unknown strange formed sponton?

[abeek]

Hello members

I found this strange very sharp sponton, polearm

It is beautiful made, very sharp with a twisted tang 10 cm

it is 41 cm long and its weight is 500 gram

Has anyone seen this before or more information for me

Thanks

[fernando]

Welcome to the forum, abeek :).
Let us copy this thread to the European section :cool: .


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[Rick]

But it looks sort of Indonesian too. :confused:
does the length given include the tang?

[kronckew]

doesn't look european, indonesian/SEA spear point a good bet. not really a spontoon. i'm taking the length given as the tang only.

[Athanase]

The seller announced that it was Indonesian. And for me it corresponds. I didn't make an offer because I had great doubt that it's a recent manufacture (or not?).
When I started my collection I had been deceived by recent tombak but aged to make antique. Since I try not to take any risk, even if it4s possibly a very good deal. :shrug:

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I initially thought Dutch influence so consider either Sri Lankan or Indonesian ...Peculiar loops behind the spear blade suggest a Palace Guard as opposed to a jungle tribal weapon... :shrug:

[Miguel]

The more I've studied this item the more I think it has once formed part of protectiverailings around a monument important residence :shrug:
Miguel

[Jim McDougall]

I initially thought Dutch influence so consider either Sri Lankan or Indonesian ...Peculiar loops behind the spear blade suggest a Palace Guard as opposed to a jungle tribal weapon... :shrug:

Well observed Ibrahiim, and actually I was thinking of Ceylonese as well, and more for guards as you suggested. These scrolled loops are indeed very uncharacteristic for a weapon intended for penetration it would seem, so the idea of palace guards with more decorative forms seemed likely.

These same kinds of spear point were well known on many lances, various polearm heads and daggers (early European daggers with similar blades and these type tangs (called 'whittle tangs) so influences can have been from numbers of sources.

Miguel, you make an excellent observation, as there are numbers of cases where architectural components were repurposed for use on weapons.
It seems ironic (no pun intended) that conversely, there were instances of weapon components used in architectural contexts, such as the terribly poignant fence in England made of Scottish basket hilt blades taken at the tragedy of Culloden.

It is interesting that, conversely, in many weapon forms, the designs and styling on many hilts and various mounts on edged weapons was often based on architectural features. In many instances, the identifications and dating of many examples have determinations based on comparisons with architecture, particularly temples.

[abeek]

But it looks sort of Indonesian too. :confused:
does the length given include the tang?

Yes 41 cm is the total length

[abeek]

Thank you all for the information, I am happy with the comments


Aart

[Timo Nieminen]

These scrolled loops are indeed very uncharacteristic for a weapon intended for penetration it would seem, so the idea of palace guards with more decorative forms seemed likely.

The loops look like they might have originally carried bells, or at least jingle-jangle rings. I have an Indian fancy spearhead with jingle-jangle rings (alas, I don't have a good photo at the moment; a bad one is attached), which helped those thoughts along.

Penetration as far as the loops is plenty - no need for anything more. I don't believe they have any impact on its use in fighting.