Man catcher: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Type of polearm}} |
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[[File:Brandvakter Stockholm 1822.jpg|thumb|upright|Swedish fireguards with man catchers, Stockholm, 1822.]] |
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A '''man catcher''', also known as '''catchpole''',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=chVfUm2Hz3MC&q=catchpole+mancatcher&pg=PA166|title=A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times|isbn=9780486131290|last1=Stone|first1=George Cameron|date=13 March 2013}}</ref> is a type of [[polearm]]. |
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==History== |
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It was used in Europe as late as the 18th century.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} |
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| ⚫ | The European design consisted of a pole mounted with a two pronged head. Each prong was semi-circular in shape with a spring-loaded "door" on the front. This created an effective valve that would allow the ring to pass around a man-sized cylinder and keep it trapped.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} The man catcher was used primarily to pull a person from horseback and drag him to the ground where he could be helplessly pinned. This is one of the few examples of less-lethal [[polearms]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}} |
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| ⚫ | The design assumes that the captured person wears armor to protect him against the metal prongs, which could easily hurt the neck of a person without armor. The man catcher was also used to trap and contain violent prisoners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/everyday_life/control/1750-1820/TL.0151/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114130135/http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/everyday_life/control/1750-1820/TL.0151/ |archive-date=2006-01-14 |title=Making the Modern World - Everyday Life - Control - 1750-1820}}</ref> |
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In Papua New Guinea, a different weapon existed that was also identified as a man catcher. It consisted of a hoop attached to a spear - the hoop would be placed over an enemy's head to capture them, and then they could be speared in the back of the neck.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.li/20080106102632/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/txt/s1411700.htm | title=Collectors: Mystery Object - Man Catcher (07/04/2005)| date=2008-01-06}}</ref> |
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Similarly, the Japanese ''[[sodegarami]]'', ''[[tsukubō]]'', and ''[[sasumata]]'' were used by Edo-era law enforcement for apprehending suspects. |
Similarly, the Japanese ''[[sodegarami]]'', ''[[tsukubō]]'', and ''[[sasumata]]'' were used by Edo-era law enforcement for apprehending suspects. However, the ''sasumata'' was most like a man catcher in usage as its forked head was designed to pin the suspect's neck, legs, arms, or joints against a wall or the ground.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}} |
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==Modern variants== |
==Modern variants== |
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===Japan=== |
===Japan=== |
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[[File:Japanese non-lethal police weapon.jpg|thumb|upright|Modern ''[[sasumata]]'' man catcher used by riot police in Japan]] |
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While other man catchers |
While other man catchers are no longer in use, the ''sasumata'' (described above) currently has modern variants that are semi-flexible, with padding, blunt endpoints, and other slightly modified geometry, designed to significantly reduce the chance of injury to restrained civilians. These variants are designed for use by non-soldiers—specifically, they are intended for use by a Japanese [[riot police]] mounted on horseback. In such a case, the mounted riot police would typically be arranged in formation line abreast, and would use a row of raised ''sasumata'' to hold back large crowds. These mounted riot police answer to the Japanese [[National Police Agency (Japan)|National Police Agency]]. Since the outbreak of serious riots is uncommon in Japan, the modern ''sasumata'' is rarely used. Nevertheless, the necessary training is kept up to date.<ref>Cunningham, Don. Taiho-jutsu:Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai. Boston; Rutland, Vermont; Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2004.</ref> |
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===China=== |
===China=== |
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In some junior and middle schools, security guards are equipped with non-locking variants designed to seize a person's waist or prevent them from advancing. It is essentially a two-pronged fork, a ''U''-shape projecting from a pole.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}} |
In some junior and middle schools, security guards are equipped with non-locking variants designed to seize a person's waist or prevent them from advancing. It is essentially a two-pronged fork, a ''U''-shape projecting from a pole.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}} |
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===India=== |
===India and Nepal=== |
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During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]], police in Chandigarh implemented a mechanical device resembling a man catcher in order to capture suspects while maintaining a safe social distance. It was created to be used on a person's waistline. They called it a "social distancing clamp" or a "lockdown-breaker catcher". It was based on an idea from police in Nepal, where officers have reportedly detained over 1,400 suspects using a similar "multifunctional arrest device". Mancatchers were also used for other purposes such as pulling dead bodies out of the water. The main difference between the designs is that those used in India expand the size of the clamp depending on the person's waistline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/30/848327731/how-to-nab-suspects-while-social-distancing-indian-police-try-giant-tongs |title=Police In India Test Huge Tongs To Nab Suspects From A Distance Amid Coronavirus |last=Frayer |first=Lauren |date=April 30, 2020 |website=NPR |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6706200/nepal-police-use-long-pole-of-the-law/| title = Nepal police use long pole of the law |work=The Canberra Times |date=March 31, 2020}} </ref> |
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To capture suspect while maintaining a safe social distance, police in Chandigarh have implemented a mechanical version of this device. |
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{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/30/848327731/how-to-nab-suspects-while-social-distancing-indian-police-try-giant-tongs |title=Police In India Test Huge Tongs To Nab Suspects From A Distance Amid Coronavirus : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPRI |last=Frayer |first=Lauren |publisher=NPR |date=April 30, 2005 |website=NPR |access-date=April 30, 2020}} |
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==See also== |
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*[[Monk's spade]], one end has similar function but for animals |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* {{Commons category-inline|Man catchers}} |
* {{Commons category-inline|Man catchers}} |
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{{Polearms}} |
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{{weapon-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 02:02, 8 December 2024
A man catcher, also known as catchpole,[1] is a type of polearm.
