A Jutte, literally translated as “ten hands” is a specialized weapon that was used by the police in Edo Period Japan. During the Edo period the Samurai caste carried out policing and the Jutte was considered a badge of office and represented someone on official business. The Jutte was carried by all levels of police officers and some could be quite ornate as a symbol of status.
This Jutte is without ornamentation and was clearly made for use. As with modern truncheons, the Jutte was used offensively to strike and thrust, and defensively to block attacks.
The 300mm iron truncheon has a six-sided hilt with a swivelling pommel and sarute. Forward of the hilt is the kagi, a hook-like protrusion that could be used to trap an opponents’ blade once deflected by the body of the truncheon but its more common uses were to hook into an opponents’ clothing or parts of their body or to push into joints or other weak points on the body to assist in controlling a prisoner.
This Jutte is in excellent condition. The cast iron has a great black-brown patina and the pommel and sarute loop swivel freely.
This is an excellent example of an Edo period Japanese police enforcement weapon.
