A heavy spear (lance) head ... or what?

[fernando]

Some kind of polearm head, like a partizan or the like?
I guess gate iron rails (this the name?) are not so (sort of) sharp like in this case.
Neither would they be so large; this blade measures 45 cms (17 3/4").
On the other hand, the socket denounces to be a later work ... both "pipe" and rim.
What would this be?

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[M ELEY]

Hmmm...if it is a polearm head, I'd vote for a pike. The triangular/leaf-shape was the earlier form pre-1750 (the later ones found in Rev War-era America had sockets like this and doubled as "trench spears". Likewise, colonial Spanish polearms had sockets as this often without even a hole to secure it to the haft. Langets were not a requirement on pike heads despite popular opinion ). Later pikes had the 4-sided spike type end.
www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7784984



The widened end of the socket bothers me a bit, though. Never seen one like that. With a sharpened flat blade, though, I don't see it being just a fence post. Still, there are other types with a widened base to consider, I guess, such as these spears-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dervish,_1913.jpg

A Tibetan dung-
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-97934516468614_2074_37529329

[thinreadline]

I agree that this is most likely 18th C and from the American Revolution. Perhaps a spontoon. I have a similar one in my own collection , tho' admittedly w/o the conspicuous socket rim . There are some examplesl in Swords and Blades of the American Revolution which share some of these characteristics. In the case of my own one the shaft is covered in animal skin, possibly deer , which is stitched on.

[Matchlock]

I, too, keep if for a sort of spontoon and 18th century. Earlier lance/pike heads usually had more pronouncedly raised central ribs and long side straps for the haft.

Best,
Michael

[thinreadline]

Hmmm...if it is a polearm head, I'd vote for a pike. The triangular/leaf-shape was the earlier form pre-1750 (the later ones found in Rev War-era America had sockets like this and doubled as "trench spears". Likewise, colonial Spanish polearms had sockets as this often without even a hole to secure it to the haft. Langets were not a requirement on pike heads despite popular opinion ). Later pikes had the 4-sided spike type end.
www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7784984



The widened end of the socket bothers me a bit, though. Never seen one like that. With a sharpened flat blade, though, I don't see it being just a fence post. Still, there are other types with a widened base to consider, I guess, such as these spears-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dervish,_1913.jpg

A Tibetan dung-
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-97934516468614_2074_37529329

The thickened rim is not so unusual , it can be seen in 18th / early 19th C British bayonet sockets. Also some American made spontons had a thick sliding ring which helped to lock the socket on to the shaft.. sometimes these become rusted into position and appear as if they are part of the socket proper.

[fernando]

Thanks a lot for your thoughts, Gentlemen.
I am usualy skeptical when it comes to relating (my) findings with origins like the American Revolution, for obvious geographical reasons. This wouldn't be the case if or when i acquire them in international sources, through the Internet; but this one, as many others, was bought locally, from a street fair vendor.
Concerning the blade ridge, there is in fact one in this example, but so tenuous that it practicaly doesn't show in the pictures.
Definitely the base of this blade once had a different format; looking inside the present socket we can see a section of the original one, with about an inch length, cutt off and welded to the present conical rimmed tube.
So it could originally have had langets or, giving wings to imagination, could have had a handle, like a short sword. I know this is not so plausible; just fell like talking nonsense :o :eek:

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