Source for pike heads? -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 25 Jan, 2012 11:16 am Post subject: Source for pike heads?

Does anybody have a source for pike heads? I need a small, diamond or square-section head with long langets for a project. Something like this is ideal:

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Wed 25 Jan, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject:

That's a pretty long head in the picture. If you're happy to have a shorter one, you'll have a lot more choice.

I see two basic problems: almost nobody makes spearheads with langets, and almost nobody makes spearheads with narrow diamond or square sections.

Perhaps somebody can provide a source of Just The Thing, but you could always get a spearhead, perhaps like Windlass Greek, cut-and-grind to your diamond/square section, and add DIY langets. For a shorter head, you might be able to use something like the Windlass Greek spear butt, if it isn't hollow.

Some possible heads: the Hanwei Vikings ("Throwing", leaf blade), Windlass Greek. These all have thick midribs, so you can go almost square without ending up with a sewing needle on a stick.

(Hmm. Some of those generic heads would make nice boarding pikes, if slimmed down (not so far as close-to-square) and given langets.)

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 25 Jan, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Timo! I was already looking at a Windlass butt cap/DIY langet combo. Big Grin

I can't weld, though, so that presents an obstacle. The long narrow langets are an obstacle, as is the socket size. Most spear head sockets are 1.25" to fit off-the-shelf dowels. This one is quite small. The Windlass butt cap I was looking at has a socket listed at 1" across, so that would be about the right size. These things are more emblems of rank than weapons, so it's probably going to be hard to adapt spear heads based on medieval or ancient forms.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Wed 25 Jan, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject:

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Wed 25 Jan, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject:

You can cut into and reshape a socket to fit a narrower haft.

You can just rivet langets straight through socket and haft (maybe the top 2 rivets), no welding needed.

Whether this would look sufficiently historical, I don't know. But tassels, fluffy foxtails, bindings for pennons, or similar will hide a multitude of sins committed in the course of metalwork.

Gregg Sobocinski · Posted: Thu 26 Jan, 2012 8:47 am Post subject:

Sean,
This pike head by Manning Imperial is reasonably close to what you're seeking. I don't know if you can grind the head to more closely approximate the profile you seek, but it has one neck ring and your langets. Seems to be the correct time period, as well.

[url]
http://www.manningimperial.com/item.php?item_...id=3[/url]

Good luck.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Thu 26 Jan, 2012 8:56 am Post subject:

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Thu 26 Jan, 2012 8:58 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 26 Jan, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject:

There might be an opportunity for a manufacturer to offer these and related items, so if any of you would be interested in a high-quality source for such things, chime in here to help with market research.

David Evans · Posted: Thu 26 Jan, 2012 10:19 pm Post subject: Pike heads

Have you tried Two J's ?

http://www.twojs.me.uk/Pikeheads.htm

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 11:19 am Post subject:

Good one, Dave! Now we're getting somewhere! I also now know of two talented professionals interested in making these.
It occurs to me that one of my old (and sold) spear projects could be adapted. That was a Hanwei Viking Throwing Spear with all of the decoration ground off. The Hanwei head is still on the market for about $40 and no longer has the fake aging of the blade. The socket could be cut down a bit and the blade shape refined to make something not at all bad for a leading staff. The langets would have to be separate or welded, of course. But it could make a serviceable piece.