Jutte (1)

One arresting implement which became standard for nearly all levels was the jutte or iron truncheon. In time, the jutte also served as a badge of office carried by all levels of police officers. The jutte could parry the slash of a razor-sharp sword and aid in disarming a suspect without the danger of inflicting any serious injuries.

Copyright � 2009. Please do not use the photographs or the text on this site without permission. 
(Image use must include the statement: "Copyright � 2009. Photograph by Don Cunningham.")

This Edo-period jutte is signed Sui Shin Shi Masahide. It is circa 1850 - 1870, with same on the tsuka and a round and tapered russet iron boshin. The kagi is attached to the boshin with a forged iron pin and reinforced with a heavy iron collar.

This is a very heavy jutte made from a matchlock rifle barrel and signed Kunitomo. It has same on the tsuka and a six-sided boshin. It was probably carried by a doshin or samurai patrolman in the area of Sendai, a city north of Tokyo in Miyagi prefecture. The touch-off hole underneath the kagi indicates this jutte also functioned as a teppo or firearm, most likely for signaling or to startle opponents. The charge was most probably lit with a slow-burning fuse or a tobacco pipe. The kagi is attached to the boshin with a forged iron pin.

This is an Edo-period jutte, signed Masumune, circa 1850 - 1870, with dyed black same on the tsuka. It has a six-sided boshin and was probably carried by a doshin or samurai patrolman. The kagi is attached to the boshin with a forged iron pin.

This is a late Edo-period jutte decorated with brass and silver. The tsuka is covered in lacquered same. This jutte was probably carried by an aratame (official inspector) primarily for identification and as a symbol of office. However, a sharp blade of forged steel is hidden in the hollow round boshin.

This basic jutte is made from a solid piece of russet iron. It has a solid six-sided boshin and a flat chiseled kagi. The tsuka is bound with a hand-stitched fabric. A late Edo-period to early Meiji-era jutte, it is signed by the smith, Kiyotsugu.

This is an early-Edo-period jutte with same on the tsuka and unusual crescent-shaped double kagi on opposite sides of the long thin and round tapered forged iron boshin. The decorative jutte was likely used both as a symbol of office and for disarming criminals. Thus, this jutte was probably carried by a high-ranking official both as an arresting implement and for purposes of identification.

This early Edo-period jutte with brass tsuka is decorated with an inlaid silver hoju-dama (flaming jewel) and engraved esoteric symbols. The rather small jutte with a round tapered boshin was likely carried in a special silk bag tucked inside the lapels of a kimono worn by a samurai police officer.

This early Edo-period jutte with brass tsuka is decorated with an inlaid silver rat and engraved esoteric symbols. The rather small jutte with a round tapered boshin was likely carried in a special silk bag tucked inside the lapels of a kimono worn by a samurai police officer.