[Juan Cocinas]

Hi all, what kind of covers or sheaths have been used historically to protect spearheads from rust and/or the elements? Aside from a coat of oil, that is I'm thinking in terms of the spear equivalent of a dagger sheath. Thanks much.

[Timo Nieminen]

Leather sheaths have been used in Europe (for naval boarding pikes) and in Africa (also rawhide sheaths). African sheaths sometimes only cover the edges of the head, not the whole head.

In Indo-China, Malaya, Indonesia, and the Philippines, wooden sheaths are common, sometimes ornately carved.

In Japan, lacquered wooden sheaths, or highly decorated wooden sheaths.

Not just to protect the head from the environment, but also to protect the environment from the head.