History
[edit]
It was used in Europe as late as the 18th century.[citation needed] The European design consisted of a pole mounted with a two pronged head. Each prong was semi-circular in shape with a spring-loaded "door" on the front. This created an effective valve that would allow the ring to pass around a man-sized cylinder and keep it trapped.[citation needed] The man catcher was used primarily to pull a person from horseback and drag him to the ground where he could be helplessly pinned. This is one of the few examples of less-lethal polearms.[citation needed]
The design assumes that the captured person wears armor to protect him against the metal prongs, which could easily hurt the neck of a person without armor. The man catcher was also used to trap and contain violent prisoners.[2]
Similarly, the Japanese sodegarami, tsukubō, and sasumata were used by Edo-era law enforcement for apprehending suspects. However, the sasumata was most like a man catcher in usage as its forked head was designed to pin the suspect's neck, legs, arms, or joints against a wall or the ground.[citation needed]
Modern variants
[edit]Japan
[edit]
While other man catchers are no longer in use, the sasumata (described above) currently has modern variants that are semi-flexible, with padding, blunt endpoints, and other slightly modified geometry, designed to significantly reduce the chance of injury to restrained civilians. These variants are designed for use by non-soldiers—specifically, they are intended for use by a Japanese riot police mounted on horseback. In such a case, the mounted riot police would typically be arranged in formation line abreast, and would use a row of raised sasumata to hold back large crowds. These mounted riot police answer to the Japanese National Police Agency. Since the outbreak of serious riots is uncommon in Japan, the modern sasumata is rarely used. Nevertheless, the necessary training is kept up to date.[3]
China
[edit]A type of locking man catcher is available for staff at train stations and airports in China to capture and restrain individuals in a non-lethal manner.[citation needed]
In some junior and middle schools, security guards are equipped with non-locking variants designed to seize a person's waist or prevent them from advancing. It is essentially a two-pronged fork, a U-shape projecting from a pole.[citation needed]
India and Nepal
[edit]During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, police in Chandigarh implemented a mechanical device resembling a man catcher in order to capture suspects while maintaining a safe social distance. It was created to be used on a person's waistline. They called it a "social distancing clamp" or a "lockdown-breaker catcher". It was based on an idea from police in Nepal, where officers have reportedly detained over 1,400 suspects using a similar "multifunctional arrest device". Mancatchers were also used for other purposes such as pulling dead bodies out of the water. The main difference between the designs is that those used in India expand the size of the clamp depending on the person's waistline.[4][5]
See also
[edit]- Monk's spade, one end has similar function but for animals
References
[edit]- ^ Stone, George Cameron (13 March 2013). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times. ISBN 9780486131290.
- ^ "Making the Modern World - Everyday Life - Control - 1750-1820". Archived from the original on 2006-01-14.
- ^ Cunningham, Don. Taiho-jutsu:Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai. Boston; Rutland, Vermont; Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2004.
- ^ Frayer, Lauren (April 30, 2020). "Police In India Test Huge Tongs To Nab Suspects From A Distance Amid Coronavirus". NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "Nepal police use long pole of the law". The Canberra Times. March 31, 2020.
External links
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Media related to Man catchers at Wikimedia Commons
