Weekly Special spearhead -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 12:35 pm Post subject: Weekly Special spearhead

Here's another of those nothing-to-lose MRL deals that keep cheapos like me in arms and armour projects.

MRL's site has this spearhead in its Weekly Specials section for $24.95 USD ($30.90 shipped). I've been wanting something like this to mount in the style of the 16th c., and look what falls into my lap! Won't it be lovely alongside my glaive ( http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...ght=glaive )? Maybe with a different-colored tassle and/or haft treatment (brass tacks? cloth wrap? etching? decoratively filed langets a-la the Imperial Austria book?)

Gentlemen, start your (Dremel) engines....

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject:

Ouch! I might have to take this hit, too... I'm so friggin' broke right now, I can barely pay attention. Ugh... WTF?!

I like the idea, Sean... $30 for the head, about $15 for a pole, another $5 for random bits, and you have a pretty sexy spear for about $50!

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 1:41 pm Post subject:

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 1:51 pm Post subject:

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

If you are going to do a project you might as well go all out... Happy

http://www.arms-n-armor.com/2000/catalog/item118.html

Seriously not using a proper pole is sort of like having a wall hanging sword isn't it? It would bother me at least...

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

$69 to mount a generic $25 head is way beyond all-out! Laughing Out Loud

Seriously, though, my main interests are in historic looks, balance and weight. I think I'm getting that with the poplar (which is around $8 for a 6' pole, IIRC). As with the glaive, I would use only historically appropriate wood if I intended to do any testing with this piece. Maybe I'll try oak with this spear. Ash was preferred when available, but oak was used too.

Say, Russ, it just occurred to me that you're 40 minutes to my north...do you know a local source for ash?

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject:

This isn't exactly what I have in mind (it's a forgery, anyway), but it's pretty close. Following my own advice from the Instant Antique article, I'll now start collecting and studying as many images as I can find showing these weapons. There are some good images in the Imperial Austria book and European and American Arms. I'll be sure to post my model when I find it.

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:30 pm Post subject:

I'm diggin' it, Sean...

Now, how about this? I triple-dog-dare you to resist and acid etch the blade!

I like the piece... just looked at my actual funds and have-to's and other stuff already in the works, and I'm sadly going to have to miss out on this one. Sometimes I *HATE* being responsible.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject:

Well, if they have it in H'ville, I bet I can find it in B'ham. On the other hand, I hear that H'ville is full of engineer types who are allergic to inferior materials.... Wink

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:38 pm Post subject:

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

Sean;

A good pole would seem work it if the quality of the spear head is high enough to make it worth while. The fact that a good spear head cost you 50 ¢, to exaggerate a little, it should still be worth using a good pole.

Now, with a cheap " mystery metal " spear head, soft pine would be just as good. Razz

Oh, here I can suggest a " Sacrilegious " option that would be zero % historical in construction but could be made to look historical " On the surface ": With that standard hardware store poplar pole get a galvanized steel tube, slide the pole inside the tube having covered the pole with epoxy cement. The spear head fitted to the pole before slipping on the galvanized tube that is like a full length all around " languette " in function.

This should give you a heavy spear but almost indestructible pole. Next cover the pole with glued on light cord one or two layers thick. Sand smooth if you want the fact that you used cord becomes invisible when you add the final layer hiding all this " Insult to history " . Finally cover with the Historical fabric of your choice.

You might even be able to add tacks as decoration if you pre-drill small holes for them, hammer and maybe glue the tacks in place.

Should look good, will probably weight more than it should but should be good for heavy duty practice.

Anyway, either you will like the idea or you will be running screaming away from your computer screen. Razz

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:42 pm Post subject:

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

Russ Ellis · Industry Professional

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

Just kidding, Russ. That forest of rockets I pass on the way to UAH is evidence aplenty that attention to detail pays off when lives are on the line.

I've just about decided to use oak for this haft, and here's my rationale: This weapon is generically known as a "boar spear". It was used as such, but also was a military arm that most often served as an officer's leading staff or guard's weapon. The advantage of ash, apparently, is that it is very strong but also very flexible. Sounds like just the thing for an axe/halberd or any other weapon that will used in a way that puts powerful lateral force on the haft. Ash's flexibility may not be as important for a thrusting weapon, but it's toughness certainly would be. Since oak also was used historically, I think it makes sense to use it for the haft of a rigid, robust spear. I won't have to do as much inletting with this haft compared to the glaive haft, so I'm not worried about the relative difficulty of working with oak. My langets, which I intend to create by cutting down the too-long socket, will be very short-maybe 1.5". I have a photo showing such langets on a boar spear of the mid 16th c.

Etching: I wonder if I could use a common, relativley mild acid and just let it work longer. Muriatic? Vinegar? The pitting I get from my vinegar and salt antiquing solution is deep enough to show good relief, but it'd take some experimentation to gain sufficient control over the process. I really want to try this.....

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 7:33 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:

Oooh...that would be very cool. If that's a very detailed chapter, I may need to go ahead and spring for that book. Imperial Austria has some info about etching technique, but no specifics about materials. So you're out in the Gulf now, huh? Say hello to Emily for me.

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 8:53 am Post subject:

Many thanks for the info! Sounds like more than I want to bite off, at present....I wonder if stuff that caustic was used historically. Fortunately, I can always etch later (when my new life insurance policy takes effect, for example). In fact, though I currently don't want to touch this stuff with a ten foot pole, in a few years I may be willing to touch it with a seven foot pole. Laughing Out Loud

As for Emily....these things are scary a couple of hundred miles inland. I can't imagine trying to ride one out in cage in the middle of the Gulf. Worried