Officer, how an officer reacts is dependent upon how the subject acts.

We'll retake a look at these pics to see better what is meant by, "carried at the shaft." if we look a the four picture group, in particular, the second picture, the one marked with the letter "B," we'll see how the stick was most often tucked up under the Officer's weak-arm. Unlike the picture most guys I saw, including myself, once the stick was tucked under the weak arm, the strong hand reaches up and across to hold the stick at that section earlier marked with the letter "C," in the "A, B, C' picture

oros20000260A

Courtesy Robert Oros
Notice the way this officer is holding the Espantoon, with
what looks like the handle but out on the striking end.
This is what makes a Nightstick, an Espantoon.

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ESP held in check dropped shadow 72

This is a most commonly used "Striking position," it is also a catch, and or release position of holding the stick when spinning/twirling the espantoon.

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ESP means to Carry at the ready labled 72i

We have and will continue to see this picture on the site, look where the stick is most often held, and we'll see why the hand-prints are where they are, and how this is a Baltimore thing. Obviously this doesn't just go for this stick, go get your stick, or the next time you pick up a stick, at a flea market, or antique store, pick it up and look for these tell tail signs. After all no other agency, not only had their officers turn a nightstick around and use the handle as the business end, but if we read our general orders we see several lines describing the various Batons allowed in use by the department, when they describe the Espantoon it is described as follows. Espantoon — Wooden Baton between 22-25 inches in length, with the striking end of the baton being between 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the grip end being 1-3/8 inches in diameter. This baton has color restrictions and shall only be coated in an Oak, Ash, Maple, Hickory or Rosewood finish. Decorations are prohibited. 

1-3/8" is smaller than 1-3/4" So what they are describing as the striking end, is what most mistake as the handle. Meaning the Striking end is that handle looking end.

To better understand what makes an Espantoon, an Espantoon, we have to take into consideration, what is the different between, a nightstick carried in New York, Chicago, Philly or by any other police officer in any other police department anywhere in this country. Basically, other than Chicago that had a unique turning pattern to their baton’s handle, that could help identify it as a Chicago stick. Baltimore may not have a pattern for optional officer self purchased sticks, the issued sticks were the same design from 1937 to 1992. Before 1937, the sticks were not much different, the craftsmanship was slightly better looking. Put either the older versions or the more modern version on a table with other batons from around the world and a Baltimore baton could easily be picked from the crowd.

In Looking at how a Baltimore Officer carries, holds, or strikes with his or her Espantoon, we can see the, "Barrel-Head" is held opposite of the way one would think it would be held. Instead of holding it by what appears to be the handle, our officers use an alternative method of holding the Espantoon at the opposite end, and by the shaft. Like choking up on a baseball bat, the stick can be held closer to the end, the middle, or the top near what we refer to as the “Thong groove” or “Ring Stop”. See the Nomenclature for our Espantoon below. These adjustments coupled with the ways our Baltimore police officers hold what could have been an average police baton, or nightstick and turning it into one of Baltimore Police Department’s famous Espantoon’s. Another interesting point is, if we give our espantoon to an officer from another agency, and that officer uses it according to their agencies rule book, it is no longer an Espantoon, likewise, if the Chicago or NYPD officer gives one of their Nightsticks, or batons to a Baltimore City Police Officer, our officer could convert it to an espantoon in a split second, then just as quickly as it was turned it into an Espantoon, when they take it back and convert it back to a Baton or Nightstick.

In the following four pictures we'll see how a Baltimore Officer carries their Espantoon so that the way the blunt end of a simple branch from a blackthorn tree can be cut to give us a blunt end on a nightstick, or police baton. That blunt end is called a, “Burl-head” on the Irish Shillelagh and when our Irish ancestors within the Baltimore Police looked at the Espantoon, they saw the shaft end, and the handle which they would call a burl-head. Over the years call it a Baltimore “Accent” or simple misunderstanding, but what may have started out being called a, “Burl head”, became renamed the, “Barrel-head.” What is funny, is when I was told the names of the parts of an Espantoon, they started at the “Barrel-Head”, a grizzly old-timer of a policeman took my nightstick and almost as if he was angry at me for a mistake I had not yet made, but one that I without a doubt was about to make. He wanted to know the names of the parts of our Espantoon. Now keep in mind I was either just out of the Academy, or out on a walk along, while or still in the police academy. So, this veteran officer asked me to name the parts of a nightstick, he began by pointing the barrel-head while saying “Let’s start here, by your telling me what this part is called?” before I could say a word, and don’t get me wrong, I had no idea. But he continued, “You are probably thinking it is the “handle” or “grip”, and if so, you would be wrong, this part is called the, “Barrel-Head.” they call it a Barrel Head, because if you look closely, it resembles an old wooden “Barrel,” and it is at the striking head, of the officer’s stick. “That’s right” he went on to say, “I said, “striking-head” it is not as most people most likely including yourself who probably thought it was the handle, or grip to the Espantoon. Back then, he said, Barrel-Head, he doubled down, telling me how it is shaped like a barrel. It wasn’t until sometime between 2012 and 2015 that I was working on blunt weapons that were used years ago but are still in use in certain areas of society today.   While looking up modern weapons that have been around since primitive times, I came across a handful of handheld, blunt end impact weapons, like the Irish Shillelagh that oddly enough all other such blunt-end weapons, such as the formerly mentioned "Irish Shillelagh" or the "African Knob-kierrie" both having either a naturally formed or a hand carved yet blunt striking end. The weapon end in both cases was called a "Burl-Head." Which raises the question, could it be that years ago, heard, or perhaps even said, Burl-Head but was misunderstood and believed to have said, "Barrel-Head." After all, Baltimore is close enough to the Mason Dixon line to have given us a mix of both Southern and Northern accents that can, and often have been misunderstood. So now over the years from sometime in the early 1780’s we have changed Burl to Barrel, and it will remain a Barrel Head from here on out in Baltimore. 

