bludgeons

A bludgeon is a type of blunt weapon, typically a heavy club used for inflicting damage by impact. Historically, bludgeons have been fashioned from various materials, including wood, stone, and metal. Their design is generally simple, often consisting of a solid shaft that may be weighted at one end to increase its effectiveness. Some bludgeons feature a knobbed or flanged head for added force and to concentrate the impact.

The effectiveness of a bludgeon lies in its ability to crush and injure through blunt force trauma, rather than cutting or piercing. This makes them particularly useful against armored opponents, as they can cause internal injuries and break bones without needing to penetrate armor. Bludgeons have been used in warfare and for personal defense throughout history and in various cultures.

In modern times, while less common as primary military weapons, bludgeons, or variations thereof such as batons and nightsticks, are still employed by law enforcement and security personnel for crowd control and self-defense. The term "bludgeon" can also be used metaphorically to describe any action or object that is used to beat or oppress someone.