McLarty's Policeman's Club

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


This club, which has been refused a patent by the Commissioner of Patents (whose report and our remarks thereon will be found in another part of our columns), is especially intended for the protection of policemen and constables. Fig. 1 represents the ordinary club, 13, with the defensive attachment. It is made hollow, and around its surface are a number of small perforations, through which, when it is grasped by any one trying to wrest it from the policeman, the latter can, by pulling the trigger, A, force out a number of small spikes as seen in Fig. 2. These spikes entering a short distance into the attacker's hand force him to let go his hold, and the policeman loosening the trigger, the spikes fly back. The manner in which this is done is seen in Fig. 3, which is a section of the club. C is a spring against which the trigger has to be pulled, and "by the bars, D, it brings out the spikes; when the hold on the trigger is relaxed, the spring forces them back. There are two eye-holes in the trigger to admit of the strap that passes around the arm. so that if the club is attempted to be violently pulled from the owner, and he lias no chance of operating the trigger, it will "be operated by the strap. It is the invention of John McLarty, of New York, and is exciting a great amount of interest throughout the country generally. It is almost unanimously admitted that these clubs ought to be at once adopted by the police of every city in the world.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 13This article was published with the title “McLarty's Policeman's Club” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 13 (), p. 100
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican12051857-100

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe