Spear Advice -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 18 May, 2006 11:50 am Post subject: Spear Advice

I just got an old MRL "Hero Spear" head with the idea that I'd modify it to make it an ox-tongue or early partisan (late 15th-early 16th c.) Before I do that, though, I want to know if heads of this lanceolate shape and great size (17" blade, 24" overall) were used later than the early medieval period. I'm especially interested in seeing contemporary depictions of such weapons in the early 16th c. Unfortunately, spears are neglected in my polearm references. If it's historically plausible to leave the head as-is and simply mount it in the style of ca. 1500, so much the better. Here's a shot of this head from Nathan Bell's collection.
Any thoughts?

Thanks!

D. Bell · Posted: Fri 19 May, 2006 10:45 pm Post subject:

There is a somewhat similar spear in the attached picture, which my notes attribute to Leeds, 16th century (presumably the Royal Armoury). Unfortunately the site mentioned on the picture, www.long-sword.com appears to be gone so I can’t get any further information from it.

Nathan Beal · Posted: Sat 20 May, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 22 May, 2006 8:31 am Post subject:

Brilliant photo! Thanks!

This tells me exactly what I wanted to know. Of course if anybody has details about this weapon--OA length, what the RA calls it, where it's from, etc.--that'd be nice to know. It differs significantly from the Hero Spear in ways I can't correct (that star-shaped cross-section, mainly). But still, I've never seen such a weapon in a 16th c. context, and would love to know more about it. Do you know anything about it, Nathan?

I'm now thinking that I may turn the Hero Spear into a Vouge Francais, by the way. It seems to have what I need for that. But I do love the spear in this photo....hmmmmmm....And I do now have evidence of such long, lanceolate spearheads in use in the period....hmmmmmmm.....

Thanks again for the wonderful photo!

-Sean

Ben Strickling · Posted: Mon 22 May, 2006 11:13 am Post subject:

Sean Flynt · Posted: Mon 22 May, 2006 11:51 am Post subject:

Thanks for the link, Ben. Great photos!

Nathan Beal · Posted: Tue 23 May, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

Chuck Russell · Posted: Tue 23 May, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject:

is that what they are selling for 30 bucks called the old hewing spear? they have a newer version selling at 39

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 24 May, 2006 6:28 am Post subject:

That's great information, Ben! Many thanks for that! Thanks to this, I'm leaning toward leaving the head as-is and just mounting it in the style of ca. 1500. If I don't like that I can always go back and turn it into a vouge francais.

Chuck: The Hero Spear and Hewing Spear are different critters. IIRC, the Hewing Spear is narrower and with edges more parallel. Both have been on closeout in recent years.

Ben Strickling · Posted: Wed 24 May, 2006 8:43 am Post subject: