Jutte (2)

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.

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An Edo-period jutte, signed Goro Nyudo Masamune, has same on the tsuka, a six-sided boshin, and a flat square-shaped kagi. The kagi is attached to the boshin with a iron pin and reinforced with a six-sided forged iron collar.

This late Edo-period or early Meiji-era jutte has a brass pommel, kan, and shaft collar. The tsuka is wrapped in oiled hemp cord or rope patterned iron wire. It has a round tapered boshin of russet iron and bronze tsuba with seppa. A jutte without a kagi was also referred to as naeshi or nayashi.

This late Edo-period jutte features silver-inlay decorations on three sides of the six-sided iron boshin. The jutte has same on the tsuka and a small rectangular-shaped tsuba instead of a kagi. The tsuka unlocks from the boshin to reveal a hidden dagger. The boshin is also flared toward the sentan, adding weight to the striking end. The kan is attached to a copper or brass pommel on the tsuka. A jutte without a kagi was also referred to as naeshi or nayashi.

This late Edo-period or possibly early Meiji-era jutte has a rattan-wrapped tsuka, an eight-sided tapered boshin, and an unusual kagi combination. This unique jutte has a single crescent-shaped kagi mounted at a right angle to one side of the more typical hook-shaped square kagi. The square kagi has decorated copper seppa on both sides of the forged iron pin attaching it to the boshin and a large decorative kikuza.

This Meiji-era jutte has a same wrapped tsuka and decorated copper fittings. The round polished steel boshin is slightly tapered and has two inlaid copper rings near the sentan. The inside of the kagi is a sharpened blade. This style was popular with some officers after the Edo period. The sharpened kagi was intended to cut and trap the fingers of any opponent grabbing the boshin or the opponent's clothing.

This extra long Edo-period jutte has an polished steel boshin, tsuba, and kan. The heavy steel kagi has copper seppa on both sides of the steel pin attaching it to the boshin and a large kikuza. The six-sided boshin is also flared toward the sentan, adding weight to the striking end, as well as near the tsuba. The tsuba is forged steel and includes decorated copper seppa. The tsuka is same with copper fittings.

This Edo-period jutte has a a polished same covered tsuka, an round tapered boshin, and an unusual three kagi combination. The heavy brass kagi indicate the jutte is probably from the mid-Bakamatsu period (1853-1868).

This Edo-period jutte has a six-sided boshin and tsuba. The tsuba is iron and includes decorated copper and brass seppa. The tsuka is covered is wrapped in engraved brass for decoration. This jutte was probably carried by an aratame (official inspector) primarily for identification and as a symbol of office.

This Edo-period jutte has same on the tsuka and a round tapered boshin. The kagi is attached to the boshin with a forged iron pin and collar.

This Meiji-era jutte is short with a heavy round boshin. The tsuka is covered with same. A thick copper sleeve is around the boshin where the kagi is attached. The cord is looped through the kan and then tightly sewn with a thick thread.

This late Edo-period or Meiji-era jutte has a round tapered boshin, a thick kagi, and an iron kan. The tsuka is covered in heavy copper or brass with a very dark patina. The heavy round boshin is signed Musashikoku Hideyoshi.

This Meiji-era jutte has a long boshin. The heavy shaft and hilt are machine made. The boshin is slightly tapered to the midsection and flared toward the sentan. The kagi is forged iron and secured with an iron pin through a bronze collar around the boshin. The tsuka is wood with an iron kan. The combination of handmade and machined parts suggests this jutte was made after the Edo period.

This small polished steel Edo-period jutte has a round tapered boshin and a very unusual shaped kan. It appears as a tobikuchi, the tool carried by hikeshi (firemen). The engraved kamon (crest) on the kan and in silver on the sentan is the aoi-no-mon (three hollyhock leaves), symbol of the Tokugawa family, allowed to be displayed only by relatives and hatamoto (banner men). This jutte was likely carried by a hatamoto leader of one of the special fire brigades, called jo hikeshi, organized by the government after the Meireki fire in 1657.

This heavy Edo-period jutte is cast in brass with a pine tree, bamboo, and crescent moon in relief along the tapered round boshin. The tsuka is covered with same while the iron kan appears to be a later addition or repair. The brass indicates this jutte is most likely from the mid-Bakamatsu period (1853-1868). Despite the decorative motif, several small dents along the boshin suggest this jutte was used in action at some period.