Ash spear shafts -- myArmoury.com

Philip Melhop · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 8:21 am Post subject: Ash spear shafts

anyone in the UK know of a good source for a spear shaft.
Phil

Simon G. · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 9:10 am Post subject:

I sympathise with you, been searching for this kind of stuff for a long time... without success so far. I suspect the only good source is a forest and an axe. Worried

Should anyone know of a good source for these in France, I'd be grateful too.

At the moment the only good resource I've found are oak bo from the US... Quite cheap even with shipping, but also a bit on the short side. OK for halberds and the like, but not for longer spears.

Anyhow, good luck...

Thomas R. · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 9:18 am Post subject:

I call dibs on a pair of ash shafts as well. Dunno where to get them in germany either. Bought a pine shaft, but that's in no way suitable for pole weapons...

Thomas

Mark Routledge · Industry Professional

Try your nearest timber supply or sawmill. Ask them to cut you a 1 1/2 inch x 7 foot or what ever length you need . If you ask nicely they will then take off the corners to give you an octagon. Bit of work with a draw knife and you are there. However you could use it in the octagon cross section, loads of grip.

In my experience one is expensive but if you can use three or four they should work out around £ 10.00 to £12.00 quid each.

Of course a nice sapling cut with a sharp axe or hook and seasoned before lovingly peeled and straightned by hand is great to own but can be time consuming. It is also true that wood looks better on the tree than in the hand, in other words it looks great until you cut it and then you realise it is not so good. In my experience good shafts are not that easy to find so perhaps go the saw mill route.

Let us know how you get on.

Ben Anbeek · Industry Professional

Where are you in Germany I buy my ash poles at Arhemse fijnhouthandel located in Arhem (Netherlands).
I buy them as beams think the have them up to 4 meters long.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Ash is a pretty standard timber and so most sawmills will be able to supply and Mark is right, about £10 sounds right as is his method, but I would use a plane. Personal choice.

ask for ash that is straight grained and as far as possible the grain runs within the timber as this will give the strongest result.

Failing that Phil, I uisually have some around.

Tod

Ken Speed · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject:

I don't even live in the U.K. so I can't advise you about the availability of ash lumber there. If you need a good substitute, find a martial arts supplier and see if you can get staves in Japanese oak. I would expect the Japanese oak to be stiffer than ash but very strong.

Anders Kramer · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 2:47 pm Post subject:

A friend of mine (here in Denmark) supply ash spear shafts for my viking fighting group. They are octagonal and oiled, so they are quite sturdy. I can ask him if he wants to supply abroad if anybody is interested.

Peter Cowan · Posted: Mon 14 Feb, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject: RE: ash spear shafts

I would check out any cabinetmakers or furniture makers in your respective areas. They might have some in stock or be able to tell you where to look.

Rob Sully · Posted: Tue 11 Sep, 2012 11:05 am Post subject:

I know this is an old thread but i found a good seller on ebay called pintdesign. They sell square ash poles for making into bows. I bought a pole as well as a custom size which was a bit wider to make into a dane axe handle. I'm not sure the length they go up to but for short/normal spears and polearms its a pretty decent source. Ordered on Friday and i received it on Tuesday as well.

cheers,

Rob

Luke Hemmings · Posted: Mon 12 May, 2014 5:42 am Post subject:

I see this is an old topic, but if anyone is interested I work at Whitney Sawmills in Hay on Wye, Herefordshire. We have some lovely air dried ash boards, about 7-8ft long and good straight grain. If you ask us, we can saw 1-2" blanks from our boards to provide you with starting material for your spear shafts. Just doing one for myself now! Our website is www.whitneysawmills.com

Cheers

Brian Gudge · Posted: Mon 10 Oct, 2016 6:17 am Post subject:

I know this is an old topic, but I have some ash saplings up to 15 feet long currently available. Some are green and others a few years older. They are very straight and could easily be used for spear or pike shafts, You could leave them a little wobbly for the rustic look, or plane or spoke-shave them down to a more finished form. They are thicker towards the base so are naturally counterweighted bringing the balance point back towards the bottom of the shaft, giving a longer more comfortable reach. Let me know if anyone is interested?

Mark Griffin · Posted: Mon 10 Oct, 2016 11:44 am Post subject:

i have loads of ash shafts here, and a few stalls sell them at TORM etc. main issue is where you live in the UK as post/courier is a bit of a pain.