The jitte was originally understood as a blunt weapon in the Japanese imagination, but gained greater symbolism during the Edo period. As swords were prohibited within the grounds of any shogun’s palace (a rule stretching to palace guards even), the jitte became popular as the weapon of choice accepted within these guidelines. This popularity elevated the jitte to something more akin to a symbol or badge of authority, with all police officers wearing the weapon by the beginning of the 20th century. Attached to hilts ranging from plain to highly decorative, jitte’s typically featured shafts from twelve to twenty four inches long. Most modern jitte weapons have a blunt point and a hooked tine positioned just above the hilt.