If at this point the description is handled like it could serve as a method of weaponizing any stick, branch etc. This could be about as primitive as a caveman and his club. In fact, some police and certain groups in our society have called the police officer’s baton, or nightstick, a “Billy Club”. By converting what was most likely originally turned to be used as the handle of the officer’s baton into the striking end of a blunt force weapon, assaults can be ended much more rapidly. With many of our police in those early days having come from an Irish heritage, it wouldn’t be long before one of these Irish Police would look at the Espantoon and realize that by turning it around the handle on the lathe they could make a better striking end, and the as Ed Bremer said, “The quicker a bout with a criminal can be ended, the likeliness of either party being seriously injured is reduced. Bremer’s actual quote was,

The way they looked at the Irish shillelagh, to end fights, and like most fights it is considered cowardly to continue striking someone when the subject stops fighting, the Espantoon, Irish Shillelagh or the African Knobkierie, starting with the older Irish Shillelagh and the African Knobkierie these are both blunt force weapons that use nature to make or form the striking end often called a, "Burl-Head"  While Baltimore Espantoons are not natural and were originally turned with a handle, the Irish turned the stick around to use that handle as the Burl-Head, But with Baltimore having such strong southern accents the word, Burl-Head became Barrel-Head. 

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1920's Baltimore Police Issue

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker

Stick 1

Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 
This has one edge shaved flat so it would stay in place without popping out every time we turn a sharp corner or hit a pothole. The flat spot helps keep it in place when it's forced between the dashboard padding and the transmission hump.

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker
There was a time in the mid 50's that officers would shave the Barrel Head of their Espantoon
Taking it from convex to flat/straight then add or re-cut grooves in the new Barrelhead 

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 
 This is another case of someone attempting to straighten the convex, "Barrelhead" 

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Issued Stick 1987 

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 Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 

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Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker 

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Jim Brock
Perfection Collection
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker Model
Circa 2015 

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Non-Issue Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker

Stick 2

Non-Issued Stick 1937 - 1977
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Rev. John D. Longenecker

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Carl Hagen turned sold through Howard Uniform
circa 1965

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Carl Hagen

This is an early Carl Hagen Stick, it came while he was still turning them to the size of an issue stick, and isn't too far off of the standard issue stick, he just added a few things to make it stand out from the issue stick, and turned it from an oak. 

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P/O Wheatley holding a Carl Hagen Stick, notice how Carl rounded the top of his stick,  

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Carl Hagen
1955 - 1979

This is one of Carls first unique designs, it was done solely by him and became a popular design from his sticks. In the next pic, we'll see Officer Ray Wheatley holding a Carl Hagen Espantoon, it is more of an issue cut, but with a modern (at the time) cut, the cut that ended up being refined into the sticks we saw turned by Ed Bremer and Joe Hlafka.

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Jim Brock
Perfection Collection
Carl Hagen Model
Circa 2015

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Jim Brock
Perfection Collection Thin Blue Line Stick
Carl Hagen Model
Circa 2015 

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Prior to Issued Sticks 1954 - 1960
Rev. W. Gibbs McKenney & Carl Hagen 
At some point when McKenney had retired from turning sticks, he had donated his lathe and tools to a boy's school out west, and before meeting Reverend Longenecker, McKenney he had met Carl Hagen and showed him how to turn sticks, for whatever reason, Carl turned some sticks for Howard Uniform, he just didn't get the 500+ stick a year contracts from Howard Uniform that the Reverends McKenney & Longenecker received.

