Indian Spear
 

Bought this in the 1970s at Wellers in Birmingham as an Indian temple guards spear . It breaks down into 2 pieces so I assume it is purely ceremonial rather than a fighting weapon . I have noticed a number of these for sale recently at UK arms fairs Does anyone out there know what the correct name and function and geographic origin of these spears is ? Thanks in advance .

Just jumping in with some art work :shrug: It states ~

Quote"Plate forty-six from the second volume of James Forbes' "Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819) made the original drawing of this 'spear-man in the Ragobah's[Raghunath Row] service' in the Mahratta Camp at Cambay where his friend Sir Charles Malet was the English Resident. 'Those who carry matchlocks, or other Indian arms, are generally dressed in a similar manner, sometimes in a jacket and shorter drawers, according to their own choice; no conformity being attempted as in the corps of native sepoys in the Company's service.' ''Unquote.

thank you Ibrahiim

It is interesting, but what does this prove?

It doesn't prove anything. But it is, perhaps, a little more informative than your post. The quite hilarious ethnographic detail about drawers lengths is interesting but the picture is in its own right worth 1,000 words and on a subject quite difficult to obtain details upon out here on the edge of the universe. Bravo to the thread instigator who has placed a difficult subject for people to add to even if it is only a long pair of pants! :)

Just curious: how much are they selling for at the UK arms fair?

around £150

Stumbled upon an auction example earlier today...could yours be a Liberian prestige spear?
I could post the link, but the auction is still active.