British Boarding Pike Gauge.

CutlassCollector · 19th May 2025, 11:45 AM

Here is a small and surely extremely rare piece of history, a gauge to ensure that the boarding pike shaft was made to the correct specifications. The designated locations ensure that the shaft is made to the correct diameter to accept the fitting of the butt shoe and the spear head and langets.
The gauge is about 11 inches long and as you can see has an inspector’s mark for Enfield and has at some time been repaired. The gauge, by means of slots, indicates an upper and lower limit of diameter at points on the wooden shaft, which relate to where the metal fittings attach.
At the butt there are measurements at 1” and 3” from the end which corresponds to the iron shoe and its extension arms. At the spear point end 1¾” and 9¼” relate to the start and end of the embedded langets. There is also a measurement at 3 foot and 9 inches from the butt end which is approximately the centre point of the shaft and indicates the general diameter for the majority of its length
The chalk marks on my example show the positions which the gauge is designed to measure.

The 1888 pike has a slender triangular section spear point, 4½ inches long mounted on a wood shaft 7 foot 7 inches in length. The point and integral langets are 14¾ inches in total. These pikes are well marked. On one langet you will find an ‘N’ for navy, a broad arrow, an inspector number and crown and the last two digits of the year of manufacture. There will also be a crown and inspector number on the wood shaft near the butt. The end of the pike is left as wood to prevent any damage to the decks but has a protective iron shoe.

A friend in the US acquired the gauge at the Baltimore Show many years ago, and has recently gifted it to the Royal Armouries who confirm that their pikes conform to its specifications, as does mine.
(Photographs of the gauge are with the permission of the Royal Armouries.)

adrian · 19th May 2025, 09:55 PM

What an absolute gem! Its great that it has generously ended up with the Royal Armouries - thanks for posting this.

19th May 2025, 11:45 AM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 347	British Boarding Pike Gauge. Here is a small and surely extremely rare piece of history, a gauge to ensure that the boarding pike shaft was made to the correct specifications. The designated locations ensure that the shaft is made to the correct diameter to accept the fitting of the butt shoe and the spear head and langets. The gauge is about 11 inches long and as you can see has an inspector’s mark for Enfield and has at some time been repaired. The gauge, by means of slots, indicates an upper and lower limit of diameter at points on the wooden shaft, which relate to where the metal fittings attach. At the butt there are measurements at 1” and 3” from the end which corresponds to the iron shoe and its extension arms. At the spear point end 1¾” and 9¼” relate to the start and end of the embedded langets. There is also a measurement at 3 foot and 9 inches from the butt end which is approximately the centre point of the shaft and indicates the general diameter for the majority of its length The chalk marks on my example show the positions which the gauge is designed to measure. The 1888 pike has a slender triangular section spear point, 4½ inches long mounted on a wood shaft 7 foot 7 inches in length. The point and integral langets are 14¾ inches in total. These pikes are well marked. On one langet you will find an ‘N’ for navy, a broad arrow, an inspector number and crown and the last two digits of the year of manufacture. There will also be a crown and inspector number on the wood shaft near the butt. The end of the pike is left as wood to prevent any damage to the decks but has a protective iron shoe. A friend in the US acquired the gauge at the Baltimore Show many years ago, and has recently gifted it to the Royal Armouries who confirm that their pikes conform to its specifications, as does mine. (Photographs of the gauge are with the permission of the Royal Armouries.) Attached Images

19th May 2025, 09:55 PM	#2
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 131	What an absolute gem! Its great that it has generously ended up with the Royal Armouries - thanks for posting this.