Hello folks.

My name is Alex, im from the UK.

Im wondering if anyone can help with regards an object found in Serbia by a metal detector enthusiast.

I usually collect antique Japanese swords and fittings but lately ive branched off a little into European weapons and relics.

Best I can come up with is maybe a medieval hunting bolt, although it has been suggested this could be part of a broken spearhead.

Any help appreciated.

Best, Alex

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Maybe there's something I don't know about, but that point doesn't look to me like it was made to pierce anything. I'd guess it's a decorative finial.

Thanks for the replies appreciated.

I can find a few arrowheads in the book "European Arrowheads and crossbow bolts", with a double point. Not exactly like the image of the one I presented, but suppose you could say that they are in the ball park. Listed as Viking, found around Northern, central and eastern Europe.

That's the tip, I cant find any with barbs.

Had a few more suggestions from other folk that have seen it.

Part of a ceremonial staff ?

A spear, smaller than it used to be due to rust, with barbs. ?

Whatever it is, its not straight forward :)

Cheers

Well, I suppose it's not possible to be sure when judging solely from a profile photo, but to me this object looks thick and bulbous at the points. I know there are double-pointed arrowheads made for cutting. However, in this case I think such a thing, even if the points were originally sharper, would neither cut effectively nor pierce deeply. The first thing that comes to my mind when looking at it is the top of an iron fence.

My initial thought was a barbed arrowhead used for fishing, but the double point left me stumped also. But, after thinking about it for a while, the double point might actually work quite well on fish with large scales---if the inside of the 'v' was well sharpened.
The decorative finial is more plausible though. ;) ...............McM

I was going to suggest a tent or flag pole finial, but looking at the scale, a fence finial would indeed seem more likely.

Thanks folks.

I have doubts about it, especially now that I find out its hollow where the yellow pointer is.

Live and learn

Cheers