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Carl Hagen
1955 - 1979 

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Jim Brock
Perfection Collection Lignum vitae #001 Stick
Lignum vitae is on top 10 lists of hardest woods
depending on the list it is either 2nd or 4th
One might be how dense the wood is, while the other might be
how dense the guy/gal is that is trying to spelling Lignum Vitae
Joe Hlafka Model
Circa 2015 

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Ed Bremer
1974 - 1977

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Jim Brock
Edward Bremer Model
Circa 2015  

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1977 - 2007
P/O Joe Hlafka 

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Joe Hlafka

1987 - I bought this from Joe Hlafka direct apparently someone ordered it, paid half down and before it was done they found their stick and told Joe, they didn't need it anymore, could he sell it to someone for the remainder of the balance, I was the lucky guy that talked to Joe about a stick, and he gave me the stick for $12.00. I have replaced the thong twice, had it I say stolen once, the guy that took it, called it found. How you can find an espantoon in the trunk of a patrol car and not think it must belong to someone. Not to mention DRISCOLL is written around the stick in blue sharpie by the Ring Stop - Anyway, it is a 30 plus-year-old stick.  

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I turned this myself 

1990 - I put the extra groove on the shaft because after carrying it for a day or two I realized the stick felt good, weight was nice, but the shaft was too think to hold on while swinging it, So I taped the thong to the Barrel head with Duct tape, and put the stick back on the lathe. After shaving the shaft to a comfortable grip, I was done, pulled the tape and it was a spinner, or umm, I mean a winner, 

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Irish Shillelagh

This is to point out the striking part of this weapon, that blunt looking rock, or fist shaped portion at the end of this weapon and any blunt force weapon is called the "Burl Head". On the Espantoon the blunt striking end resembles and is often mistaken for the weapon's handle is called the "Barrel Head." Most likely stemming from a misunderstanding caused by Baltimore's southern drawl or bad "accent," causing a listener to misunderstand what a speaker may have said, Burl Head to thinking the speaker said, "Barrel Head." In 1987 when an old timer told me, he even pointed to the shape and, said, this is because this looks like a wine or whiskey barrel. Truth be told, it wasn't a barrel at all, it's a burl.

Carl Hagen 1957 77s

Barrel Head

This is the Barrel or Burl Head of one of Carl Hagen's early sticks - This Rounded off top end was exclusive to Carl Hagen, and was found more on the West side of Baltimore than the East. The East-side Espantoons saw more of a two or three tiered layers each with a hard edge that sat atop the espantoon like a crown on top the barrel head end of the stick. If we look at Carl's earlier stuff, he had a two or three-tiered top edge also, but it wasn't a hard edge. Carl had a super soft, smooth transition going tier to tier on the barrel head.

Ed Bremer 1974 77s

Barrel Head

This is the Barrel Head from one of Ed Bremer's early sticks, he put what he called a "Nib" on the top of all his Barrel head. Mr. Bremer felt he saved lives, both of Officers and Suspects because as he once said, "Nightsticks Save Lives, Preventing Officers from a need to escalate from hand-to-hand combat to the use of a firearm." The faster we can get a suspect into cuffs the safer it is for both the officer and the suspect. This stick is turned from Lignum vitae, a wood that was banned by the department as it was too heavy, hard and they felt could cause serious injury or death.

