Greetings! Another question that don't let me sleep - how long was viking spears?Any historical evidences?

According to Hurstwic we don't really know.

See here, about halfway down: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manu..._spear.htm


Edit: In my opinion, this isn't something that would be standardized anyway. Bob the rich Viking might have had a "regulation" spear of whatever length was thought correct, while Fred the old farmer might have had a spear made from the only decent piece of wood he could find, though it was on the short side.

We modern people like to standardize and categorize things, but back then it was more of "Hey, this'll work" kind of thing. All hand-made and a little different, even if the maker tried to make exact copies.

OK,thanx guys for Your thoughts,they are similar to mine. Once I've read,that medieval Lithuanians by going to capture trips takes with themselves only a spearheads.In our lands 90 % of territory was wood.So they make spear shafts by the way.And this is really hard to fight with very long spear within the shield wall.
There is one interesting information in ancient Livonia's cronicle written in 13th C,that once crusaders took Lithuanian's camp by surprise,and Lithuanians could'nt fight because all those spearheads was knocked off the shafts.

Frankly I don't think Frank the old farmer would have much of a problem getting a long wooden shaft if he made any effort. I guess it all boils down to what is practical length and what is not. Whatever that might be.

It's the same I'm talking about. Maybe is some drawings or something to look at?maybe we could compare with other period and nation?Any ideas?

It seems that when spears were put in graves they were cut to the lenght of it to fit. So no one knows how long they really were. Longer than a grave, as in longer than a man probably since most (if not all) spear finds lack an end cap or lizard killer as many other spears thoughout history have, both pre- and post viking age. But this is all pure speculation.

One could look at contemporary illustrations from the carolingian empire as well as the Bayeux tapestry (Norman vs Saxon) perhaps for some ideas. Most spears in the Bayeux are lancelike horsemen spears or smaller barbed throwing spears though. Try carolingian sources for proper footsoldier spears.

Fighting in a shield wall with long spear and shield would need special training to work, but it's by no means impossible to do. Good examples are Greek Phalanx from the Hellenic/Persian war, Alexanders pikemen using shiled and Pike no less, as well as certain types of roman infantry specialising in long spear and shield. All are well documented shield battle line tactics of their time, some like the Spartans and Alexanders pikemen were elite units with superior spear training, possibly beyond anything seen in viking age or later at least until the reneissance Swiss pike.
A much easier way to use shiled and spear together is to put spearmen without shields and two handed grip just behind or together with shieldmen. For a spear to be effective for this use it probably needs to be at least 2.5 meters long and 3+ meters would be more effective.

Well I'd suggest that, if you want one, that you make it with regards to your height.
A shorter spear maybe no longer than you are tall, or perhaps a spear of 'perfect length'?
Just some thoughts, as I'm sure archaeological and textual references may give a means average, but that's by no means normal :lol: