A Moro Spear's Mystery Rigging

[kai]

I think that with one rigging rod these have been used for a better grip in hand to hand fighting. Would 2 rods be for a better grip and support?

I do like Jose's idea! 1 or 2 rods would add positive kinaesthetic control for the orientation of the blade. However, I'd expect the edges to better be in line with the grip (as in holding a sword) rather than horizontal as suggested in this case.
Also if this were an important advantage, wouldn't one expect to see it more often than in a one-off example?

IMVHO, it seems like overkill to fix loose lower ferrule sections (if any) this way: It doesn't look like a makeshift repair and could be done/restored more nicely back home (considering this was a status piece and not a basic run-of-the-mill budiak).

A spear with damaged tang socket or ferrule at its base needs a really sound repair for the heavy spearhead tang being stable (without risk of breaking loose in a fight). While we have seen native repairs for Moro pieces holding up well, this does seem a bit of a stretch to me...

Regards,
Kai

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by kai

I do like Jose's idea! 1 or 2 rods would add positive kinaesthetic control for the orientation of the blade. However, I'd expect the edges to better be in line with the grip (as in holding a sword) rather than horizontal as suggested in this case.
Also if this were an important advantage, wouldn't one expect to see it more often than in a one-off example?

If it was for grip (either improved grippiness or sensing the blade orientation), I'd expect it to be further down the haft. If you wield the spear one-handed (with a shield), you'll hold it at around the centre of mass/balance - hopefully further down than this, or you'd have a problem with reach. If you wield the spear two handed, you'll hold it closer to the butt. Either way, your hands shouldn't be on this binding.

[Gustav]

Well Kai, in both cases we seem to have a ferrule (on spear) or hilt (on Kris) consisting of many segments.

A grip at this place near the spear point would be VERY impractical indeed.

[Battara]

My original thoughts came from similar examples with 1 rod in a similar construction made for that type of use.

Now for keeping the ferrule together, I would not expect so much construction. Perhaps there is more damage than meets the eye for this type of stronger than unusual and elaborate construction. That too would make sense to me.

Also the weight of the extra work moves the balance forward and not in the middle.