Some Reference Articles for Our Private Use

To Assist the local Police, Espantoon
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/29_May_1941_Espantoon_pt2.jpg
Arrest Disorderly Ones, Espantoon
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/29_May_1941_Espantoon.jpg
The Espantoon a Private Club? Johns Hopkins Pyramids 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/10_July_1979_Espantoon.jpg
Espantoon - Espantar
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/5_Jan_1885_Espantoon.jpg
Police Officer Shot Espantoon strikes pocket gun and shoots the officer
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/5_Jan_1885_Espantoon_2.jpg
City Police New Equipment Espantoon
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/10_Dec_1867__Espantoon.jpg
His Nightstick - Carl Hagen Pg 2
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/20_Nov_1960_Espantoon-pg2.jpg
His Nightstick - Carl Hagen Pg 1
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/20_Nov_1960_Espantoon-pg1.jpg 
Passe Espantoon
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/16_Jan_1966_Espantoon-passe.jpg 
Pith-Hat 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/13_June_1935_Pith_hat_pith.jpg 
Police Battle Espantoon 
 http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/14_Jun_1939_20_Nov_1960_Espantoon.jpg 
Faces Own Pistol 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/23_May_1940_Espantoon.jpg 
Espantoon 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/22_Mar_1941_Espantoon.jpg 
Policeman's Personal Friend 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/24_Jan_1966_Espantoon.jpg 
Espantoon - Half-pike
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/10_Jul_1940_Espantoon.jpg 
Watchman Fire Company 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/18_Apr_1843_Watchmen_firemen.jpg 
MP Espantoon - Louisville Slugger 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/29_May_1941_Espantoon_pt2.jpg
Plausible Explanation of Espantoon  
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/18_May_18_Espantoon.jpg  
Officers gift a ring and Espantoon to their sergeant 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/9_Jan_1858_Espantoon.jpg  
Does a Military Police in the City automatically mean he/she carries an Espantoon? the editor if the Sun said yes... I say No! 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/30_May_1941_Espantoon.jpg  
Here's What the Police Call an Espantoon  
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Here's_what_a_cop_calls_an_espantoon.jpg
Patrolman Battle 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/22_Mar_1914_ESPANTOON.jpg
Soldier Arrested and put in Jail 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/15_Mar_1920_ESPANTOON.jpg
Espantoon Tossing 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/2_Jan_1930_ESPANTOON.jpg  
Patrolman throws Espantoon at Auto 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1_Jan_1930_ESPANTOON.jpg 
Patrolman cleared in Espantoon Toss 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/3_Jan_1930_ESPANTOON.jpg 
Nightstick - Daystick 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/25_Aug_1932_ESPANTOON_PT-2.jpg 
Espantoons at Night 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/25_Aug_1932_ESPANTOON_PT-1.jpg  
Patrolman Waldsach Assaulted with Espantoon Pg 1
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/12_Mar_1919_Espantoon-1.jpg  
Patrolman Waldsach Assaulted with Espantoon Pg 2 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/12_Mar_1919_Espantoon-2.jpg  
Benedict Slain pt 1
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/16_Feb_1948_Espantoon-1.jpg  
Benedict Slain pt 2 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/16_Feb_1948_Espantoon-2.jpg 
Guilty of Assault on Patrolman 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/6_Jun_Espantoon.jpg 
Patrolman Fight 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/21_Mar_1914_Espantoon.jpg 
Steven Stevenson False Statement
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/11_Sep_1838_Espantoon.jpg 
Officer Twirling sketch 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/18July1935-spontoon.jpg 
Assault High Constable 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/24Mar1846_Spontoon.jpg 
Theft Charge Spontoon 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/23Mar1846_Spontoon.jpg 
Unfaithful Watchman 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/20Oct20-1843_Spontoon.jpg 
The trial of the Ballot Box 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Sat__Apr_1__1876_(1a).jpg
Maybe Sachle Snatcher 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Sun__May_18__1902_.jpg
Officer Burkens 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Sat__Apr_1__1876_.jpg
Marshall Faran 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Sat__Aug_9__1902_.jpg  
Horse Bites Officer 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Sun__Sep_25__1904_.jpg

  1 black devider 800 8 72

http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(54).jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1_KSCN0004_sm.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1Elroy_Norris.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img080.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img091.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img099.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img153.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img154.jpg 
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img169.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/1img178o.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(26).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(31).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(32).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(33).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(34).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(35).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(50).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(51).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(52).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Scan_20170807_(55).jpg

http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__Nov_20__1960__1a.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__Nov_20__1960__2a.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__Nov_20__1960__3a.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__Nov_20__1960__4a.jpg

http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sat__Apr_1__1876_(1a).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sat__Apr_1__1876_(1).jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Police-spurn-citys-nightsticks-buy-their-own-Jun-27-1977.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The-Nightstick-Oct-10-1959.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/POLICE-SCHOOL-GIVES-NIGHTSTICK-DIPLOMAS.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/18-April-1843-Espantoon-in-sunpaper-first-tme-mentioned-(2).pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Nightstick-Joe-guaranteed-hobby-1983.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/His-Nightsticks-Air-Swing-Shifts-To-Make-Heads-Sting-May-14-1934.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Espantoon-as-lifeline-Sep-7-1903.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/What_makes_an_Espantoon_an_espatoon.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sat__Aug_9__1902_.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__Sep_25__1904_.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sat__Apr_1__1876_.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Sun__May_18__1902_.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Baltimore_Sun_Fri__Aug_28__1868__Spontoon.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Evening_Sun_Sat__Mar_22__1941_Spontoon.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Evening_Sun_Thu__Aug_25__1932_ESPANTOON_PT-2.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/The_Evening_Sun_Thu__Jul_18__1935_spontoon.jpg
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/nightstick_10_Oct_1959.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Policeman_cut_with_Espantoon_11_Jul_1965.pdf
http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/Espantoon/Shot_himself_with_his_Espantoon.pdf

 

Our Espantoon Collection

Devider color with motto

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll


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